Side by side
cytado vs ZoteroBib
Both stand on citation generators. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APIExtensionWeb
cytado combines source discovery, citation formatting, bibliography checking, and multiple export options. Check its project and search limits, and note that full text or page numbers are not available for every source.
Visit cytado Free plan Web
ZoteroBib offers a direct, free way to collect sources and produce formatted references. Its browser storage and link-sharing options are convenient, while blocked sites may require manual or identifier-based entry.
Visit ZoteroBibThe facts
| cytado | ZoteroBib | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Extension, Web | Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Basic: $19 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 6 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | cytado.com | zbib.org |
| On citation generators | #35 of 57 | #39 of 57 |
cytado: what it does well
- Supports five listed citation styles.
- Exports bibliographies to Word, PDF, LaTeX, BibTeX, and RIS.
- Checks bibliographies against Crossref, OpenAlex, and Google Books.
- Offers a free plan without a card requirement.
- Lists integrations for Google Docs and Microsoft Word.
What to know first
- Unpaid projects are limited to one at a time.
- Daily and monthly source-search caps apply.
- Some documents have no printed page numbers.
- Some sources provide metadata and short quotes, not full text.
ZoteroBib: what it does well
- Free and ad-free
- No account or installation required
- Over 10,000 citation styles
- BibTeX and RIS export
- Multiple source lookup methods
What to know first
- Web-only service
- Some sites block URL retrieval
- Shared links are accessible to anyone with the link
- Support forum posting requires a Zotero account
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