The Mendeley Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Mendeley in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Mendeley
The Insider’s Guide
Reference manager from Elsevier, with paid AI add-ons
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI research tools, read from Mendeley’s own pages.
Made by Elsevier · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Mendeley’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Mendeley’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 7 of the 49 other AI research tools we grade
Mendeley is a reference manager for saving PDFs, organizing them into collections and tags, and annotating them. Free accounts include 2 GB of storage. AI features inside Mendeley, such as asking questions across your library, are sold through Elsevier's LeapSpace subscription.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Mendeley, taken from its own pages and our grades.
A reference manager means importing a library, setting up folders and a plug-in.
- 1
Best for managing a reference library for free
Mendeley is Elsevier's reference manager, free with 2 GB of storage.
- 2
Paid plans start at $26 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $26 per month, billed annually ($32 billed monthly).
- 3
There is a free plan
Mendeley's reference manager is free, with 2 GB of storage. LeapSpace has a free tier whose AI features are unlimited for 14 days, then limited.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Reference library
Add PDFs to a library, organize them with collections and tags, then read, highlight and annotate in one place.
- 6
Ask My Library
On the paid plan, search, summarize and compare PDFs across your saved library; this works in Mendeley Reference Manager.
- 7
Reading Assistant
Summarize or question a saved document, with suggested follow-up questions.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 7 of 49
That is against the other AI research tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Mendeley you would be making a library of papers and sources to search. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Mendeley at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $26 per month, billed annually ($32 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Elsevier
- Category
- AI Research Tools
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for managing a reference library for free
Mendeley is Elsevier's reference manager, free with 2 GB of storage. The AI features inside it need a paid LeapSpace plan at $26 a month billed yearly, which Elsevier says isn't for corporate use.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | The AI features are on LeapSpace Individual at $26 a month billed yearly, more than twice the research middle of $10 and inside the dearest tenth, which starts at $20. The free LeapSpace tier excludes the AI inside Mendeley. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The reference manager is free with 2 GB of storage, and a person can live on it. The LeapSpace free tier has unlimited AI for only 14 days, then limits. |
| Features | C | A reference library, Ask My Library, a Reading Assistant, Compare Experiments and a Word add-in. The AI bits sit behind the paid plan, and desktop support couldn't be confirmed from the pages read. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. A reference manager means importing a library, setting up folders and a plug-in. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Listed as web only, because desktop apps couldn't be confirmed. It has a Word add-in and connects to Scopus and ScienceDirect. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Mendeley is for
- Fits if you want a no-cost reference library and don't need AI
- Works for researchers already using Scopus or ScienceDirect
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you want its AI features, at $26 a month billed yearly
- Not for you if you're buying for a company, since Elsevier says the plans aren't for corporate use
- Watch out: Mendeley Premium is now part of LeapSpace, per the pricing page
- Watch out: AI in the free LeapSpace tier runs unlimited for 14 days, then limited and not inside Mendeley
Good to know
Good for
- Researchers who want a free reference manager with 2 GB of storage
- Students whose institutions already use Elsevier products
Worth knowing
- AI features inside Mendeley need a paid LeapSpace plan; the free LeapSpace tier excludes them.
- The pricing page says Mendeley Premium is now part of LeapSpace.
- Platform support for desktop apps could not be confirmed from the pages read, so only web is listed.
- Elsevier says the plans are not for corporate use.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$26
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Mendeley has a free plan. Paid plans start at $26 per month, billed annually ($32 billed monthly).
The free LeapSpace tier excludes the AI inside Mendeley.
LeapSpace Free
$0
Search and other AI features free for 14 days, then with limits; does not include AI features in Mendeley.
LeapSpace Individual
$26
per month, billed annually ($32 billed monthly)
Adds AI features in Mendeley and the Word add-in. Bills $320 yearly, $30 a month for 3-month terms.
LeapSpace Organization
Custom
Institution-wide access, admin console and SSO; price on request.
The free plan
Mendeley's reference manager is free, with 2 GB of storage. LeapSpace has a free tier whose AI features are unlimited for 14 days, then limited.
Read from researcher.elsevier.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save $64 with yearly billing
The LeapSpace page shows $320 billed every 12 months against $32 a month billed monthly, labeled as saving $64.
Stated on researcher.elsevier.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Reference manager from Elsevier, with paid AI add-ons. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, chat assistant, research, citations, highlights.
A reference library, Ask My Library, a Reading Assistant, Compare Experiments and a Word add-in.
- Reference library
- Add PDFs to a library, organize them with collections and tags, then read, highlight and annotate in one place.
- Ask My Library
- On the paid plan, search, summarize and compare PDFs across your saved library; this works in Mendeley Reference Manager.
- Reading Assistant
- Summarize or question a saved document, with suggested follow-up questions.
- Compare Experiments
- Pull goals, methods and results from several studies into a table that exports as CSV.
- LeapSpace search
- Searches Scopus-indexed literature and builds Deep Research reports, with Trust Cards that show supporting sources.
- Word add-in
- The Individual plan lists a Microsoft Word add-in for inserting citations.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Microsoft Word
- Scopus
- ScienceDirect
Mendeley is made by Elsevier.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
7/49
Other AI research tools it is graded above
Mendeley's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 7 of the 49 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 36 of 49) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $26 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 33 of the 35 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 21 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 50 AI research tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Mendeley’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 49
- BFree plan and trialAbove 36 of 49
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 49
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 49
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 16 of 49
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 40 AI research tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Mendeley is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Mendeley you would be making a library of papers and sources to search. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 31 of the 49 other AI research tools grade higher. It costs $312 a year.
What you could make
- Highlights: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A library of papers and sources to search.
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- Citation records for millions of papers.
What this rests on. Mendeley’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Zotero, Paperguide, SciSpace, Keenious and Anara
The 5 tools Mendeley is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Zotero
Free plan · from $20/yr
Free, open-source reference manager from a nonprofit.
- Only Mendeley lists a web app.
- Only Zotero lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Zotero is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Paperguide
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI research platform for literature and systematic reviews.
- Only Paperguide lists a browser extension.
- Mendeley also covers highlights.
- Paperguide also covers AI search, AI agents and long-form writing.
- 2.4GPA
SciSpace
Free plan · from $12/mo
AI research platform for literature review and reading papers.
- Only SciSpace lists an iOS app.
- Only SciSpace lists a browser extension.
- Mendeley also covers highlights.
- 2.6GPA
Keenious
Free plan · from $10/mo
Academic search that recommends papers from your own text.
- Mendeley also covers highlights.
- Keenious also covers AI search.
- 2.4GPA
Anara
Free plan · from $8/mo
AI research assistant that cites the exact source passage.
- Only Anara lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Only Anara lists a browser extension.
- Mendeley also covers highlights.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Mendeley free?
Mendeley has a free plan. Mendeley's reference manager is free, with 2 GB of storage.
How much does Mendeley cost?
Mendeley lists 3 plans. LeapSpace Free: $0.
What platforms does Mendeley work on?
Mendeley is available on Web.
Does Mendeley offer any discounts?
Mendeley publicly lists the following: Save $64 with yearly billing.
Does Mendeley have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Mendeley is listed for Web.
Does Mendeley have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Mendeley is listed for Web.
Is Mendeley open source?
Mendeley is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
What does Mendeley integrate with?
Mendeley's listing names Microsoft Word, Scopus and ScienceDirect. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Mendeley?
Mendeley is made by Elsevier.
What are the alternatives to Mendeley?
The closest alternatives to Mendeley in our directory are Zotero, Paperguide, SciSpace, Keenious and Anara.
How does Mendeley compare with other AI research tools?
Mendeley's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 7 of the 49 other AI research tools we grade, and level with 11.
Is Mendeley good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Mendeley D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $26 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 33 of the 35 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Mendeley?
To replace Mendeley you would be making a library of papers and sources to search.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Mendeley’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Mendeley's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Elsevier. Prices change, so check mendeley.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Mendeley, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/mendeley
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Mendeley: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/mendeley
Know someone choosing between AI research tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/mendeley/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI research tools after Mendeley, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Research Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 50 AI research tools we grade, compared
- Ai2 Asta Insider's GuideAI research assistant for finding papers and analyzing data3.2 GPA
- Semantic Scholar Insider's GuideFree AI-powered search engine for scientific literature3.2 GPA
- ChatPDF Insider's GuideAsk questions about PDFs and get answers with citations2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Mendeley’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Mendeley is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Elsevier. Prices and plans change: check mendeley.com before you buy.