EndNote 2025 Comparisons
- Compare EndNote 2025, EndNote 21 and EndNote 20 for desktop
- Compare EndNote 2025, EndNote Web with EndNote 2025, EndNote Web with EndNote 21 and EndNote Online (W)
- Compare EndNote 21, EndNote Web for desktop users (Premium), Basic (Free Version and with WoS)
- What's new in EndNote 21
- Compare EndNote versions X8, X9, 20 and 21
- What's new in EndNote 20
- Compare EndNote 20 Desktop, EndNote Online for desktop users (Premium version), EndNote Online Basic (free limited version) and EndNote Online with Web of Science (WoS) subscription.
- Compare EndNote versions X6, X7, X8 and X9
- Compare EndNote versions X4, X5, X6 and X7
- Compare Reference Manager, EndNote basic and EndNote X9
Compare EndNote 2025, EndNote 21 and EndNote 20
| Comparing EndNote Desktop Software | EndNote 2025 | EndNote 21 | EndNote 20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Experience | |||
| Key Takeaway | ✓ | ||
| Find a Journal | ✓ | ||
| Research Assistant (Coming 2025) | ✓ | ||
| Outline Generator (Coming 2025) | ✓ | ||
| Essential Functionality | |||
| Data Restoration | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Custom reference tags | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mobile Friendly – EndNote Web access | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Library sharing with up to 1,000 users | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 3-year unlimited cloud storage | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Duplicate detection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smart groups – dynamic organization for references | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bulk editing of references | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Find full-text articles with one-click | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Find and Replace | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PDF Management – read, review, annotate, search | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cite from PDF highlight | ✓ | ||
| Word Processor Integrations Via Cite While Your Write Plugin |
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| Google Docs | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Microsoft Word Online | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Microsoft Word Desktop | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple Pages | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Premium Integrations* Web of Science |
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| Directly export references Supported on Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access to WoS databases in EndNote Desktop | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| View Source Record | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| View Related Records | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| View Citing Articles | ✓ | ||
| Proquest Platform – Directly export from popular databases | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Premium Integrations* Library Software Solutions |
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| Summon | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alma | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Primo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leganto | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cortellis Drug Discovery Intelligence | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cassyni Research Seminars Available through EndNote Web | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Paperpal Preflight manuscript preparation | ✓ | ✓ |
*Integrations with Web of Science, ProQuest Platform databases, and Library Software Solutions are available with a corresponding product subscription.
Compare EndNote 2025, EndNote Web with EndNote 2025, EndNote Web with EndNote 21 and EndNote Online (W)
| Comparing EndNote Online Options | EndNote 2025 | EndNote Web with EndNote 2025 | EndNote Web with EndNote 21 | EndNote Online (W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Experience | ||||
| Key Takeaway | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| *Find A Journal publishing support | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| AI Outline Generator coming 2025 | ✓ | |||
| AI Research Assistant (coming 2025) | ✓ | |||
| Essential Functionality | ||||
| Data Restoration | ✓ | |||
| Duplicate detection | ✓ | |||
| Smart groups – dynamic reference organization | ✓ | |||
| Find Full Text | ✓ | |||
| Find and Replace | ✓ | |||
| Library sharing with up to 1,000 users | ✓ | |||
| Custom reference tagging | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cite While You Write in Google Docs and Word Online | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| File attachment storage | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 GB |
| Modern user interface | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mobile friendly | NA | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Add references from hundreds of databases | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Predefined bibliographic styles | 7.500+ | 7.500+ | 7.500+ | 7.500+ |
| Installation required | ✓ | Only if using plugin | Only if using plugin | Only if using plugin |
| Compatibility with modern web browsers | N/A | ✓ | ✓ |
*Available with Cite While You Write plugin
Compare EndNote 21, EndNote Web for desktop users (Premium), Basic (Free Version and with WoS)
| Feature | EndNote 21 | EndNote Web for desktop users (Premium) | EndNote Basic (free limited version) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Version details | Available for Windows and Mac users | Most modern web browsers | Most web browsers |
| How to get it | Available for personal use; pricing discounts for multi copy purchases; Site wide licenses available for entire institutions/ organizations. Learn more | With EndNote desktop purchase, initial sign in/sign up done from within desktop, then log in at web.endnote.com | Free to anyone, sign up at myendnoteweb.com |
| Integrated with MS Word | Yes, via Cite While You Write plugin | Yes, via Cite While You Write plugin | Yes, via Cite While You Write plugin |
| Sharing References | Share a library as read and write or read-only with up to 1.000 other users / have unlimited number of as read and write or read-only libraries shared to you | Sharing features on the way! | Share a group with other EndNote online users |
| # of bibliographic citation styles | 7.000+ predefined; plus create your own | 7.000+ predefined | Top 21 most commonly used styles |
| Installation required | ✓ | Optional browser Add-ons | Optional browser Add-ons |
| Operating System | Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows | MacOS X, Microsoft Windows, and Linux. Basic compatibility with modern mobile OSes with enhancements to come | MacOS X, Microsoft Windows, and Linux |
| New modern interface | ✓ | ✓ | |
| One-click Find full text | ✓ | ||
| Format bibliographies | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online database searching | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Online Search Options/ Connection Files | Over 4.000 | 5 | |
| Number of file formats accepted from other online database providers (for reference import)/ filters | Over 650 | RIS, but more to come | 3 |
| Custom options to add additional database providers | ✓ | ||
| File attachment storage | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 GB |
| Reference storage | Up to 1 million | Up to 1 million | 50.000 |
| Max # of fields per reference | 56 | 53 | 53 |
| Max # of reference types | 55 | 55 | 48 |
| Create group sets (headings user can arrange groups under) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Create smart groups (based on a search of EndNote library that automatically updates) | ✓ | ||
| Create combined groups (based on a search of the contents of other groups) | ✓ | ||
| Change case (change capitalization of selected text) | ✓ | ||
| Find and Replace | ✓ | ||
| Change, move, or copy fields | ✓ | ||
| Search by field | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access from any modern internet browser | N/A | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email reference attached PDF | ✓ | ||
| Spell check | Yes (individual records only) | ||
| Sort library | Yes (by up to 5 fields, and select language options) | Yes (basic English sort on main library fields) | Yes (basic English sort on main library fields) |
| Customize duplicate recognition | ✓ | ||
| Composite styles (for example, ACS with 1a-f) | ✓ | ||
| Bibliographies at end of sections as well as at end of document in Microsoft Word | ✓ | ||
| Hyperlinks between citations and bibliography entries | ✓ | ||
| Organize using tags | ✓ | ||
| Auto-fill reference based on DOI | ✓ | ✓ |
What's new in EndNote 21
Working from a previous version? Compare features and see the difference.
EndNote 21 is Here - Focus on Your Ideas
EndNote 21 delivers an even better experience with an improved online interface and access - even away from the desktop. With EndNote 21, you will: With the new version of EndNote, your organization benefits from:
Stay organized with features like tags
Organize your references using Tags. You can add tags to references and customize the color and name of the tags.
Exclusive access to the new EndNote Web
Access and experience a new exclusive EndNote Web interface when you're away from your desktop.
Protect your work with data restoration functions
Recover a lost or damaged library with ease.
Single reference restoration.
Improve your writing workflow with integrated document creation tools
Cite While You Write compatibility with Google Docs.
Build a bibliography in over 7.000 styles, or customize a new style.
Share your library with up to 1.000 colleagues
Share your entire library with up to 1.000 other EndNote 21 users, no matter where they are.
Compare EndNote versions X8, X9, 20 and 21
| Working from a previous EndNote version? | X8 | X9 | 20 | 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| User interface | ||||
| Exclusive EndNote Web interface | ✓ | |||
| Modern interface | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Reference summary which puts critical information first | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Simplified PDF viewer with annotation tools | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Open references and groups in individual tabs | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Search across external databases | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Organize library and references | ||||
| Organize references using tags | ✓ | |||
| Create custom groups of references | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Web of Science integrations (*A Web of Science subscription is required) | ||||
| Get Manuscript Matcher suggestions directly from Cite While You Write™ and desktop | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Create a Citation Report from EndNote™ desktop with your Web of Science™ subscription | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Share | ||||
| Share your entire library with others | 100 | 100 | 400 | 1.000 |
| Share your entire library with read-only or read-and-write access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Activity feed with shared library member activity | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automation and full text management | ||||
| Deduplication by DOI and/or PMCID | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Automatically find and apply bulk reference updates | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Imports PDF files found by EndNote™ Click | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Find full text with one click | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Extraction of DOIs and other embedded metadata from imported PDFs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-import of PDFs from a folder | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatically create groups when importing folders and subfolders of PDFs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integration with Ex Libris Alma™ for Find Full Text | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| EndNote online | ||||
| Three year access to new EndNote Web | ✓ | |||
| Cross-platform library syncing across desktop, online, and iPad | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Three years of unlimited storage space for full text and file attachment on redesigned EndNote Web | ✓ | |||
| Three years of unlimited number of references on redesigned EndNote Web | ✓ | |||
| Cite | ||||
| Cite While You Write for Word | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cite While You Write for Google Docs | ✓ | |||
| Retractions flagged in personal library | ✓ | |||
| Retracted articles flagged in Cite While You Write | ✓ | |||
| Hyperlinked in-text citations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Search across external databases | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customize citation styles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Peace of mind | ||||
| Restore a reference to previous state | ✓ | |||
| Restore a damaged library | ✓ |
What's new in EndNote 20
Accelerate your research with EndNote 20
Working from a previous version? Compare features and see the difference.
Begin with EndNote 20
Power your organization's research with a robust system you can count on. The same power and flexibility researchers trust, modernized for ease of use. With the new version of EndNote, your organization benefits from:
New design
Prepare manuscripts and manage bibliographies with an intuitive user interface.
Improved reading & editing
Read and annotate more easily with full-size PDFs, and quickly copy formatted references.
Cite While You Write
Insert in-text citations while creating a bibliography in Microsoft® Word.
7.000+ reference styles
Build a bibliography in over 7.000 styles, or customize a new style.
Compare EndNote 20, Online for desktop users (Premium), Basic (Free Version) and Online with Wos
| Feature | EndNote 20 | EndNote Online for desktop users (Premium) | EndNote Basic (free limited version) | EndNote Online with WoS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Version details | Available for Windows and Mac users | Available for Windows and Mac users | Available for Windows and Mac users | Available for Windows and Mac users |
| How to get it | Available for personal use; pricing discounts for multi copy purchases; Site wide licenses available for entire institutions/ organizations. Learn more | With EndNote desktop purchase, initial sign in/sign up done from within desktop, then log in | Free to anyone | Navigate from within Web of Science |
| Integrated with MS Word | Yes, via Cite While You Write plugin | Yes, via optional Cite While You Write plugin | Yes, via optional Cite While You Write plugin | Yes, via optional Cite While You Write plugin |
| Sharing References | Share a library as read & write or read-only with up to 400 other X7, X8 or X9 users / have unlimited number of as read & write or read-only libraries shared to you by X7, X8 or X9 users | Share a group with up to 1.000 other EndNote Online users | Share a group with up to 1.000 other EndNote Online users | Share a group with up to 1.000 other EndNote Online users |
| # of bibliographic citation styles | 7.000+ predefined; plus create your own | 7.000+ predefined | Top 21 most commonly used styles | 7.000+ predefined; EndNote Online Site Administrators can share custom styles with entire site |
| Installation required | ✓ | Browser Add-on downloads | Browser Add-on downloads | Browser Add-on downloads |
| Operating System | Mac OS X & Win | Win, Mac OS X & Linux | Win, Mac OS X & Linux | Win, Mac OS X & Linux |
| One-click Find full text | ✓ | |||
| Format bibliographies | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online database searching | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Number of file formats accepted from other online database providers (for reference import) / Filters | Over 650 | Over 500 | 3 | Over 500 |
| Online Search Options/ Connection Files | Over 4.000 (may require access through data provider) | Over 1.400 (may require access through data provider) | 5 | Over 1.400 (may require access through data provider) |
| Custom options to add additional database providers | ✓ | Yes, EndNote Online Site Administrators can share custom connections with entire site | ||
| File Attachment Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Reference Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Max # of fields per reference | 56 | 53 | 53 | 53 |
| Max # of Reference Types | 58 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| Create group sets (headings user can arrange groups under) | ✓ | |||
| Create smart groups (based on a search of EndNote library that automatically updates) | ✓ | |||
| Create combined groups (based on a search of the contents of other groups) | ✓ | |||
| Change case (change capitalization of selected text) | ✓ | |||
| Find and replace | ✓ | |||
| Change, move, or copy fields | ✓ | |||
| Search by field | ✓ | |||
| Access from any Internet browser | N/A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email reference and attached PDF | ✓ | |||
| Spell check | Yes (individual records only) | |||
| Format Paper | ✓ | ✓ | Author Date | |
| Sort library | Yes (by up to 5 fields, and select language options) | Yes (a limited set of field options and no language options) | Yes (a limited set of field options and no language options) | Yes (a limited set of field options and no language options) |
| Customize display options | ✓ | |||
| Customize duplicate recognition | ✓ | |||
| OpenURL support | Yes (user-defined in preferences) | Yes Desktop: User-defined in preferences Online: submit support ticket to set up for your site | Yes, submit support ticket to set up for your site | |
| Composite styles (e.g., ACS with 1a-f) | ✓ | Yes, using X9 Desktop. Online does not have this feature | ||
| Bibliographies at end of sections as well as at end of document in Microsoft Word | ✓ | Yes, using X9 Desktop. Online does not have this feature | ||
| Hyperlinks between citations and bibliography entries | ✓ | Yes, using X9 Desktop. Online does not have this feature |
Compare EndNote versions X6, X7, X8 and X9
| WORKING FROM A PREVIOUS ENDNOTE VERSION? | X6 | X7 | X8 | X9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EndNote Online | ||||
| Three year access to new EndNote Web | ✓ | |||
| Cross-platform library syncing across desktop, online, iPad® and iPhone® | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clear and simple Configure Sync option | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| New sync configuration options for previous versions and multiple libriaries | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Full text and file attachment storage space | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| Number of references in EndNote Online | 50K | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Manuscript matching and publication recommendations | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Share | ||||
| Share specific groups using EndNote desktop | ✓ | |||
| Share your entire library with read-only or read-and-write access | ✓ | |||
| Share your entire library with others | with 14 | with 100 | with 100 | |
| Activity feed with shared library member activity | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Learn when new members join the shared library | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Web of Science integrations | ||||
| Get Manuscript Matcher suggestions directly from Cite While You Write™ and desktop | ✓ | |||
| Create a citation report from EndNote desktop with your Web of Science subscription | ✓ | |||
| Automation and Full Text management | ||||
| Recently Added Group, customizable and built into each library | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Automatically find and apply bulk reference updates | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Unified iconography across both Mac and Windows | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Find full text with one click | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Extraction of DOIs and other embedded metadata from imported PDFs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Auto-import of PDFs from a folder | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Quick Search with multi-phrase search of all fields, including full text and notes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Automatically create groups when importing folders and subfolders of PDFs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Annotate and highlight PDFs in application | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Search PDF text, notes and annotations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Library systems integration/EZProxy Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built in PDF viewer with annotation tools | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cite | ||||
| Subheading and category bibliography options in Cite While You Write™ for Microsoft Word® | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Insert citations and references into PowerPoint* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Hyperlinked In-text citations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Multiple bibliographies in a single document | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Search across external databases | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Library systems integration and EZProxy Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customize citation styles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customize | ||||
| Personalize display of reference ratings and read/ unread status | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Choose how you’d like your PDF’s renamed in your library | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Optimize screen layout options for widescreen or traditional monitors | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Field substitutions in styles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced reference organization with Smart and Combined Groups | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Create or customize your own bibliographic formatting styles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Options when saving a compressed copy of library | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Compare EndNote versions X4, X5, X6 and X7
| EndNote Online | X4 | X5 | X6 | X7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synchronize EndNote references and groups across desktop, online and iPad® | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Background syncing | ✓ | |||
| Install and sync libraries across Windows® and Mac® platforms | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Free 2-year access to my.endnote.com with advanced features* | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| File attachment storage* | 2 GB | 5 GB | 5 GB | Unlimited |
| Find full text & PDF auto-import | ||||
| PDF auto-import folder | ✓ | |||
| Improved Quick Search with multi-phrase search of all fields, including PDF full text and notes | ✓ | |||
| Automatically create reference groups when importing folders and subfolders of PDFs | ✓ | |||
| Open separate PDF annotion/reference window with a button | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Built-in PDF viewer with annotation tools | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| One-click Find Full Text with OpenURL and ezProxy support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customizable features | ||||
| Personalize display of ratings and read/unread status | ✓ | |||
| Choose how you'd like your PDFs renamed in your library | ✓ | |||
| Optimize screen layout options for widescreen or traditional monitors | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Make field substitutions in styles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Options when saving a compressed copy of library | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced features | ||||
| Free library sharing, unlimited library size, unlimited cloud storage | ✓ | |||
| Category bibliography options in Cite While You Write for Microsoft Word | ✓ | |||
| Insert citations and references into PowerPoint (Windows only) | ✓ | |||
| Cite While You Write support for Apache Open Office | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hyperlinked in-text citations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple bibliographies in a single document | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-reference with redlines | ||||
| Reference types for podcast, interview and press release | ✓ | |||
| Automatically find reference updates | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Quick Edit tab | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |