# References — user reviews > 40 indexed App Store user reviews of References by Benjamin Burton, rated 4.90/5 from 25 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/references/id1481843213/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/references/id1481843213.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 23 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 0 ## Newest reviews (10 of 40) ### 4/5 — Promising Jabref alternative on the IPAD *2020-11-05* First of all thank you for this App. I really like that it also imports my groups created with Jabref. Some issue: - References doesn‘t include the full structure of the Jabref groups (e.g. subgroups). That would be an amazing improvement. - Integrated PDF viewer is very static. This is fine for me as I‘d rather read and annotate in PDFExpert. Unfortunately, exporting to PDFExpert creates a copy of the document and the annotations are not in the original files. Also my workflow mostly involves working with a single bibtex file. I therefore don‘t need the menu on the left at all times. ### 5/5 — Nothing else like it *2020-08-07* This app is a must for academics working with latex/bibtex. It's very easy to use, and there is nothing else like it on the App Store. One suggestion: it would be great to be able to export not just the bibtex code, but also a formatted citation (e.g. in RTF), similarly to what bibdesk can do on a Mac. ### 5/5 — Works well *2020-07-11, version 2.1* I use it together with JabRef on my Desktop and connect my PDFs via OneDrive. Works perfectly fine after a few minutes of setup. Currently it doesn’t fully support subgroups, but that’s not a big deal. ### 5/5 — virw and cite on the go *2020-06-11* Wonderful app that solves the problem of being able to ciye entries in one's bib file to write papers on the go ### 5/5 — Finally! *2020-06-10, version 2.0* I am very grateful for this bibtex manager, first of all for having one again, and second for having one that is really functional. It loads all the data that I have gathered in BibDesk, the OSX manager, but not just that: - it gives access to the smart lists I created in BibDesk - it is possible to search for items (title or keywords) - it is possible to link the places where I keep my PDFs and other files that are referenced in BibDesk, and it possible to open these linked files, too Of course, this app is a viewer, not an editor. I don’t really mind. It is so useful to have this viewer on the fly, when travelling with my iPad, that I savour it’s functionality. ### 5/5 — Polished, smooth, and full of features *2020-06-10, version 2.0* I like to keep my references in an open format and this app has everything I need! Now I can keep my references accessible on my computer and phone without relying on any weird proprietary formats. Supports file links, multiple storage options, multiple bib files... All the essentials and more. And it’s extremely polished and good looking. More than worth the price! ### 5/5 — Great bibtex manager *2020-06-01* With the addition of support for “groups” this has become a great way for me to manage my reference library. I use jabref on the desktop and box to sync my bibtex file and PDFs of papers and this manages things very well. The only other features I could want are support for a hierarchy of groups (which is how they are in my jabref library) and the ability to mark up the PDFs in another app, but I blame the later point on iOS’ horrible file system. ### 5/5 — Clean interface *2020-05-15* Good job ! Clean interface, makes iPad good biddesk compagnon. Features which could be implemented: 1) enable annotate tool, the one available on the files app next to the export tool 2) add a keywords menu, so it will be easy to access article by keywords, as implemented on biddesk MacOS Update: Thanks for having implemented the keywords ! ### 5/5 — 👍🏼 🤓 *2020-05-10* Прекрасное дополнение к BibDesk, спасибо! ### 5/5 — It was really missing! *2020-05-08* This app is very useful and is the only one that allow to bring along with your iPad the entire library of paper. Thanks! I also appreciate also the Dropbox support which was missing....now it would be nice to have the possibility to link also Gdrive, since this is used by many people and University. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2022-08-18* The app only allows viewing BibTeX files, not editing them. I was disappointed with that. ### 1/5 — Useless Application *2021-10-18* Can’t comprehend why Rs. 269 is charged for a useless application like this. Clearly I was fooled by the 5 Star review. Do not buy this app. I repeat, DO NOT BUY this app. It’s a total crap! The application is only for viewing bib items only. It would be great if we could add bib items/ reference to the existing .bib file. It does not open the pdf attachments when linked to Dropbox. **Developer response:** Hi - it would perhaps be helpful to know what you were expecting? The app description tries to be fairly comprehensive about what the app is meant for and who its intended users are. ### 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. ### 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. ### 3/5 — Integration kDrive is missing *2026-07-03* Integration kDrive is missing, otherwise really useful app ### 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. ### 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! :) ### 4/5 — Dropbox synchronization would be good *2021-07-29, version 2.2* This is a nice product. I keep my .bib file on Dropbox and it can read it, but it cannot automatically sync it. So if you change stuff on the Mac side, it does not automatically see it on the IOS side. Apparently it can sync if the .bib file is on iCloud, but I keep everything on Dropbox, so that doesn’t help. ### 4/5 — Great potential! *2021-04-07* Finally! I have been looking for this since PocketBib disappeared. I only hope it will get better at connecting to other sources; I use “FileBrowser” (app) to connect to a UNIX system, and can connect libraries via that app but not folders. If this gets to work, this will give me a perfect workflow (back/again) Great with NextCloud access! - Now please add WebDAV also for folders. ### 4/5 — Need Apple Pencil Support while reading PDF using the inbuilt PDF viewer *2021-03-05* Apple Pencil Support while reading PDF using the inbuilt PDF viewer needs to be added to make this app a full fledged app. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 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! ### 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. :) ### 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. ### 5/5 — Great app but YOU MUST USE JABREF *2021-08-24* Link pdf with jabref “file” file in bibtex **Developer response:** Hi - did you try linking the folder containing the PDFs? (This is how you tell iPadOS that it should allow the app to read your files.) ### 5/5 — Would be perfect with Synology Drive support *2021-08-02* Really great app with awesome experience! It would be perfect if it supports Synology Drive! Do you think it is feasible to add this feature to load attachment from a folder synced by Synology Drive in near future? ### 5/5 — Sync.com Request *2021-03-26, version 2.2* This is a great app, but I wondered if References app could also sync cloud files from Sync.com. ### 5/5 — Not bad! *2021-02-09* As a bibdesk user this app is really what I need, allowing me to access my library seamlessly. Handy. I wonder if it’s possible, when opening attached PDFs, to have the option of opening it in other viewers e.g. acrobat? Currently one can only import it to acrobat, but then it creates a new file. If there’s an option to open the file in acrobat directly I thought it really completes the workflow. Thanks! ### 5/5 — Responsive and roboust reference manager *2020-09-18* This is an excellent responsive and roboust reference manager software easy to use. It makes easy to search for specific references and provide all details in a neat clean format. ### 5/5 — Simple and to the point *2020-09-09* Great way to access BibTex on iPad. The developer is active and adds features all the time (like access to OneDrive, and other cloud storage). Very recommended. --- *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.*