Side by side
JabRef vs Qiqqa
Both stand on citation management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source APIExtensionLinux+2
JabRef combines reference organization, catalog search, and citation workflows without a listed paid plan. Check its Chrome extension limitation and external AI processing before relying on those features.
Visit JabRef Free plan Open source AndroidSelf-hostedWeb+1
Qiqqa brings PDF organization, annotation, reference management, and Word bibliography support together. Check platform and sync requirements, particularly given the discontinued commercial cloud sync.
Visit QiqqaThe facts
| JabRef | Qiqqa | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | API, Extension, Linux, Mac, Windows | Android, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Premium: $6.67 a month |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | jabref.org | jimmejardine.github.io |
| On citation management software | #1 of 23 | #2 of 23 |
JabRef: what it does well
- Free and open-source.
- Imports over 15 reference formats.
- Extracts metadata from PDFs.
- Supports Word and LibreOffice/OpenOffice citation workflows.
- Libraries use a text-based format.
What to know first
- The browser extension is documented as non-functional on Chrome.
- Excessive catalog searching may result in temporary blocking.
- AI features send requests to external providers.
Qiqqa: what it does well
- Searches PDFs using OCR and full-text indexing.
- Imports BibTeX references from several reference managers.
- Supports Word citations and bibliographies.
- Free Android companion app works offline.
What to know first
- Commercial Web Library cloud sync was discontinued in 2021.
- The open-source repository describes Qiqqa as a Windows tool.
- Premium+ is listed at $41.67 a month.