# References — BibTeX database manager

> Mobile BibTeX library viewer and browser for LaTeX users. (iPhone/iPad app by Benjamin Burton.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/references/id1481843213 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Benjamin Burton](https://appshunter.io/developer/687735578)
- Category: Productivity, Education
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 25 App Store ratings · 40 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 55 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2019-11-06
- Data updated: 2026-08-11
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/references/id1481843213/reviews.md

## What is References?

Carry your BibTeX libraries with you on your iPad and iPhone!

A BibTeX library is a collection of bibliographic references (papers, books, reports, etc.), designed to work with the LaTeX typesetting system. Each library is stored in a specially-formatted text file (typically ending in .bib), which you can create with your favourite text editor.

The References app gives you an easy way to browse through and interact with your BibTeX libraries. You can scroll, search, follow links, and view file attachments. In particular:

- The app creates links from DOIs, MathSciNet references, ACM IDs, and of course URLs.
- The app understands elementary LaTeX, so if your titles and/or abstracts contain markup or mathematics (and if your LaTeX is simple enough) then the app can display them nicely.
- If you used BibDesk or JabRef to create your library, the app can view your file attachments (e.g., PDFs that you have attached to your references).
- You can view references grouped by keywords, if you use the Keywords field in your BibTeX libraries. You can also view all of your smart/static groups from BibDesk, and your dynamic/static groups from JabRef.
- The app supports BibLaTeX libraries as well as classic BibTeX.

The References app can open BibTeX libraries from anywhere on your device. In particular, you can use iCloud Drive to keep them synchronised between your devices.

This app is read-only, not an editor. It takes great care in helping you view and explore BibTeX libraries and their links and file attachments; however, it does not provide a way to modify your libraries.

FILE ATTACHMENTS:

To view file attachments (e.g., PDFs), the path to each file should be included in the corresponding entry in your BibTeX library. You can do this using the specially encoded Bdsk-File-* fields (as used by BibDesk), or the plain text File field (as used by JabRef). If you are writing your BibTeX files by hand, just add a File field giving the location of the attachment, such as File = {../PDFs/foo.pdf}.

You can tell References where to find these attachments by linking folders in your app settings. The app will look for your attachments within these folders – for example, if you link your Documents folder then the app will be able to match the BibTeX field {../PDFs/foo.pdf} to a real location such as Documents/PDFs/foo.pdf or Documents/foo.pdf.

The app is able to read attachments stored on your device, or on iCloud Drive, or on third-party providers including Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, Nextcloud or OneDrive. If you are having trouble viewing attachments from a third-party provider, please mail the References developer with the details.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

To learn more about BibTeX, see http://www.bibtex.org/ .

## Key features

- Browse BibTeX libraries
- Search references
- Follow links (DOIs, URLs)
- View file attachments (PDFs)
- Supports BibLaTeX
- Group by keywords

## Recent user reviews (10 of 40)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/references/id1481843213/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Integration kDrive is missing

*2026-07-03*

Integration kDrive is missing, otherwise really useful app

### 2/5 — Can’t Edit

*2024-06-19*

You can look, but you can’t touch.

Yes, the presentation is nice, but the lack of any kind of editing function makes the app largely useless for me.

### 5/5 — A fantastic app for everyone using Bibdesk on Dropbox

*2024-06-01*

The title of this review says it all!

Thanks Benjamin to keep updating this wonderful well written app! The whole scientific and engineering communities using Bibdesk are forever in debt with you.

I just wish there was a similar app that was even barely functional running on Android… :-)

### 5/5 — Unique

*2024-05-23, version 3.0*

A well made app with unique functionality. I’m really glad it continues to be developed and maintained!

### 2/5 — Not obvious that you can only view libraries

*2023-04-14, version 2.2*

I purchased this app as a way of being able to manage by .bib files on my iPad. I did not, however, realise that this is an app exclusively for viewing a bibtex library, not editing one!

As a basic bibtex viewer, the app is fine and does this well enough. However, that is all the app can do. Display your references, and let you use the links or view some metadata about each entry. That is all it does.

Not what I wanted unfortunately. Refund requested.

### 5/5 — Such a great app

*2023-04-01*

This is by far the easiest app to use for viewing bibtex libraries on iOS/iPad. It’s ththe only one that lets you decide where to keep your attachments and be able to view them from the app. One small feature request: an option to authors for entries display entries like Last Name, First Name. :)

### 4/5 — Good

*2023-03-23, version 2.2*

This is a very solid app which works well with JabRef. There are 2 gripes though:
1) there is no refresh button, which would be handy when updating the library on another device
2) someone else already mentioned that they are missing an annotation feature. I do so too, in fact that is what stops me using this app more often.

### 5/5 — Works well. I need 1 feature

*2023-02-16*

Hi, it works with my export from Zotero and files available in MyFiles location. However I can’t seem to add folder from external location ex: external hdd attached to my iPad Pro. So it requires me to copy the attachment folder to MyFiles.

Please add this feature.

### 1/5 — Disappointing

*2022-08-18*

The app only allows viewing BibTeX files, not editing them. I was disappointed with that.

### 4/5 — No editing

*2022-07-26*

Finally an app where I can look at my bibtex documents from Jabref! It would be even better if I could edit my bibtex file. Please dear developer team, this is really an issue. It won‘t have to be as elaborate as in Jabref, but adding new entries and linking pdfs would make this app perfect! :)

## Frequently asked questions about References

### What does the References app do?

The References app allows you to carry and interact with your BibTeX libraries on your iPad and iPhone. It enables you to browse, search, follow links, and view file attachments associated with your bibliographic references, designed for use with the LaTeX typesetting system.

### What are the key features of the References app?

Key features include browsing and searching BibTeX libraries, following links from DOIs and URLs, viewing file attachments like PDFs, support for both BibTeX and BibLaTeX formats, and the ability to group references by keywords or smart groups.

### How much does the References app cost?

The References app is a paid application. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned, indicating a one-time purchase for the full functionality.

### What devices is the References app compatible with?

The app is designed for use on Apple mobile devices, specifically the iPad and iPhone. It can open BibTeX libraries from anywhere on your device, including synchronization via iCloud Drive.

### Can I edit my BibTeX libraries with this app?

No, this app is read-only. It focuses on helping you view and explore your BibTeX libraries, their links, and file attachments. It does not provide any functionality to modify or edit your existing BibTeX files.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.8 — 2025-10-16

- Added a new companion app for macOS! This is included as part of your purchase.
- You can now open PDF attachments in an external app, such as Preview (see Settings → Windows).
- Added several alternate app icons (see Settings → Advanced).
- Added a tool that lets you play directly with the in-built LaTeX parser.
- Other minor changes, such as keyboard shortcuts for iPadOS and faster searching.

### 3.7 — 2025-09-16

References is ready for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and visionOS 26! Also:
- Makes better use of multiple windows on iPad. You can configure this through the new Window Settings panel.
- You can configure a library to open automatically when the app launches, again via the Window Settings panel.
- Recognises x-bdsk://citekey URLs that percent-encode their cite keys.
- Now requires a minimum of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or visionOS 2.

### 3.6 — 2024-12-20

Supports different sort orders (author, year, title).
Also from version 3.5:
- Recognises arXiv URLs, as well as the special arXiv field.
- Able to read more text encodings.

### 3.5.1 — 2024-12-15

Roll back yesterday's change to the iOS/iPadOS 18 launch experience: this will return when the kinks can be ironed out.
Also from version 3.5:
- Recognises arXiv URLs, as well as the special arXiv field.
- Able to read more text encodings.

### 3.5 — 2024-12-12

- Recognises arXiv URLs, as well as the special arXiv field
- Improved launch experience for iOS/iPadOS 18
- Able to read more text encodings

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## More apps by Benjamin Burton

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All apps by Benjamin Burton: https://appshunter.io/developer/687735578

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-11.*