refbase vs RefWorks
refbase
wiki.refbase.net
RefWorks
refworks.proquest.comSide by side
| Figure | refbase | RefWorks |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Reference Management Software | 8.3 (#9) | 7.9 (#18) |
| Collaboration | The interface is multi-user and includes user-specific fields for personal keywords and notes. | Users can share projects and collaborate with administrative controls and permissions. |
| Purpose | refbase is a web-based, multi-user interface for managing scientific literature and bibliographic references. | RefWorks is a cloud-based reference management service that supports institutions and researchers with research and writing workflows. |
| Support | The project directs users to its documentation, forums, and mailing lists for help and discussion. | Clarivate lists 24/7 product training and support for RefWorks. |
| What it does | refbase is a web-based, standards-oriented multi-user system for managing scientific literature and bibliographic references. | RefWorks is a cloud-based reference management service for collecting, organizing, collaborating on, and publishing research. |
Plans
In their own words
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.
RefWorks
RefWorks is a cloud-based reference management service for collecting, organizing, collaborating on, and publishing research. Users can find, import, and save references from sources such as PubMed and the Library of Congress, then organize files including PDF, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and HTML. Deduplication tools help maintain a reference library. The service can generate citations and bibliographies in more than 6,000 styles, and includes a citation style editor. Its RefWorks Citation Manager add-in connects with Google Docs and Microsoft Word. Researchers can privately share full-text documents and work together on group projects in real time. RefWorks also integrates with databases and library systems including Web of Science, ProQuest Central, and Summon. It runs in a browser, and its interface is available in nine languages. New users can enter an institutional email to check subscription availability; access is offered through subscribing institutions. Institutional administrators can manage accounts, distribute citation styles, measure usage, and set collaboration and annotation rights. Pricing is available on request, and the product page offers a trial request without stating its duration.