JabRef is an open-source reference manager focused on BibTeX and BibLaTeX. It’s widely used by researchers who write papers in LaTeX and want a local, transparent way to manage citations.
JabRef runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux and stores references in plain .bib files rather than a proprietary database.
If you work with LaTeX, JabRef removes friction. You don’t need plugins, cloud sync accounts, or format conversions just to manage references. Everything stays readable, version-controllable, and portable.
It’s especially valuable for academics, PhD students, and technical researchers who care about citation accuracy and long-term access to their libraries.
You import references from DOI, ISBN, PubMed, arXiv, or online databases, then edit them in a structured BibTeX editor. JabRef handles citation keys, metadata cleanup, and PDF linking.
Libraries are stored locally, but optional cloud sync (via WebDAV or Git repositories) is supported.
