How popular isZotero in search?
In September 2026, there were an estimated 841K branded searches for Zotero worldwide which is down 16.9% over the last 12 months. Zotero holds 47.4% estimated Share of Search among reference management software worldwide and is ranked 1st of 5 competitors for search popularity. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
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Which reference management software compete with Zotero?
Share of Search by month for Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Zotero | Mendeley | EndNote | RefWorks | Paperpile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 46.1% | 40.6% | 9.3% | 2.8% | 1.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 42.5% | 44.9% | 8.5% | 2.6% | 1.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 41% | 44.4% | 10% | 2.5% | 2% |
| Jan 2026 | 49.2% | 36.4% | 9.9% | 2.5% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 49.2% | 36.3% | 9.8% | 3% | 1.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 48.5% | 35.2% | 11.8% | 3% | 1.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 46.1% | 40.8% | 9.2% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
| May 2026 | 46.2% | 40.8% | 9.2% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
| Jun 2026 | 46.1% | 41.4% | 9.1% | 1.5% | 1.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 51.2% | 37.4% | 8.3% | 1.4% | 1.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 46.5% | 41.5% | 9.2% | 1.3% | 1.5% |
| Sep 2026 | 47.4% | 41.7% | 7.7% | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 47.4% | 841K | +48.9% | +0.9 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 41.7% | 738K | +46.5% | +0.1 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 7.7% | 136K | +22.7% | -1.5 points | |
| 4, moved from 5th to 4th | 1.9% | 34.1K | +119.5% | +0.6 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 4th to 5th | 1.3% | 22.5K | +22.3% | -0.2 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th |
1.
Zotero47.4%
Held 1st. 841K estimated branded searches, +48.9% vs prior month. Share +0.9 points.
2.
Mendeley41.7%
Held 2nd. 738K estimated branded searches, +46.5% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
3.
EndNote7.7%
Held 3rd. 136K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share -1.5 points.
4.
RefWorks1.9%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 34.1K estimated branded searches, +119.5% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.
1.3%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 22.5K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
Compare search popularity between Zotero and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Zotero
7 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Zotero changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Zotero worldwide fell from 1M to 841K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Zotero’s estimated Share of Search among reference management software worldwide increased from 46.1% to 47.4%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Zotero’s estimated Share of Search among reference management software worldwide peaked at 51.2% in July 2026 and was lowest at 41% in December 2025.
How did search popularity change for reference management software worldwide in September 2026?
5 changes
In September 2026, RefWorks overtook Paperpile to rank 4th among reference management software worldwide, with 1.9% estimated Share of Search.
In September 2026, Zotero gained estimated Share of Search among reference management software worldwide, from 46.5% to 47.4%.
In September 2026, EndNote lost estimated Share of Search among reference management software worldwide, from 9.2% to 7.7%.
Paperpile’s estimated Share of Search among reference management software worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.9% to 1.3% in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Mendeley worldwide fell 17.1% over 12 measured months, from 891K to 738K in September 2026.
Where does Zotero compete?
| Competitor set | Rank | Share of Search | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citation and reference tools | 6th of 6 | 0.49% | Show ranking |
| Reference management software | 1st of 5 | 47.4% | Shown above |
| Reference manager software | 3rd of 3 | 1.5% | Show ranking |
How is Zotero measured?
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Zotero’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
3 branded search terms
- reference manager zotero
- zotero
- zotero app
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Is Zotero your brand?
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