JabRef
An open-source reference manager for collecting, organising and citing literature in BibTeX and BibLaTeX.
These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
4 more ways to get JabRef
Other download sites
Run by third parties, not by The JabRef contributors. Prefer the official page above when it works.
Package managers
- Chocolatey
choco install jabref - Homebrew
brew install --cask jabref - Flathub
flatpak install flathub org.jabref.jabref
About JabRef
JabRef is a reference manager for students and researchers. It helps you find, collect, organise and cite scholarly literature. Your library is saved in a plain text format built on BibTeX and BibLaTeX, so there is no vendor lock-in and it works naturally with LaTeX.
The project was founded in 2003. A volunteer core team of researchers maintains it. A browser extension can send references into JabRef. It suits anyone writing papers or theses, especially in LaTeX.
Strengths
- Stores libraries in plain text BibTeX/BibLaTeX files
- Fits naturally into LaTeX writing
- Browser extension for collecting references
- Long-running project with active community
Limitations
- Centred on BibTeX, which is less familiar outside LaTeX users
- Maintained by volunteers in their spare time
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source, funded by donations.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- The JabRef contributors
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Browser extension
- How it runs
- Downloadable app, Browser extension
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Researchers and students who cite sources in LaTeX
- Categories
- Office tools, Learning tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to JabRef
Compare allSoftware that can replace JabRef for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
EndNote
A long-running reference manager for collecting sources and formatting citations in academic writing.
EndNote is paid, closed-source software widely used in academic institutions, with a desktop app plus EndNote Web and an AI assistant, rather than plain-text BibTeX libraries.
JabRef as an alternative
Listings that name JabRef as an alternative.
Mendeley
A reference manager from Elsevier for collecting, annotating and citing research papers.
JabRef is free and open source, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and stores libraries as plain text BibTeX files suited to LaTeX writing.
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