Compare software

BibDesk vs EndNote: catalog facts
BibDeskEndNote
Free

Free and open source.

Paid

Paid licence, with a free trial available.

macOS Windows, macOS, Web
  • Links references to their PDFs and web pages
  • One-click import from Google Scholar, arXiv and PubMed
  • Formats citations and bibliographies automatically
  • Widely used in academic institutions
  • macOS only
  • Built around BibTeX, less suited to Word-based workflows
  • Paid software with no free tier
  • AI features depend on an online service
Downloadable app Downloadable app, Web application
Open source Closed source
License not stated License not stated
No account needed Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline Not stated if it works offline

Checked October 1, 2026

Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.