Zotero Plugins Atlas

Zotero plugins for PhD students

A plugin pack from zoteroplugins.org · checked 10 Nov 2026

Six plugins for a library that has to last a whole PhD: citations for LaTeX and Markdown, files kept in order, notes that turn into chapters, and a map of the literature.

Each is graded B or better after a check of its code, and works with Zotero 10.

Download the one-page PDFAll plugin packs

  1. Cite in LaTeX, Overleaf or Markdown

    If you write in LaTeX or Markdown
    B
    Better BibTeX for Zotero

    Stable citation keys, and a .bib file that updates itself whenever a collection changes. It also works with Pandoc and Markdown note apps.

    B because it launches programs on your computer

    Zotero 8–10, 11 beta · 14.9M downloads · 7,293 GitHub stars · Activezoteroplugins.org/p/zotero-better-bibtex

  2. Keep thousands of PDFs in order

    A
    ZotMoov

    Moves attachments into a folder you choose, such as OneDrive or Dropbox, so your files stay organised outside Zotero's storage and open on any computer.

    Zotero 7–10 · 1M downloads · 1,592 GitHub stars · Activezoteroplugins.org/p/zotmoov

  3. Keep one copy of each source

    A+
    Zoplicate

    Catches duplicates the moment you import, merges them without losing attachments or notes, and bulk-merges the ones already in your library.

    Zotero 9–10 · 1.02M downloads · 1,029 GitHub stars · Activezoteroplugins.org/p/zoplicate

  4. Turn reading into writing

    A
    Better Notes for Zotero

    Literature notes built from your highlights with templates, linked with backlinks and outlines, with two-way Markdown sync.

    Zotero 8–10 · 12M downloads · 8,440 GitHub stars · Activezoteroplugins.org/p/zotero-better-notes
    Or, if you keep your notes in Obsidian:
    A
    ZotLit

    Creates Obsidian literature notes from your items and annotations, using your own templates.

    zoteroplugins.org/p/zotlit

  5. Map the literature

    A
    Inciteful Zotero Plugin

    A graph search from a collection finds the most connected papers in a field, and Connect Papers finds the work that links two of them.

    Zotero 10 · 88,980 downloads · 304 GitHub stars · Activezoteroplugins.org/p/inciteful-zotero-plugin

  6. Automate the routine

    A
    Actions and Tags for Zotero

    Rules that tag new items, mark papers when you open them, or run a script from a shortcut. Worth setting up once your library passes a few hundred items.

    Zotero 10 · 2.18M downloads · 2,871 GitHub stars · Activezoteroplugins.org/p/zotero-actions-tags

Installing them

Each plugin is a single file ending in .xpi. Open a plugin's page, click Install and follow the steps, or read how to install a plugin. Install one at a time and restart Zotero if it asks, so that if something misbehaves you know which plugin did it.

How we picked them

For each task, we chose a plugin graded B or better that works with Zotero 10 and is still maintained, preferring a better grade, then wider use: downloads and GitHub stars. Nobody has rated these plugins on the site yet; ratings will count once they have. Plugins that download papers from shadow libraries are left out. A B grade means one finding is worth reading before you install, and its reason is shown above. Picks are reviewed by hand; if one drops below B or stops working with the current Zotero, the next plugin for the task takes its place automatically until we review it. No plugin pays to appear. Grades come from a check of each plugin's code, described in How we grade.

For librarians and instructors

Use this pack in research guides, workshops and orientation materials. The PDF is one US Letter page, and it's free to copy and share under CC BY 4.0 with credit to zoteroplugins.org, and there's a ready-made box for your guide. Is a plugin your students rely on missing, or one here you'd advise against? Suggest a change to this pack.

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