In this article, I’ll introduce some of the most useful plugins for Zotero, the free and open-source reference management tool. Plugins extend Zotero’s functionality in powerful ways — from translation to advanced annotation, automation, and external integrations. If you’re only using Zotero’s core features, you’re missing out on what it can really do.
I’ve curated a list of plugins that I personally use or are highly rated by the community. If you’re new to Zotero, this guide can serve as a great starting point.
Also, for a more comprehensive guide — including the latest 2025 updates and advanced AI integrations — I’ve created a paid Note with in-depth explanations and practical tips. If you’re serious about using Zotero efficiently, I highly recommend it.
How to Install Zotero Plugins
To get started with plugins in Zotero:
- Click on
Tools > Add-ons and Plugins. - In the Plugins window, click the gear icon in the top-right corner.
- Select “Install Plugin from File” and choose the
.xpifile of the plugin you downloaded. - Some plugins may require restarting Zotero.
Now, let’s dive into the most useful plugins.
1. Zotmoov
Zotmoov is a simple but powerful plugin that helps you move PDF files managed by Zotero to cloud storage services like Google Drive or OneDrive.
It allows easy configuration of file copy behavior and subdirectory structures via Zotero’s preferences menu.
This is an essential plugin for those who want to store PDFs in the cloud while still managing references in Zotero.
2. Translate for Zotero
🔗 Download Translate for Zotero
This plugin adds an inline translation button for selected text in PDFs. Just highlight a passage and click "Translate" to instantly see the translation — perfect for non-native English speakers or international researchers.
By default, it uses Google Translate, but you can also configure it to use custom prompts via LLM APIs (e.g., OpenAI or Gemini) for more accurate and flexible output — including vocabulary explanations or flashcard-style output.
If you’re looking for free high-quality translation, Google Gemini (with its free tier) is a great choice.
3. Inciteful for Zotero
This plugin integrates Zotero with Inciteful, a powerful visual tool for exploring related academic papers. From any selected item in your library, you can launch a visual network graph of relevant research.
You can also batch-select multiple papers to generate broader maps of related works — a huge plus when performing literature reviews or exploring new fields.
4. Scite for Zotero
This plugin brings Scite.ai's contextual citation analysis into Zotero. It shows you how your references have been cited — whether supporting, contrasting, or simply mentioning the original work.
If you’re subscribed to Scite, you can access detailed information including the exact sentence where the citation occurred — incredibly helpful for assessing paper credibility or citation patterns.
You can get the information from the web by pressing View Scite Report, but it is undeniable that it takes some effort. It has been raised in the Issues on Github (a kind of bulletin board for reporting program problems to the creator), so it may be fixed someday, but its usefulness is somewhat diminished.
5. Better BibTeX
If you write academic papers using LaTeX, this plugin is a must. Better BibTeX automatically generates and updates .bib files from your Zotero library, and allows you to customize citation keys.
Although I personally use Word more often than LaTeX, LaTeX users consistently rate this plugin as indispensable for managing references efficiently.
6. Better Notes for Zotero
Better Notes significantly upgrades Zotero’s internal note-taking system:
- You can link notes together and export them as clean Markdown files.
- There’s even two-way sync between Zotero notes and external Markdown files — a huge win if you use note-taking tools like Obsidian.
With this plugin, your Zotero notes become a true part of your knowledge base, not just static annotations.
Summary
Here’s a quick breakdown of the plugins we covered:
| Category | Plugins |
|---|---|
| Reading & Understanding | Translate for Zotero, Scite |
| External Integration | Zotmoov, Inciteful |
| Output & Writing | Better BibTeX, Better Notes |
Zotero’s open-source ecosystem makes it ideal for integration with AI and modern research workflows. If you're using Zotero just as a reference manager, you’re missing out on its potential as a full research assistant.
I use these plugins daily — give them a try and see how much smoother your workflow becomes. And if you’ve found other plugins that work well for you, feel free to share them in the comments!
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