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Paperlib vs ReadCube Papers: catalog facts
Paperlib	ReadCube Papers
Free Free and open source, supported by donations.	Paid Paid product with a free trial.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Web, Browser extension
Accurate metadata scraping, including conference papers Tags, flags, folders and Markdown notes	PDF annotation combined with reference management Imports papers with full metadata and citations
No mobile app Smaller ecosystem than Zotero	Paid after the trial Much of the product is aimed at companies and research teams
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Web application, Browser extension
Open source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	Account needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 26, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

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