What is the difference between EndNote and Mendeley?

EndNote focuses on Reference management and is paid, while Mendeley specializes in Reference management and is freemium. Both are AI Research tools.

Is EndNote or Mendeley better?

It depends on your needs. EndNote excels at Industry standard, while Mendeley is known for Generous free storage. Compare their features above to decide which fits your workflow.

EndNote vs Mendeley

AI Research tools comparison · Updated 2026

Choosing between EndNote and Mendeley? Both are popular AI Research tools. EndNote starts at From $137/mo and focuses on Reference management. Mendeley starts at Freemium and specializes in Reference management. Here's a detailed side-by-side comparison to help you decide.

At a Glance

	EndNote	Mendeley
Category	AI Research	AI Research
Pricing	paid	freemium
Starting Price	From $137/mo	Freemium
Best For	reference-manager, citations, professional	reference-manager, citations, social-network
Features	6 listed	6 listed

EndNote

Professional reference manager by Clarivate with Web of Science and Word integration.

AI Research paid

Visit EndNote → Alternatives

Mendeley

Elsevier reference manager with social networking, PDF management, and collaboration.

AI Research freemium

Visit Mendeley → Alternatives

Feature Comparison

EndNote	Mendeley
✓ Reference management	✓ Reference management
✓ PDF management	✓ PDF annotation
✓ Web of Science integration	✓ Academic social network
✓ Manuscript matching	✓ Group collaboration
✓ Bibliography formatting	✓ Citation plugin for Word
✓ Team sharing	✓ Research feed

Pricing Comparison

EndNote

paid

Starting at $137/mo

Desktop license at $274.95 one-time (students $136.95). EndNote Online included with Web of Science subscriptions.

Mendeley

freemium

Free with 2GB storage. Institutional plans available through Elsevier.

Pros & Cons

EndNote

Pros

+ Industry standard
+ Deep Web of Science integration
+ Powerful formatting options
+ Institutional support

Cons

− Expensive
− Steep learning curve
− Dated interface
− No Linux support

Mendeley

Pros

+ Generous free storage
+ Social features for networking
+ Good PDF annotation
+ Institutional access common

Cons

− Owned by Elsevier (privacy concerns)
− Desktop app discontinued for web
− Data lock-in concerns
− Slower development recently

The Verdict

Both EndNote and Mendeley are strong AI Research tools. EndNote stands out for Industry standard, making it ideal if that's your priority. Mendeley excels at Generous free storage, which may be more important for your workflow. Price-wise, EndNote is paid while Mendeley is freemium, so budget may also factor in.