Brandwave

How popular isJabRef?

In September 2026, people searched for JabRef by name about 5,400 times worldwide, a 33.3% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 0.3% of all global reference management software searches, placing JabRef sixth out of seven brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about reference management software, JabRef appeared in three of the five answers and was the fifth most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

JabRef is the sixth most searched of 7 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. ZoteroShare of searches 47.3%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. MendeleyShare of searches 41.5%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  3. EndNoteShare of searches 7.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  4. RefWorksShare of searches 1.9%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. JabRefShare of searches 0.3%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th

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Top reference management software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, JabRef was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. JabRef is the fifth most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Zotero1st
  2. EndNote2nd
  3. Paperpile3rd
  4. Mendeley4th
  5. JabRef5th
  6. BibDesk6th
  7. RefWorks–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Zotero5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • EndNote5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Paperpile5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Mendeley4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • JabRef3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • BibDesk1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • RefWorks0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about reference management software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which reference management software compete with JabRef?

JabRef against reference management software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, JabRef. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthZoteroMendeleyEndNoteRefWorksPaperpileJabRefBibDesk
Oct 202545.9%40.4%9.2%2.8%1.2%0.37%0.05%
Nov 202542.3%44.7%8.5%2.6%1.4%0.41%0.05%
Dec 202540.8%44.2%10%2.5%2%0.48%0.06%
Jan 202649%36.2%9.8%2.5%2%0.47%0.07%
Feb 202649%36.1%9.8%3%1.6%0.47%0.06%
Mar 202648.3%35%11.7%3%1.6%0.38%0.06%
Apr 202646%40.7%9.2%2.3%1.5%0.36%0.05%
May 202646%40.6%9.2%2.3%1.5%0.36%0.05%
Jun 202645.9%41.2%9.1%1.5%1.8%0.44%0.06%
Jul 202651%37.2%8.3%1.4%1.7%0.4%0.05%
Aug 202646.3%41.4%9.1%1.3%1.5%0.36%0.05%
Sep 202647.3%41.5%7.7%1.9%1.3%0.3%0.05%

  1. 1.Zotero

    47.3%

    Held 1st. 841K estimated branded searches, +48.9% vs prior month. Share +0.9 points.

  2. 2.Mendeley

    41.5%

    Held 2nd. 738K estimated branded searches, +46.5% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  3. 3.EndNote

    7.7%

    Held 3rd. 136K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share -1.5 points.

  4. 4.RefWorks

    1.9%

    Moved from 5th to 4th. 34.1K estimated branded searches, +119.5% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  5. 5.Paperpile

    1.3%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 22.5K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.JabRef

    0.3%

    Held 6th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.BibDesk

    0.05%

    Held 7th. 880 estimated branded searches, +49.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between JabRef and its closest rivals

Every comparison with JabRef

6 comparisons

How has branded search demand for JabRef changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for JabRef worldwide fell from 8.1K to 5.4K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, JabRef’s share of searches among reference management software worldwide held steady, from 0.37% to 0.3%.

How did search popularity change for reference management software worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, RefWorks overtook Paperpile to rank 4th among reference management software worldwide, with 1.9% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Zotero gained share of searches among reference management software worldwide, from 46.3% to 47.3%.

  3. In September 2026, EndNote lost share of searches among reference management software worldwide, from 9.1% to 7.7%.

  4. Paperpile’s share of searches among reference management software worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.8% to 1.3% in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for JabRef worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 5.4K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Mendeley worldwide fell 17.1% over 12 measured months, from 891K to 738K in September 2026.

How are JabRef’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using JabRef’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • jabref

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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