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.
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft SharePoint is a collaborative platform that integrates with Microsoft 365 to help your organization manage content, share knowledge, and build intranets that improve teamwork across every department.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Papers | Microsoft SharePoint |
|---|---|---|
| Website | papersapp.com | sharepoint.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $3/month | $5/month |
| 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 | Redmond, 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.
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft SharePoint serves as your organization's mobile, intelligent intranet. You can create secure sites to store, organize, share, and access information from any device. It simplifies how you manage documents by providing a central location where your team can collaborate on files in real-time. Whether you are working on a small project or managing a massive corporate library, you can use SharePoint to keep everyone synchronized and informed.
You can also build communication sites and portals to broadcast news and resources across your company. By integrating deeply with Microsoft 365, it allows you to move seamlessly between your email, calendar, and documents. It solves the problem of fragmented data by giving you a single source of truth for all your digital assets and internal communications.
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.
Microsoft SharePoint Features
- Real-time Co-authoring. Work on the same document simultaneously with your teammates and see their changes as they happen in real-time.
- Intranet Site Builder. Create beautiful, mobile-ready communication sites to share news, reports, and resources with your entire organization or specific teams.
- Advanced Search. Find exactly what you need quickly with intelligent search that surfaces relevant documents, people, and site content across your network.
- Version History. Track every change made to your files and restore previous versions instantly if you need to revert an update.
- Automated Workflows. Connect with Power Automate to create custom approval processes and notifications that handle your repetitive administrative tasks automatically.
- Granular Permissions. Control exactly who can view or edit your sensitive information with flexible security settings at the site or folder level.
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
Microsoft SharePoint Pricing
- 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user
- Share files securely inside or outside your org
- Sync local copies of files for offline viewing
- Co-author documents in real-time
- Create team sites and communication sites
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Everything in Plan 1, plus:
- Fully installed desktop Office apps
- Business-class email and calendaring
- Microsoft Teams for chat and meetings
- Standard security and compliance tools
- Web versions of Outlook, Word, and Excel
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
Microsoft SharePoint
Pros
- Deep integration with the familiar Microsoft 365 ecosystem
- Highly customizable to fit specific organizational structures
- Robust document versioning and recovery capabilities
- Excellent mobile accessibility for remote team members
Cons
- Initial setup and configuration can be complex
- Interface feels overwhelming for non-technical users
- Requires significant time to master advanced features