What Zotero does
Build a research library of references, files, and notes. Zotero captures source details from websites, organizes items, and inserts citations into writing tools.
Zotero helps researchers keep source material organized while they read and write. Each library item holds bibliographic details such as a title, author, date, and publisher. Items can represent books, journal articles, web pages, reports, and many other source types. Notes and files can stay attached to the reference they describe.
The browser connector recognizes supported pages and creates an item from the available source details. Users can also add a reference by identifier or enter the details themselves. This gives a project one place for its sources instead of a separate list of bookmarks and downloaded files.
Collections and tags support different ways of organizing a library. One item can belong to more than one collection without creating separate copies. Searches and saved searches help users return to relevant sources as the library grows. Attached notes can record reading observations next to the source.
Zotero works with Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs to insert citations and generate a bibliography. Users can change the citation style for a document. They can also copy or export references for other writing tools. Optional synchronization keeps library data available across devices, and shared group libraries support collaborative research. The app is free and open source. Zotero offers separate paid storage options for users who need more hosted attachment space.
Best for
Students, researchers, writers, and teams that need to organize sources and cite them in documents.
Not for
People who only need a simple bookmark list and do not need references, source notes, or citation tools.
Questions and answers
Can Zotero insert citations into a document?
Yes. Zotero integrates with Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs for citations and bibliographies.
Can one item belong to several collections?
Yes. Collections can refer to the same library item without making separate copies.
Does Zotero support shared libraries?
Yes. Group libraries let collaborators collect and manage sources together.