Paperpile

Paperpile is a reference management service built around the needs of academic researchers. It brings together PDF stoRAGe, citation formatting, and in-document citation tools in a single browser-based workspace, AIming to reduce the friction of tracking sources across long writing projects.

What it does

The tool lets you save references from journal sites, library catalogs, and PDF files, then attach and annotate the associated documents. Citation insertion is handled through browser extensions and word processor integrations, so references can be pulled into a draft without leaving the editor. FORMatting is managed in the background, letting you switch between citation styles as a manuscript changes.

Key capabilities

• Capture references from publisher pages and library search results with a browser extension
• Store, search, and annotate PDFs within the reference library
• Insert and format citations in Google Docs and other supported writing environments
• Change citation styles across a document with automatic renumbering
• Sync the library across devices through the web interface
• Share folders or libraries for collaborative projects, depending on the plan

Who it is for

Paperpile suits graduate students, faculty, and research teams who write papers with heavy citation loads and prefer a Lightweight, browser-first alternative to desktop reference managers. It is particularly APPealing to users who write primarily in google Docs, though support for other editors may vary by platform and plan.

How to get started

1. Create an account on the Paperpile website and install the browser extension for your preferred browser.
2. Sign in to the related Google account to enable document integration.
3. Add references by capturing items from publisher pages or by uploading existing bibliographic files.
4. Open the citation add-on insIDE your document and insert references as you write.
5. Choose a citation style and let the tool format the bibliography automatically.

Pricing and access

Paperpile Generally offers a liMITed free tier alongside paid subscription options, with a trial period for evaluating the full feature set. ExACT limits, storage allowances, and subscription prices may change over time and may vary by region, so confirm current terms on the official site before committing. Institutional or team licensing may also be available. The service is web-based, so a stable internet connection and a supported browser are required for most Workflows.