Who is it for?
- Useful for students who need a quick bibliography for one paper without installing software or creating an account.
- Useful when you want to copy a formatted list or download RTF, HTML, RIS or BibTeX for another tool.
ZoteroBib — Reference & Citation Management
Zotero
ZoteroBib is a free web service that builds a bibliography from URLs, identifiers or titles without an account or an installation.
Why it fits
| Good to know | Website |
|---|---|
| Free output | Yes |
| No account needed | Yes |
| 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 date2
Founder feedback and correction
Editorial selection guide
Last checked:
Getting started
- Open ZoteroBib and choose a citation style.
- Paste a URL, ISBN, DOI, PubMed ID or arXiv ID, search by title, or enter an item manually.
- Check each entry and fix missing details, then copy the bibliography or download it as RTF, HTML, RIS or BibTeX.
Decision points
- Choose it for a one-off or short bibliography; for a long-term library, PDFs and in-document citations, compare Zotero, JabRef or Paperpile.
- Remember where your list lives: the FAQ says it is saved in your browser's local storage by default, so export it if you want to keep it.
Limits
- Bibliographies are stored in browser local storage by default; the FAQ says Safari on iOS clears it after seven days and private windows delete it when closed. Shared links are stored for at least six months from creation or last view.
- Some sites restrict access, some styles need manual capitalization of proper nouns, and extracted data can need small corrections; check every reference.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account or an installation?
No. The FAQ describes ZoteroBib as a free service that works from any computer or device without creating an account or installing software.
Which formats can I export?
You can copy the formatted text or download RTF, HTML, RIS or BibTeX files, and the FAQ also mentions a Zotero Connector option for saving into Zotero.