PDF to BibTeX Converter for Overleaf and LaTeX
Upload a PDF, extract and verify its references, then save verified matches to your CiteMe library and export them as BibTeX for the `.bib` workflow you actually use.
Your PDF isn’t stored after extraction
What to do next
How it works
Step 1
Upload your PDF
Select or drag-and-drop any academic paper. We extract references, then discard the PDF — nothing is stored on our servers.
Step 2
Extract & verify references
CiteMe finds the bibliography section and verifies each reference against CrossRef, OpenAlex, and Semantic Scholar.
Step 3
Save to your library and export
Sign in to save verified matches to your CiteMe library, then export them as a .bib file for Overleaf, LaTeX, Zotero, Mendeley, or JabRef.
How access works
Extract references and download BibTeX for free. Longer lists need a free account; Pro raises the batch limit.
Upload & extract
Drop your PDF — references are extracted, verified against academic databases, and the file itself is discarded.
Sign in to save
Create a free account to save matched source records to your CiteMe library.
Download your .bib
Download a .bib file for Overleaf, Zotero, or Mendeley — up to 10 references per batch on a free account, 50 on Pro.
Why use CiteMe for PDF to BibTeX?
- PDF Not Stored
- Your PDF is sent to our servers only to extract references, then immediately discarded. We never keep the file.
- Database-Verified
- Each reference checked against CrossRef, OpenAlex, and Semantic Scholar for accurate metadata.
- BibTeX for Overleaf, LaTeX & Zotero
- Save matched source records to your library, then export BibTeX for Overleaf, LaTeX projects, Zotero, Mendeley, JabRef, and other `.bib` workflows.
- Any Citation Style Input
- Works with APA, MLA, Chicago, Vancouver, ABNT — any bibliography format in your PDF.
Works with your tools
BibTeX is the best default when your next step is a `.bib` file for Overleaf, LaTeX, or a BibTeX-native reference manager.
- Overleaf — Import .bib file directly into your LaTeX project
- Zotero — File > Import > select your .bib file
- Mendeley — File > Import > BibTeX (.bib)
- JabRef — Open .bib file directly — native format
- EndNote — Import via File > Import > BibTeX filter
- VS Code + LaTeX Workshop — Place .bib in project folder, reference in \bibliography{}
Frequently Asked Questions
How does PDF to BibTeX conversion work?
CiteMe scans your PDF for the bibliography section, extracts each reference, verifies likely matches against academic databases, then lets you save matched source records to your CiteMe library for BibTeX export.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
Yes — your PDF is sent to our servers to extract the bibliography, then discarded immediately after extraction. We keep only the extracted reference text, never the PDF itself. If you are on the Pro plan, you can opt in to save the PDF to your library; otherwise nothing is stored.
Can I import the BibTeX into Zotero, Mendeley, or Overleaf?
Yes. After saving matched source records to your CiteMe library, you can export BibTeX and import the resulting .bib file into tools like Zotero, Mendeley, JabRef, EndNote, and Overleaf.
When should I use PDF to BibTeX instead of PDF to RIS?
Use PDF to BibTeX when your destination is Overleaf, LaTeX, JabRef, or any workflow built around a `.bib` file. Use PDF to RIS when your destination is EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley, RefWorks, or another reference manager that imports RIS directly.
What can I do for free?
Extracting references and downloading them as BibTeX is free. Without an account, a reference list longer than one entry asks you to create a free account first. A free account converts up to 10 references per batch; Pro raises that to 50. Saving matched source records to your library also needs a free account.
What if a reference is not found in databases?
References that cannot be matched are flagged for manual review. They still appear in the BibTeX file, built from the fields read from the PDF — check those entries before you cite them.
Need it in a specific citation style?
Format the result in the style your paper requires — APA, MLA, Harvard, Vancouver, Chicago, or IEEE.
APA Citation Generator
Author-date format for psychology, social sciences, and education.
MLA Citation Generator
Works Cited format for humanities and literature.
Harvard Referencing Generator
Author-date common in UK and Australian universities.
Vancouver Citation Generator
Numbered references for medicine and biomedical research.
Chicago Citation Generator
Notes-bibliography or author-date for history and the arts.
IEEE Citation Generator
Bracketed numbers for engineering and computer science.
Keep the BibTeX workflow moving
After extracting references from a PDF, the next step is usually verifying the bibliography, exporting a RIS version for EndNote, or reformatting the saved `.bib` records for a different output.
Extract references from any PDF and download BibTeX for Overleaf or LaTeX — free, with higher batch limits on Pro.
Upload PDF — Start Now