What is the difference between Mendeley and EndNote?

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

Is Mendeley or EndNote better?

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

Mendeley vs EndNote

AI Research tools comparison · Updated 2026

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

At a Glance

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

Mendeley

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

AI Research freemium

Visit Mendeley → Alternatives

EndNote

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

AI Research paid

Visit EndNote → Alternatives

Feature Comparison

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

Pricing Comparison

Mendeley

freemium

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

EndNote

paid

Starting at $137/mo

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

Pros & Cons

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

EndNote

Pros

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

Cons

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

The Verdict

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