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JabRef — Reference & Citation Management

JabRef

JabRef is a free, open-source reference manager that keeps your library in BibTeX or BibLaTeX files and helps you collect, organize and cite sources.

Why it fits

Reference & Citation Management

Desktop

Go to jabref.org

Good to know

Requires desktop installation.

Verify file formats, size limits and language support in the official plan.

Good to know
Good to knowDesktop
Free outputYes
No account needed—
No watermark—
Works offline—
Batch processing—
Content language—

— Unverified conditions. Official documentation reviewed. The app itself has not been hands-on tested. Matches only documented content-language support, not interface language.

Sources and review date3
Founder feedback and correction

Founder feedback and correction

If you represent this product, send a source-backed correction or update to the editors. Publication follows editorial review.

Editorial selection guide

Last checked:

Who is it for?

  • Useful for researchers who cite with BibTeX or BibLaTeX and want their library kept as a plain-text file without vendor lock-in.
  • Useful if you want to import references from many formats or online catalogs, fetch entries by DOI, ISBN or PubMed ID, and link PDFs to entries.

Getting started

  • Download the installer for Windows, macOS or Linux from jabref.org; a portable version or a package manager also works.
  • Create a library file, then add entries manually, import them, or fetch them by identifier or from an online catalog; link PDFs and organize entries in groups.
  • Use the cite-as-you-write features with Word or LibreOffice, or push citation keys to editors such as Emacs, LyX or Vim, then export or share the library file.

Decision points

  • Choose it when a plain-text library you control matters more than cloud sync; the documentation describes sharing the files or using SQL database synchronization for team work.
  • If you want one-click saving from web pages into a hosted account, compare Zotero or Paperpile; JabRef has a browser extension, but the library lives in the desktop app.

Limits

  • It is a desktop application that you install on your computer; the pages reviewed do not describe a hosted web or mobile version.
  • Import and export formats, Word and LibreOffice integration and browser extension support vary by version and browser; check the documentation for exact steps before relying on them.

Frequently asked questions

Is JabRef free?

The JabRef home page describes it as 100% free and open-source, and libraries are saved in a simple text-based file format.

Which operating systems does JabRef support?

The installation documentation lists Windows, macOS and Linux, with installers, portable versions and package-manager options such as Chocolatey and Snap.

Official sources (3)
www.jabref.org/docs.jabref.org/docs.jabref.org/installation

Related guides and comparisons

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