Ranking updated
Academic writing apps: spend the time on the argument, not the formatting
An academic paper is two jobs at once: thinking and paperwork. The paperwork, collecting sources, citing them correctly, getting the format right, eats evenings that should go to the argument. Zotero and Paperpile manage sources and citations, Scrivener organises long drafts, and Ulysses keeps you writing instead of formatting.
How we chose: established research and writing apps compared on which part of the paper they take off your hands. Features from each App Store listing, read in October 2026.
A newer app that does the formatting
A younger app in the Censuus catalogue.
Essayist4.4★ App Storean academic writing app built to end the fight with margins, hanging indents and citation formatting.- Your app hereFree, foreverList my app
Sources and citations: Zotero and Paperpile
Zotero is a free research tool: save articles, books and web pages from Safari and other apps, scan a book barcode or an article DOI with the camera, annotate PDFs, and generate citations and bibliographies in a wide range of styles, from APA to Chicago. Paperpile is built around papers: search academic journals inside the app, add one with a tap and get the PDF automatically, use your university’s off-campus proxy, and organise everything with folders, labels and stars.
Long drafts: Scrivener
A thesis is too long to manage as one document. Scrivener lets you write in sections of any size and in any order, outline in detail first or restructure after a rough draft. Ideas can be written when they arrive and placed later.
Focused drafting: Ulysses
Ulysses is a markup-based, distraction-free editor that keeps formatting for later, with document management, sync across Mac, iPhone and iPad, and flexible export. It suits essays and articles more than book-length theses.
Which one to pick
Free, with the widest choice of citation styles: Zotero. Searching and reading papers: Paperpile. A thesis or a book: Scrivener. Essays and articles: Ulysses. Most students pair a reference manager with a writing app. See also apps for students and note-taking apps.
| App | Job | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| ZoteroApp Store | collect, annotate and cite sources | citations and bibliographies in many styles, including APA and Chicago; barcode and DOI scanning |
| PaperpileApp Store | collect and read papers | search journals in the app, PDFs downloaded automatically, university proxy access |
| ScrivenerApp Store | write long manuscripts | compose in sections in any order, outline and restructure |
| UlyssesApp Store | draft without distraction | markup editor, document management, flexible export |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free citation app?
Zotero is free and generates citations and bibliographies in many styles, including APA and Chicago.
Which app is best for writing a thesis?
Scrivener is built for long manuscripts written in sections, paired with a reference manager like Zotero or Paperpile.
Is there an app that formats academic papers automatically?
Essayist is built to handle margins, hanging indents and citation formatting for you.