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.
Sciwheel
Sciwheel is a comprehensive reference management software providing researchers with integrated tools for discovering, organizing, annotating, and citing academic papers directly within their browser and word processing applications.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | RefWorks | Sciwheel |
|---|---|---|
| Website | refworks.proquest.com | sciwheel.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No 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 | 2001 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, USA | London, UK |
Overview
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.
Sciwheel
Sciwheel is a cloud-based reference management platform designed to simplify how you handle academic research. You can save references and PDFs directly from your browser with a single click, keeping your library organized and accessible from any device. The platform eliminates the manual effort of formatting bibliographies by integrating directly with Microsoft Word and Google Docs, allowing you to insert citations as you write.
Beyond simple storage, you can highlight text and add notes directly on webpages or PDFs, which then sync automatically to your library. It also offers smart suggestions for new papers based on your existing collection, helping you stay current in your field. Whether you are working solo on a thesis or collaborating with a global research team, you can share folders and annotate documents collectively to streamline the peer-review and writing process.
Overview
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.
Sciwheel Features
- Browser Extension. Save references and full-text PDFs from the web with one click while you browse academic databases and journals.
- Smart Citations. Insert citations and generate perfectly formatted bibliographies in Microsoft Word or Google Docs using over 7,000 available styles.
- PDF Annotation. Highlight key passages and add personal notes directly on PDFs that sync across all your devices for easy retrieval.
- Collaborative Workspaces. Create shared folders to exchange references and co-annotate papers with your colleagues or research group in real-time.
- Smart Recommendations. Receive personalized suggestions for new research papers based on the specific topics and articles already in your library.
- Mobile Access. Read, annotate, and manage your entire reference library on the go with dedicated apps for iOS and Android devices.
Pricing Comparison
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
Sciwheel Pricing
- Up to 3 projects
- Reference management
- Browser extension access
- Google Docs & Word add-ins
- Mobile app access
- Everything in Basic, plus:
- Unlimited projects
- Unlimited PDF storage
- Smart article recommendations
- Priority customer support
- Advanced sharing permissions
Pros & Cons
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
Sciwheel
Pros
- Excellent integration with Google Docs and Microsoft Word
- Intuitive browser extension makes saving papers effortless
- Clean and modern user interface compared to competitors
- Strong PDF annotation tools that sync reliably
Cons
- Occasional formatting glitches with complex citation styles
- Mobile app features are limited compared to desktop
- Requires internet connection for most library management tasks