EndNote vs refbase
EndNote
endnote.comrefbase
wiki.refbase.netSide by side
| Figure | EndNote | refbase |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 2 |
| Spec score · Reference Management Software | 8.5 (#4) | 8.3 (#9) |
| Support | EndNote advertises free product support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone, email, or web chat. | The project directs users to its documentation, forums, and mailing lists for help and discussion. |
Plans
EndNote
- Upgrade License$94, paid once
- Student License$113, paid once
- Full License$206, paid once
- Multi-User LicensePriced on request
In their own words
EndNote
EndNote is a bibliography maker and reference organizer for searching, storing, annotating, and citing research. It provides more than 7,000 citation styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago, and over 4,000 connection files for searching and importing references from databases and library catalogs. Cite While You Write supports Microsoft Word, Word Online, Google Docs, LibreOffice, and Apache OpenOffice Writer; Apple Pages is also listed as a macOS integration. EndNote 2025’s Research Assistant can answer questions about a document, summarize research, and translate PDFs or selected text. Find a Journal and Web of Science records support research discovery. Desktop libraries can sync with EndNote Web, and sharing can include up to 1,000 people with access and editing permissions. The 30-day trial includes paid-version features. Listed one-time prices are 94.00 USD for the Upgrade License, 113.00 USD for the Student License, and 206.00 USD for the Full License. EndNote is available on Windows, macOS, web, iOS, and as an extension.
refbase
refbase is a web-based, multi-user application for managing scientific literature and bibliographic references. It offers quick, simple, advanced, and SQL searches, including searches within results. Records can be shown in citation or print views, and the application generates formatted citation lists. It imports and exports records in formats such as MODS XML, RIS, BibTeX, and EndNote. The feature list names compatibility with desktop clients including Zotero and EndNote, as well as an open API and command-line client. Dynamic RSS feeds can track recently added or edited records and custom queries. Users can keep personal keywords and notes in user-specific fields. refbase is a free, self-hosted application licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0. Running it requires a web server, PHP 4.4.0 or greater, and MySQL 4.1.x or greater for Unicode support. The web installer requires a MySQL user with full database access, and some shared hosts may require manual installation. Bibutils is optional and recommended for added import and export functionality.