Citavi
Citavi is a comprehensive reference management and note-taking software that helps you organize sources, analyze content, and structure your writing projects from initial research to final publication.
Mendeley
Mendeley is a free reference management software and academic social network that helps you organize your research, collaborate with others online, and discover the latest trending scholarly papers.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Citavi | Mendeley |
|---|---|---|
| Website | citavi.com | mendeley.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2003 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Wädenswil, Switzerland | London, United Kingdom |
Overview
Citavi
Citavi is a professional research tool that combines reference management with advanced knowledge organization. Instead of just saving links, you can extract direct quotes, capture ideas, and organize them into a logical outline before you even start writing. It helps you stay organized by linking your PDF highlights directly to your project structure, ensuring you never lose track of a critical source or thought during complex writing tasks.
You can use it for individual academic papers or large-scale team research projects across various industries. The software handles the heavy lifting of citation formatting and bibliography creation, supporting thousands of citation styles. Whether you are a student, a researcher, or a corporate professional, you can manage your entire knowledge lifecycle in one centralized workspace to produce high-quality, well-documented work faster.
Mendeley
Mendeley is a dedicated research management tool designed to simplify how you handle scholarly documents and citations. You can automatically generate bibliographies, import papers from other software, and access your library from any device. It functions as both a desktop application and a web-based service, ensuring your research stays synchronized whether you are in the lab or at home.
Beyond simple organization, you can use the platform to connect with a global network of researchers and discover new papers based on your interests. It is particularly effective for students, Ph.D. candidates, and academic faculty who need to manage high volumes of PDF documents and collaborate on group projects. You can highlight key sections, add sticky notes directly to PDFs, and share these annotations with your team securely.
Overview
Citavi Features
- Reference Management Search library catalogs and databases from within the app to import sources and create perfect bibliographies automatically.
- Knowledge Organization Extract quotes, comments, and ideas from your PDFs and organize them into a flexible, multi-level category system.
- Task Planning Set deadlines and track your progress for every source, from ordering a book to finishing a final draft.
- PDF Annotation Read and annotate your documents directly in the software while linking specific highlights to your project outline.
- Word Add-In Insert your gathered thoughts and citations directly into Microsoft Word to build your paper as you write.
- Team Collaboration Work on the same project simultaneously with your colleagues and see who is currently editing specific sections.
Mendeley Features
- Mendeley Cite. Generate citations and bibliographies automatically in Microsoft Word without ever leaving your document or manually typing a single entry.
- Web Importer. Save papers, web pages, and other documents directly into your library from your browser with a single click.
- PDF Annotation. Highlight important text and add sticky notes to your research papers to keep your thoughts organized within the document.
- Smart Library Sync. Access your entire research library from any computer or mobile device with automatic cloud synchronization and offline access.
- Private Groups. Collaborate with up to 25 colleagues by sharing full-text papers and annotations in a secure, private environment.
- Research Suggestions. Receive personalized recommendations for new articles based on the contents of your library to stay current in your field.
Pricing Comparison
Citavi Pricing
- Up to 100 references per project
- All standard features included
- Cloud and local storage
- Citavi Picker for browsers
- Microsoft Word Add-In
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited references per project
- Full cloud collaboration features
- Advanced task management
- Priority technical support
- 5 GB of cloud storage
Mendeley Pricing
- 2GB personal cloud storage
- 100MB shared group storage
- Up to 1 private group
- Up to 25 group members
- Mendeley Cite plugin
- Everything in Free, plus:
- 5GB personal cloud storage
- Increased shared storage
- Unlimited public groups
- Priority technical support
Pros & Cons
Citavi
Pros
- Superior knowledge organization compared to basic citation tools
- Excellent integration with Microsoft Word for seamless writing
- Powerful task management keeps your research on schedule
- Highly customizable category system for complex outlines
Cons
- No native application for macOS users
- Steeper learning curve than simpler reference managers
- Cloud sync can be slow with large PDF libraries
Mendeley
Pros
- Generous free storage for most student projects
- Excellent web importer for capturing online sources
- Clean interface makes organizing large libraries simple
- Strong community features for discovering new research
- Seamless integration with Microsoft Word for citations
Cons
- Desktop version can feel slow with large libraries
- Limited customization for specific citation styles
- Syncing errors occasionally occur between devices