refbase
What it is
refbase is a free, open-source, web-based application for managing scientific literature and bibliographic references with multiple users. It offers quick, simple, advanced, and SQL searches, including searches within existing results. Records can appear in citation or print views, and formatted citation lists can be generated. Import and export support includes MODS XML, RIS, BibTeX, and EndNote. The project lists compatibility with Zotero and EndNote desktop clients, an open API, and a command-line client. Dynamic RSS feeds can follow recently added or edited records and custom queries. Users can keep personal keywords and notes in user-specific fields. The application is self-hosted under the GNU General Public License version 2.0. Installation requires a web server, PHP 4.4.0 or later, and MySQL 4.1.x or later for Unicode support. The web installer needs full database access, and some shared hosts may require manual installation.
For and against
For
- Multiple search modes, including SQL
- Imports and exports common bibliography formats
- Supports Zotero and EndNote compatibility
- Personal fields for keywords and notes
- Dynamic RSS feeds for records
Against
- Requires self-hosting and server setup
- Web installer needs full database access
- Some shared hosts require manual installation
- Latest listed release dates to 2014
The verdict
refbase covers core reference-management and collaboration tasks with open-source licensing and broad record interchange. Its older listed release and installation requirements make deployment planning important.
Who it suits
It suits research groups and institutions that need collaborative, self-hosted bibliographic management with flexible search, citation output, and import or export formats.
Plans and prices
Open-source self-hosted
PHP/MySQL server · downloadable 1.4 MB archive · self-managed hosting
Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
refbase
Self-hosted web application · GPLv2
Read 4 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
On the record
- Backend
- The application is written in PHP and uses MySQL as its backend database.en.wikipedia.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Citation output
- Formatted citations can be produced in HTML, RTF, PDF, LaTeX and text, with AMA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA and Vancouver styles.wiki.refbase.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- The interface is multi-user and includes user-specific fields for personal keywords and notes.wiki.refbase.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Command-line tools
- Perl command-line clients can search, upload, append and update local BibTeX or MODS/SRW XML files and extract citation IDs.wiki.refbase.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Company origin
- The project originated at the Institute of Polar Ecology at Kiel University, Germany, with its first project announcement dated 2002-10-14.sourceforge.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Current release
- SourceForge lists refbase 0.9.6 as the latest downloadable archive, dated 2014-02-28 and sized 1.4 MB.sourceforge.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Administrators can configure branding, languages, file visibility, resolver settings, citation styles and global defaults through ini.inc.php and database tables.wiki.refbase.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Duplicate handling
- Version 0.9.5 added initial facilities to search and manage duplicate records.wiki.refbase.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- Exports include MODS XML, EndNote, RIS, BibTeX, Atom XML, Dublin Core XML, Word XML, ADS and ISI tagged formats.wiki.refbase.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Feeds
- It offers dynamic RSS feeds for recently added or edited records and custom queries.wiki.refbase.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- File permissions
- PDF and other attached-file visibility can be restricted to everyone, logged-in users or selected users, with configurable exceptions.wiki.refbase.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- Installation requires a web server, PHP 4.4.0 or greater, and MySQL 4.1.x or greater for Unicode support.wiki.refbase.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- It supports importing and exporting bibliographic records in formats including MODS XML, RIS, BibTeX, and EndNote.wiki.refbase.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Import formats
- Supported imports include EndNote, RIS, BibTeX, MODS XML, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts and COPAC.wiki.refbase.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- Installation constraint
- The web installer requires a MySQL user with full access to the MySQL database; some shared hosts may require manual installation.wiki.refbase.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Documented integrations include Bibutils, Zotero, EndNote, Bookends, Microsoft Word and OpenOffice Writer.wiki.refbase.net · read 14 Oct 2026
- License
- refbase is distributed under the GNU GPL.en.wikipedia.org · read 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: aging maintenance
- The public download page shows 0.9.6 from 2014 as the latest archive, indicating a long gap since the last listed release.sourceforge.net · read 14 Oct 2026
