Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Qiqqa VS RefWorks

Compare Qiqqa VS RefWorks and see what are their differences

Qiqqa logo Qiqqa

Qiqqa is a free research and reference management software. It can be used in many organizational projects from the academic to the personal to the business endeavor. Read more about Qiqqa.

RefWorks logo RefWorks

RefWorks is an online research management, writing & collaboration tool that helps researchers easily gather, manage, store & share information.
  • Qiqqa Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-03
  • RefWorks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-08

Qiqqa features and specs

  • Efficient Reference Management
    Qiqqa provides automated reference management, helping users organize, search, and manage their research papers efficiently.
  • Annotation and Tagging
    Users can annotate and tag PDFs within Qiqqa, making it easier to highlight important information and categorize documents for future reference.
  • Research Analysis
    Qiqqa offers tools for analyzing research documents, highlighting connections and helping users understand trends and relationships within their research field.
  • Cloud Synchronization
    Offers cloud storage and synchronization, allowing users to access their research documents from different devices easily.
  • Free Version
    Qiqqa has a free version that provides many essential features, making it accessible for students and researchers with limited budgets.

Possible disadvantages of Qiqqa

  • Learning Curve
    New users might find Qiqqa's interface and features complex, leading to a steep learning curve initially.
  • Limited Collaboration Features
    Qiqqa lacks advanced collaboration tools compared to some other reference management software, which can be a drawback for research teams.
  • PC Only
    Qiqqa is available only for Windows, limiting its accessibility for Mac and Linux users.
  • Mobile Access
    While there is some mobile accessibility through cloud synchronization, Qiqqa does not have dedicated mobile apps, which could be a limitation for users who prefer working on tablets or smartphones.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report performance issues like slow loading times and occasional crashes, especially with a large number of documents.

RefWorks features and specs

  • Cloud-Based Access
    RefWorks is a cloud-based tool, which allows users to access their references from any location with an internet connection. This makes it highly convenient for researchers who work from multiple locations or collaborate with others.
  • Integration with Word Processors
    RefWorks integrates seamlessly with popular word processors like Microsoft Word and Google Docs, enabling easy citation and bibliography creation directly within documents.
  • Collaboration Features
    RefWorks offers collaborative functionalities that allow multiple users to work on the same project, making it easier for groups to share references and resources.
  • Import Capability
    Users can import references from various databases and library catalogs directly into RefWorks. This reduces the time and effort needed to manually input citation information.
  • Multiple Citation Styles
    RefWorks supports a wide range of citation styles, catering to the needs of different academic disciplines and ensuring compliance with various publication requirements.
  • Data Management
    RefWorks allows for extensive organization options, including folders, tags, and notes, making it easier to manage large amounts of reference data.
  • Customer Support
    ProQuest provides robust customer support and training for RefWorks, including webinars, tutorials, and documentation to help users maximize the tool’s capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of RefWorks

  • Subscription Cost
    RefWorks typically requires a subscription, which can be a barrier for individual users or institutions with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a steep learning curve when first using RefWorks due to its wide range of features and functionalities, which can be overwhelming.
  • Reliance on Internet
    As a cloud-based service, RefWorks requires a stable internet connection for access and use. This could be a limitation in areas with poor internet connectivity.
  • Limited Offline Access
    RefWorks offers limited functionalities for offline use, which can be inconvenient for users who need to work without internet access.
  • Occasional Sync Issues
    Some users have reported occasional synchronization issues between RefWorks and word processors, which can disrupt workflow and citation formatting.
  • User Interface
    Some users find the user interface of RefWorks to be less intuitive compared to other reference management tools, potentially making it difficult to navigate.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There might be compatibility issues with certain databases or formats, which can limit the import of references and require manual adjustments.

Analysis of Qiqqa

Overall verdict

  • Qiqqa is considered a good tool for researchers and students who require a robust system to organize their research materials and collaborate with others. Its powerful features and intuitive interface make it a strong choice for both individual and group research projects.

Why this product is good

  • Qiqqa is a comprehensive reference management software that offers features like PDF management, annotation, and organization, along with powerful search and discovery tools. It is particularly valued for its ability to manage large libraries efficiently, its network analysis features, and its support for collaboration among researchers.

Recommended for

    Qiqqa is recommended for academic researchers, graduate students, and professionals who deal with large volumes of research papers and need an efficient system for organizing and referencing their materials. It is particularly beneficial for those in fields that require extensive literature reviews and citation management.

Analysis of RefWorks

Overall verdict

  • RefWorks is a good option for those in academic and research settings who need a reliable citation management tool. Its comprehensive features and cloud-based accessibility are advantageous for collaborative academic efforts.

Why this product is good

  • RefWorks is a popular reference management software designed to help researchers and students organize their citations and manage bibliographies efficiently. It supports various citation styles and integrates with word processors, making it easier to insert references and format papers. Users appreciate its ease of access through a web-based platform, facilitating collaboration and sharing among peers. Some critiques include its occasional technical challenges and a user interface that might not be as intuitive as some competitors.

Recommended for

  • Students
  • Academics
  • Researchers
  • Librarians
  • Anyone needing detailed reference management

Qiqqa videos

Qiqqa: Your First 10 Minutes

More videos:

  • Review - موقع المبتعث العراقي:: كيفية استخدام برنامج كويكا Qiqqa

RefWorks videos

Introduction to RefWorks

More videos:

  • Review - Getting started with a systematic review in RefWorks: Part 1

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Qiqqa and RefWorks)
Research Tools
69 69%
31% 31
Information Organization
68 68%
32% 32
Document Management
76 76%
24% 24
Reference Management
51 51%
49% 49

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Qiqqa and RefWorks

Qiqqa Reviews

  1. Kim J Boland
    · A Level Teacher at My Online Teachers ·
    The best research tool

    Qiqqa is by far the strongest solution for research and managing pdf's. Zotero, named as a comparison is weak as it does not allow pdf;s to be loaded into its interface - you need to use a pdf reader, which defeats its whole purpose. With Qiqqa documents in a library can be searched together. It has excellent maps of your libraries. It is not prefect, having a few glitches, but still is the only one of its kind.

    👍 Pros:    Excellent ocr and search|Multiple libraries|Search within a library|Still supported
    👎 Cons:    Can be a bit glitchy|Can slow down of stop responding|Appears to need a lot of memory|Support can be a bit slow / technical

RefWorks Reviews

10 Best Reference Management Software for Research
RefWorks is a web-based application that allows you to create and manage your references from anywhere in the world. With RefWorks, you can easily import citations from databases, journals, and websites, and then create bibliographies in any format you need.
Citation Management Tools - Alternatives to EndNote
RefWorks is another Web-based tool that a lot of people know and love from their undergraduate programs. RefWorks features a lot of storage space for people who like to gather PDFs.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Qiqqa and RefWorks, you can also consider the following products

Mendeley - Easily organize your papers, read & annotate your PDFs, collaborate in private or open groups, and securely access your research from everywhere.

Zotero - Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share research.

JabRef - Graphical Java application for managing bibtex (. bib) databases.‎JabRef · ‎JabRef Help · ‎JabRef | Blog · ‎OpenOffice/LibreOffice .

Citavi - Citavi is a program for Microsoft Windows that manages literary references and organizes organizational knowledge.

Docear - Docear

BibDesk - BibDesk is an organizational software created to help you edit and manage your bibliography. It keeps track of your bibliographic information as well as said information's associated web links and files. Read more about BibDesk.