Paperpile — Reference Manager for Google Workspace

Browser-first reference manager with deep Google Docs and Overleaf integration. Fast, clean, and designed for researchers working in Chrome and Google Docs.

2026-01-20 1 MIN READ

Official Site https://paperpile.com
Category Reference
Pricing Paid
Rating ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Paperpile — When It Beats Zotero

Paperpile is a paid reference manager ($3/month) that integrates deeply with Google Chrome and Google Docs. If your entire research workflow runs in Google Workspace, it’s worth considering over Zotero.

Paperpile wins when:

  • You write primarily in Google Docs (the citation plugin is seamless)
  • You want a clean, fast interface without Zotero’s learning curve
  • You need iOS/Android apps (Paperpile’s are significantly better than Zotero Mobile)
  • You work collaboratively in shared Google Drive folders

Zotero is still better when:

  • You need it completely free
  • You write in LaTeX, Word, or LibreOffice
  • You want deep Obsidian integration (Zotero connectors are more mature)
  • You work on air-gapped or offline systems

Overleaf Integration

Paperpile connects directly to Overleaf. Your library syncs as a .bib file that updates automatically when you add new references. This is more seamless than manually exporting from Zotero.

Pricing

$3/month (annual) or $4/month (monthly). There is a 30-day free trial. No free tier beyond the trial.