RefWorks vs. EndNote

Comparison of three bibliographic citation tools

The following table compares the major features of EndNote and RefWorks. The Firefox plug-in Zotero is also compared here for informational purposes; Tisch, however, does not provide support for it.

For further assistance in deciding which of these tools to use or for general questions about EndNote or RefWorks, please contact Karen Vagts, the EndNote and RefWorks Instruction Coordinator.

Note: Features described below pertain to the current versions of these tools.


Feature		 EndNote
www.endnote.com		 RefWorks
www.refworks.com		 Zotero
www.zotero.org
Summary Powerful desktop software package that captures online citations and generates highly customizable citation styles, bibliographies, and reports. Web-served bibliographic tool that captures online citations and generates customizable bibliographies and citation styles. Desktop software that runs through the Firefox browser and enables easy capturing of web pages and generates bibliographies and citations.
Optimal solution for… Large research projects and permanent libraries, which need to be subdivided and where complex searching and sorting, or customization of reports is required. Small to middle-sized projects, which need to be subdivided and shared and where internet access is more reliable than access to a particular PC. Small collections and situations where simplicity, access to web pages and RSS feeds, and using free and open source tools is important. Can be used as an interim solution to capture citations for use in EndNote or RefWorks.
Current version X2 6.0 1.0.x
Platforms supported / System Requirements Macintosh, Windows. Macintosh, Windows, Unix and major web browsers. Macintosh, Windows, Linux in Firefox 2.0. or 3.0, Netscape Navigator 9.0, or Flock 0.9.1.
Tisch Library support Individual and group training, documentation. See the Workshops schedule. Individual and group training, documentation. See the Workshops schedule. None.
Purchase / Licensing Must purchase and install a license yourself or have access to a licensed installation.  Software is available through the Tufts Bookstore at a discount. You can download a trial version to test it. Members of the Tufts community can sign up for a RefWorks free account through the Tufts website. Account is available until you leave Tufts. Free; only requires a compatible web browser.
Documentation and support Excellent manual as well as 3rd party publications and strong technical support. Good online documentation and quickstart guide. Good online documentation.
Imports records from the Tufts Online Catalog Yes, through EndNote connection files or import filters. Yes, through import filters. Yes, through icon on browser toolbar.
Imports records from article databases Yes, through EndNote connection files or import filters. Yes, through RefWorks Direct Import or import filters. Yes, through icon on browser toolbar.
Imports web pages Yes, in Firefox via a plug-in. Yes, through Ref Grab-It utility. Yes, through icon on browser toolbar.
Imports RSS feeds No Yes Yes
Types of materials tracked Over 40 default reference types and 3 blank ones. Over 30 reference types. Over 30 reference types.
File linking Links to locally stored PDFs, images, and other files; dynamic URL links. Links to PDFs and other files(stored in RefWorks); dynamic URL links. Links to locally stored files; dynamic URL links; stores “snapshot” of web pages.
Word-processing tools Creates in-text citations, footnotes, EndNote, and bibliographies in Microsoft Word via Cite While You Write plug-in.  RTF and ODT editing via Format Paper tool. Creates in-text citations, footnotes, EndNote, and bibliographies in Microsoft Word via Write N Cite plug-in. On-line/Cite view for other word-processors. Creates in-text citations, footnotes, EndNote, and bibliographies in Microsoft Word via Zotero Microsoft Word plug-in. Works with Google tools.
Spell-checker Yes Yes Yes
Import filters Over 600. Can be customized. Over 870. Over 375 (support level varies).
Output styles Over 3,600.  Can be customized. 800.  Can be customized. Over 50 styles. Can’t be customized. Must create a new open-source style in Citation Style Language (CSL).
Organizing and coding Groups items into “groups”; tags citations with custom keywords and fields. Groups items into folders; tags citations with custom descriptors and fields. Codes items with notes and custom tags.
Search options Boolean operators AND, OR,NOT; comparison operators; keyword searches; field and date searches; truncation. Global search and replace. Can save searches strategies for re-use. Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT; comparison operators; keyword searches; truncation. Global search and replace. Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT. Keyword and tag searches.
Sort options By most fields.  Can save custom sorts for exports. By 10 fields. Also does relevancy ranking. By most fields.
Duplicate detecting Yes Yes No
Authority lists / Auto entry options Author, keyword, title are defaults; can create lists for most other fields. Author, keyword, title lookups. Author, publication title.
Sharing options Can export library as a traveling file. Can share folders online. Can export library for use by others.
Exchange with other citation software Exports directly into RefWorks and generic citation formats. Imports into EndNote and generic citation formats. Imports into other software via various import styles.
Unicode compliant (supports multiple character sets) Yes Yes Yes

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