Skip to content

A better alternative to
Zotero.

Turn the research you collected into the paper you want to write. Draft with AI, keep citations connected, and bring feedback into one free workspace.

The right format, without the formatting.

APA 7MLA 9Chicago 18HarvardIEEEVancouverAMA 11ACS

Move from collecting sources to finishing the draft.

Citation puts your paper at the center, with AI writing, references, and feedback ready as you work.

Citation and Zotero workflow overview
ZoteroCitation
AI writing

Organize research and cite it through a library and editor plugins.

AI writing

Ask for revisions using the current draft and saved sources. Review and apply the changes directly in your paper.

Your writing space

Use Word, Google Docs, or LibreOffice to write the manuscript.

Your writing space

Build the entire draft in your browser, with your source records beside the writing.

Connected references

Insert linked citations through its word processor integrations.

Connected references

Keep citations linked to editable source records and format the bibliography in the same document.

Draft feedback

Share research through group libraries.

Draft feedback

Share a document with an editor, discuss passages in comments, and keep revising together.

Bring your research

Export selected records, a collection, or a library.

Bring your research

Import Zotero references as RIS, BibTeX, or CSL JSON and put them to work in your next paragraph.

Complete paper exports

Export reference data and create bibliographies for other editors.

Complete paper exports

Download DOCX, PDF, or TXT drafts and export source records as BibTeX or RIS.

Free access

Free reference management with optional paid file storage.

Free access

Create a free account and bring writing, AI assistance, connected citations, and checks into one workspace.

citation style families, including APA, MLA and Chicago
8
source identifiers for lookup: URL, DOI and ISBN
3
bibliography export formats: BibTeX and RIS
2

Make progress on the paper, from the first paragraph.

Why Citation

You have gathered the evidence. Citation helps you turn it into a clear argument. Open a document, bring in the sources you need, and start shaping the paper with writing and references in the same workspace.

Choose Citation as your Zotero alternative when you want AI help with the draft itself. Ask for a clearer explanation, review the suggested changes, and apply them where you are writing. Connected citations keep your references part of that process.

Start free, invite an editor when you need another perspective, and export the complete paper when it is ready. From an early outline to the final bibliography, you can keep building the same document.

Feature comparison of Citation and Zotero
FeatureCitationZotero
AI revisions in a built in paper editorSupportedNot supported
Built in paper editorSupportedNot supported
Citations linked to source recordsSupportedSupported
Automatic bibliography formattingSupportedSupported
Editable source recordsSupportedSupported
APA, MLA, and Chicago citationsSupportedSupported
RIS and BibTeX reference importsSupportedSupported
RIS reference exportsSupportedSupported
Free reference managementSupportedSupported

Sources and styles

Bring selected Zotero references into your document or find new sources by title, URL, DOI, or ISBN. Keep a focused set of source records with the paper and insert connected citations as you explain the evidence.

Use APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago 18, Cite Them Right Harvard 12, IEEE, Vancouver (NLM), AMA 11, or ACS. Correct source details once in the document and its linked citations update. Change the document style to reformat the linked citations and bibliography together.

Writing and review

Move your next idea into the draft without leaving the writing workflow. Citation’s AI Assistant can discuss your current paper and saved sources, help clarify a paragraph, and propose revisions you can inspect before applying. You decide what becomes part of the document.

Give an editor access to revise and comment on passages, then use version history to revisit saved drafts. Check matching wording against accessible public web sources before sharing. These web checks do not cover private institutional repositories or certify originality.

Imports and exports

Start with the research you already have. Import RIS, BibTeX, or CSL JSON references from Zotero. A configured Zotero connection can also read selected personal library records using a dedicated library read key. Bring your manuscript separately as DOCX or TXT and continue developing the draft.

Take the finished paper where it needs to go. Export DOCX to continue in Word, PDF to share a reading copy, or TXT for plain text. Export reference records as BibTeX or RIS when you need them in another research tool.

Good questions.
Straight answers.

Why choose Citation instead of Zotero for my next draft?

Citation gives you a built in paper editor with AI writing support, connected citations, and document feedback. Bring in your research and work on the argument itself, then export the whole draft. Your sources, revisions, and comments stay with the paper you are developing.

Is Citation a free Zotero alternative?

Yes. Start a free Citation account and write with connected citations, AI assistance, and checks. Usage allowances for sources, storage, AI, and checks are visible in settings. You can begin with one paper and the references it needs.

What transfers when I import Zotero references?

Citation imports source metadata through RIS, BibTeX, CSL JSON, or a configured library connection. The account connection excludes attachments and notes. Records are imported copies, so later changes do not synchronize automatically between Citation and Zotero.

Can I bring a paper from Word or Google Docs?

Yes. Import a DOCX draft or paste its text, then add source records and insert connected citations. Existing Zotero fields do not automatically become Citation links. Keep the original file and review formatting after import; export DOCX when you want to take the finished draft back.

Can AI help me revise a paragraph with my sources in view?

Yes. Citation’s AI Assistant uses the current document and saved source context. Ask for a revision, compare it with your original, and apply the changes you choose in the draft. Keep your argument and its references together while you improve the writing.

Can my coauthors help review the paper?

Yes. Invite editors to revise and comment on passages in the same document. Use viewer access for reading only. When the paper is ready, export the full draft as DOCX, PDF, or TXT and its reference records as BibTeX or RIS.