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Reference manager storage prices compared

What Zotero, Mendeley, Paperpile, ReadCube Papers and Citavi charge per year when your PDFs no longer fit in a free plan.

What 50 GB or more costs per year

  1. Refory50 GB, keeps using Zotero€19
  2. ReadCube PapersEssentials, unlimited$95
  3. PaperpileRegular, unlimited$99.60
  4. Zotero StorageUnlimited$120
  5. CitaviLicense plus 50 GB storage add-on$90 + €40
  6. MendeleyMax, unlimited$165

Cheapest plan with at least 50 GB, billed yearly. Paperpile and ReadCube offer academic discounts of 50% and 40%, which bring them to $49.80 and $57 a year. Citavi’s storage is an add-on to a Citavi license, which starts at $90 a year and is often provided by universities. Prices in US dollars are before tax.

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All plans

Refory

Storage for Zotero

  • 50 GB€19/year
  • 50 GB€2/month
  • 50 GB, 6 months€10
  • 50 GB trial30 days free

Works with Zotero’s built-in sync. Backups for 30 days.

Plans

Zotero Storage

Zotero’s own storage

  • 300 MBFree
  • 2 GB$20/year
  • 6 GB$60/year
  • Unlimited$120/year

Also syncs files in shared group libraries.

Source

Mendeley

Separate reference manager

  • 2 GBFree
  • 5 GB$55/year
  • 10 GB$110/year
  • Unlimited$165/year

Monthly billing costs more: $4.99, $9.99 or $14.99.

Source

Paperpile

Separate reference manager

  • Regular, unlimited$99.60/year
  • Expert, unlimited$138/year

Billed yearly only. 50% off for students and academics.

Source

ReadCube Papers

Separate reference manager

  • Essentials, unlimited$95/year
  • Plus, unlimited$185/year

Monthly: $10 or $20. 40% off for academics.

Source

Citavi

Separate reference manager

  • 5 GB storage add-on€16/year
  • 50 GB storage add-on€40/year
  • Citavi licensefrom $90/year

Storage is sold on top of a Citavi license. Many universities provide the license.

Source

Before you switch

  • Switching tools means moving your library. Mendeley, Paperpile, ReadCube Papers and Citavi are separate reference managers with their own citation plugins.
  • Refory keeps you in Zotero. Only your PDFs are stored with Refory. Your references, notes and collections keep syncing through Zotero for free.
  • Shared group libraries can only sync files through Zotero Storage.
  • EndNote and Citavi are often licensed through your university. Ask your library before buying.

Prices checked on 10 October 2026 on each vendor’s pricing page: Zotero, Mendeley, Paperpile, ReadCube Papers, Citavi storage and Citavi license. Prices can change; check them before you buy.