BibGenie DocsPricing Comparison: Free vs Pro
Understand the differences between Free and Pro versions to choose the best research assistant plan for you
BibGenie is a Local-First AI research assistant. Seamlessly integrated into the Zotero sidebar as a plugin, it transforms Zotero from a simple reference manager into your intelligent research hub.
Unlike cloud-based solutions, BibGenie runs 100% within your Zotero. You can converse directly with your entire library, leverage AI to uncover insights, summarize literature, and manage citations without worrying about data privacy—all document processing is done locally or through your specified controlled API channels. Your private data is never uploaded to the cloud for training.
This article details the differences between Free and Pro versions to help you make the best choice.
Core Philosophy
- Free Version: "Out-of-the-box, Zero Barrier". We promise the Free version is not just a "trial"; it includes core features needed for basic research conversations. No credit card required, no tedious registration—just download the plugin and start experiencing the charm of a native AI research assistant.
- Pro Version: "All-in-One Assistant, Efficiency Multiplier". Designed for intensive researchers. Unlocks more powerful reasoning models (like DeepSeek, GLM, Qwen, etc.), offers unlimited productivity tools (like screenshot queries, unlimited prompt management), and enjoys priority technical support.
Detailed Comparison
| Core Dimension | Features | Free | Pro | Value Proposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basics | Price | $0 / Lifetime | $9.9 / Month | Pro costs only $0.3/day for a top-tier research assistant. |
| Registration | No Registration | Account Required | Free protects privacy, instant use; Pro offers cloud sync & premium services. | |
| AI Models | Built-in Models | Basic LLM Models | Stronger Reasoning Models (DeepSeek, GLM, Qwen, etc.) | Pro accesses models with stronger reasoning & longer context. |
| Custom Models | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | Both support your own OpenAI/Anthropic API Keys. See AI Models in BibGenie. | |
| Interaction | PDF/WebPage/Note | ❌ Not Supported | ✅ Supported | Pro directly reads papers, web snapshots, or Zotero notes for deep chat. |
| Image Interaction | ❌ Not Supported | ✅ Supported | Pro supports multimodal interaction; one-click screenshot query for charts/formulas. | |
| Efficiency | Quick Prompts | Limited Number | Unlimited | Pro is suitable for building a massive research Prompt library without limits. |
| Chat History | ✅ Local Save | ✅ Local Save | Your data remains in your hands, privacy worry-free. | |
| Export Notes | ✅ Supported | ✅ Supported | One-click save AI responses as Zotero notes. | |
| Service | Community Support | Standard Support | Priority Support | Pro users enjoy priority response in Discord. |
Why Choose Pro?
If you fit any of the following profiles, Pro Version is your best choice:
- High-Frequency Chart Analyst: Your discipline (Biology, Medicine, Chemistry, CS) involves many charts and formulas. Pro's built-in screenshot tool saves you countless "screenshot-save-paste" operations, achieving "What You See Is What You Ask".
- Pursuing Ultimate Model Performance: You need top-tier reasoning models (like DeepSeek-V3, Gemini 3, etc.) for complex logical reasoning or long text summarization, beyond basic model capabilities.
- Heavy Prompt User: You don't just ask simple questions but build complex Prompt methodologies (academic polishing, code explanation, review generation). Pro's Quick Prompt Input frees your knowledge base from limitations.
- Long-Termist: You want stable service guarantees and are willing to support independent developers' continuous updates. Your support is our biggest motivation to optimize BibGenie.
Early Bird & Limited Time Offer
BibGenie is currently under active development. To thank early supporters, we offer a Lifetime Early Bird Price of $199 (Regular $299). Pay once, enjoy Pro benefits and all future updates for life.
Additionally, the Black Friday Sale is still on! Use code BLACKFRIDAY2025 to get 40% OFF on Pro subscription plans. Valid until December 12, 2025.