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Zotero pricing, features, company info, and alternatives
A factual product page for Zotero as a free, open-source reference manager for research libraries and citations.
Last updated April 2026 · Pricing and features verified against official documentation
Pricing
Current public pricing tiers on file for Zotero, last verified Apr 14, 2026.
Free
$0
Includes 300 MB of file storage.
2 GB
$20 / year
Annual storage subscription.
6 GB
$60 / year
Annual storage subscription.
Unlimited
$120 / year
Annual storage subscription.
What You Can Do With It
The main capabilities that shape how people use Zotero today.
One-click browser capture saves items from Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge with automatic metadata extraction and proxy support.
The desktop app works across macOS, Windows, and Linux and can be used offline with data stored locally on your computer.
Word processor plugins for Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs keep citations and bibliographies dynamic.
Mobile apps on iOS and Android support collecting, annotating, and syncing research libraries on the go.
Best For
Who Zotero is most clearly built for.
Researchers who want a free, open-source reference manager with local control over their library.
Teams that need shared group libraries, synced files, and annotation workflows.
People who write in Word, Google Docs, or LibreOffice and want citations to stay linked to their library.
Company
Leadership and company context for Corporation for Digital Scholarship.
Headquarters
Vienna, VA, USA
Platforms
Where you can use Zotero today.
Web
macOS
Windows
Linux
iOS
Android
Chrome
Firefox
Safari
Edge
Integrations
Notable connected tools and ecosystem hooks for Zotero.
Microsoft Word
LibreOffice
Google Docs
Privacy Notes
Publicly stated data-handling notes that matter when evaluating Zotero.
Zotero says it is an independent nonprofit with no financial interest in your data and that the local program can be used without sharing data with them.
Zotero says syncing is optional and is mainly for backup, collaboration, and recommendation services.
Zotero's privacy policy says the service stores login information and sync activity, and that users can disable recommendations and choose what gets synced.
Access
How to integrate or build around Zotero.
Public API
Yes
Docs
Available
iOS app
Available
Android app
Available
Alternatives
Other tools worth considering alongside Zotero.
Web-first reference manager for collecting, organizing, citing, and annotating research papers.
Academic writing assistant for grammar, citations, PDFs, and submission checks.
AI literature review tool for discovering papers, tracing citation networks, and organizing collections.
Literature review tool for citation-network discovery, visualization, and research organization.
Product Snapshot
Zotero is a free, open-source research tool for collecting references, organizing libraries, annotating PDFs, and generating citations across desktop, web, and mobile workflows.
What You Can Do With It
- Save citations and full items from supported browsers with one click and automatic metadata extraction.
- Organize research with collections, tags, notes, shared group libraries, and synced files.
- Annotate PDFs on desktop or mobile, then reuse those notes in your research workflow.
- Insert citations and bibliographies in Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.
Why It Stands Out
Zotero combines local-first reference management with optional cloud sync, broad browser capture, and long-standing support for scholarly citation workflows.
Tradeoffs To Know
- Free accounts include limited file storage, so larger PDF libraries require a paid storage plan.
- The platform is best at reference management and citation workflows, not general-purpose AI drafting.
- Some mobile and browser capabilities are narrower than the full desktop experience.
Sources
- zotero.org/storage
- zotero.org/support/storage_faq
- zotero.org/about
- play.google.com/store/apps/details
- zotero.org/blog/building-a-sustainable-zotero-project
- zotero.org/download
- zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_installation
- zotero.org/blog/move-zotero-citations-between-google-docs-word-and-libreoffice
- apps.apple.com/us/app/zotero/id1513554812
- zotero.org/why
- zotero.org/support/general_privacy_policy
- zotero.org/support/dev/web_api/v3/basics