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Compare RefWorks with EndNote & Reference Manager

Compare program features and capabilities:
CITATION MANAGER REFWORKS ENDNOTE REFERENCE MANAGER
Version
6.0
X2
12
Cost
Free for UNC faculty, students, and staff

Student: $115
Faculty/staff: $229

Student: $115
Faculty/staff: $249
Access/operating system compatibility
Web-based;
Windows, Mac, Unix
Desktop/network;
MAC and Windows
Desktop/network;
Windows only
Word processor compatibility

Word 2000/XP/2003/2007 and
Word for Mac 1998 and up

Word 2000/XP/2003/2007, Word for Mac, and RTF document scan for other WPs
Word 2000/XP/2003/2007 and WordPerfect 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Ease of use
Easy
Moderate
Difficult
Program updates
Automatic
Purchase/install
Purchase/install
Sharing options
RefShare; group folders
Traveling library
Traveling library
Output styles
+800
+3300
+1000
Reference types
31
46
35
Customizing

Display plus reference types, output styles

Display plus reference types, import filters, output styles, connection files
Display plus reference types, import filters, output styles, Z39.50 host files
Importing from indexes/databases
Yes: use one of 870+ import filters or by direct export
Yes: use one of the 600+ import filters or by direct export
Yes: use one of the 450+ import filters or by direct export
Importing using direct connections

Yes: PubMed, library catalogs and selected z39.50 sites

Yes: PubMed, library catalogs and selected z39.50 sites
Yes: PubMed, library catalogs and selected z39.50 sites
Duplicate detection
Yes
Yes
Yes
Global editing
Yes
Yes
Yes
Searching/saving search strategies
Uses Boolean or comparison operators
Uses Boolean or comparison operators; can save strategies
Uses Boolean or comparison operators; can save strategies
Spell check
No
Yes
Yes
Store and cite images
No
Yes
Yes
Linking to PDFs
Yes: web or local
Yes: web or local
Yes: web or local
Open URL linking
Yes
Yes
Yes
Formatting bibliographies
Write-N-Cite
Cite While You Write
Cite While You Write
Exporting independent bibliographies - formats
RTF, HTML, XML, Text, Windows, Open Office
RTF, HTML, XML, Text, RIS, Tab Delimited, MEDLINE
RTF, HTML, XML, Text, RIS, Tab Delimited, MEDLINE
Extras

Request Import filters, output styles and direct connect files; Allow read-only access; Individuals can create multiple accounts; View interface in 7 languages

Palm compatible; Word templates for journals; data visualization (RefViz)
Web publisher; true network capabilities; data visualization (RefViz)
Unicode support
Yes
Yes
No
Documentation/tech support
Excellent
Excellent
Fair

Which program should I use?

That depends! For many, RefWorks offers a flexible, easy to use option for creating personalized citation databases and formatting bibliographies. RefWorks is available on the web and you do not need to worry about updates and new versions. Best of all, UNC has paid for the use of RefWorks by all current UNC students, faculty and staff!

Another thing to consider, though, is that the method for creating a bibliography is not as powerful in RefWorks as the equivalent Cite While You Write feature in EndNote and Reference Manager. Customizing options are also more limited with RefWorks.

For those who have not already purchased EndNote or a similar program, you may want to try using RefWorks first. RefWorks can be learned quickly and provides easy sharing of folders for group work.

For those who currently use EndNote or Reference Manager, especially researchers, faculty members and doctoral students, you may want to continue using these well established and powerful software programs.

An important note: RefWorks users can easily transfer citations into EndNote or Reference Manager. The opposite is also true. So there is no need to be concerned about losing your work, no matter which program you choose.

If you would like more personalized guidance, just send a message to the HSL Ask-A-Librarian service. Someone will be happy to discuss your choices in more detail.