Papers
Papers is a reference management software that helps you collect, organize, read, and cite research materials through a centralized digital library and integrated discovery tools.
RefWorks
RefWorks is a cloud-based reference management service that helps you simplify the research process by capturing, organizing, and citing your scholarly sources in thousands of different styles.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Papers | RefWorks |
|---|---|---|
| Website | papersapp.com | refworks.proquest.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $3/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Boston, USA | Ann Arbor, USA |
Overview
Papers
Papers helps you transform how you handle academic research by providing a unified workspace for your entire PDF library. You can discover new papers directly within the app using integrated search engines like PubMed and Google Scholar, then save them with a single click. The software automatically identifies metadata, organizes your files into smart collections, and syncs your progress across all your devices so you can transition from your office desktop to your tablet at home.
You can annotate documents with highlights and sticky notes, share folders with colleagues for collaborative projects, and generate citations in thousands of different styles. Whether you are a solo PhD student or part of a large corporate research lab, the platform streamlines the tedious parts of the research cycle. It eliminates the manual effort of formatting bibliographies and searching through messy folders, allowing you to focus on the actual analysis and writing.
RefWorks
RefWorks is a comprehensive research management tool designed to help you streamline the entire lifecycle of scholarly writing. You can easily capture bibliographic data from online databases, library catalogs, and websites with a single click. Once your sources are saved, you can organize them into folders, share them with collaborators, and annotate full-text documents directly within the platform to keep your insights connected to your citations.
The platform excels at automating the most tedious parts of academic writing by generating bibliographies and in-text citations in seconds. Whether you are a student working on a thesis or a faculty member managing a complex literature review, you can access your research from any device. It integrates directly with popular word processors to ensure your formatting remains consistent and accurate throughout your project.
Overview
Papers Features
- Smart Library Organization Automatically fetch metadata and organize your research into collections that sync across your desktop, web, and mobile devices.
- Integrated Search Search major databases like PubMed and Scopus directly inside the app to find and import new research instantly.
- SmartCite Citation Tool Insert citations and generate bibliographies in over 10,000 styles within Microsoft Word or Google Docs using a fast, searchable interface.
- PDF Annotation Highlight text and add sticky notes to your documents, then export your summaries to keep track of key insights.
- Collaborative Shared Folders Create private groups to share references and full-text PDFs with your lab mates or project collaborators in real-time.
- Browser Extension Save papers directly from your web browser with one click, automatically bypassing paywalls when institutional access is available.
RefWorks Features
- Save to RefWorks. Capture research materials and metadata from any website or database instantly using a simple browser bookmarklet.
- Write-N-Cite. Insert properly formatted in-text citations and bibliographies directly into Microsoft Word without leaving your document.
- Google Docs Add-on. Manage your references and format your papers in real-time while collaborating with others in Google Docs.
- Full-Text Annotation. Read, highlight, and add personal comments to PDF documents within your library to keep your notes organized.
- Style Library. Access thousands of citation styles including APA, MLA, and Chicago to ensure your paper meets specific journal requirements.
- Collaborative Folders. Share specific research folders with your peers or colleagues to work together on group projects and bibliographies.
Pricing Comparison
Papers Pricing
- Full desktop and mobile access
- Unlimited cloud storage
- SmartCite for Word and Google Docs
- 1-click PDF downloads
- Web browser extension
- Priority customer support
- Everything in Student, plus:
- Institutional login support
- Advanced collaboration tools
- Shared folders for lab teams
- Cross-platform syncing
- Enhanced metadata matching
RefWorks Pricing
- Full access via university login
- Unlimited reference storage
- Unlimited attachment storage
- Institutional style sharing
- Priority technical support
- Everything in Institutional, plus:
- Personal ownership of data
- Access after graduation
- Thousands of citation styles
- Word and Google Docs plugins
Pros & Cons
Papers
Pros
- Excellent metadata extraction saves hours of manual entry
- Clean and modern user interface is easy to navigate
- Seamless syncing between desktop and mobile applications
- Powerful citation tool works reliably with Google Docs
Cons
- No forever-free version available after the trial
- Occasional glitches when importing very large PDF libraries
- Subscription model may be costly for long-term use
RefWorks
Pros
- Excellent integration with university library databases
- Saves significant time on bibliography formatting
- Easy to share folders for group research
- Cloud-based access from any computer or tablet
- Reliable browser extension for quick source capturing
Cons
- Occasional formatting errors with complex web sources
- Interface can feel dated compared to newer tools
- Write-N-Cite plugin sometimes requires troubleshooting in Word