Citation.js vs CitePlain

Citation.js converts reference data into CSL-JSON and formats references in styles such as APA and Vancouver. It accepts inputs including BibTeX, BibJSON, DOI, and Wikidata, as well as identifiers such as ISBN, PubMed and PMC IDs, GitHub repository URLs, and npm package URLs. Supported formats include JSON, CSL-JSON, BibLaTeX, RIS, YAML, CFF, and Zenodo Deposit JSON. Identifier resolvers include DOI Content Negotiation, Google Books, OpenLibrary, NCBI’s Literature Citation Explorer, and the Wikidata MediaWiki API. A modular package structure lets users add format and identifier-source plugins as needed; preloaded styles and locales are available for formatted references. Citation.js supports Node.js and browsers, offers a web interface and API, and includes a command-line interface for reading input files, text, or standard input and writing output files or standard output. Example applications include an HTML API wrapper, a Chrome extension for Dutch NWO ISAAC publication data entry, and a BibTeX generator. It is MIT-licensed open-source software, available free.

CitePlain creates citations and bibliographies from web pages, journal articles, books, tweets, YouTube videos, and podcasts. It accepts URLs, DOIs, or ISBNs, and uses publisher citation and Open Graph metadata, with Crossref lookup for DOIs and Open Library for ISBNs. The free plan includes APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago 17, Vancouver, CSE, and BibTeX, plus a bibliography builder for up to 50 sources per batch. The extension for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox can read metadata from the active tab and provide BibTeX with a stable cite key for Overleaf or Zotero. Pro adds 24 specialised styles, batch URL import for up to 50 sources, and cloud storage synced across the web app and extension. Free-tier references stay in browser local storage. Pro costs $4.99 a month or $39 a year. Lifetime options are listed at 89.00 USD once and 199.00 USD once. CitePlain describes its focus as individual citations rather than replacing a research reference manager.