COMPARE · DATA, MAPS AND REFERENCES
BibTeX vs RIS for NotebookLM sources
Short answer
Both carry a NotebookLM source list into a reference manager. BibTeX is the native format of LaTeX and Overleaf and is read by Zotero, JabRef and Paperpile. RIS is the common exchange format for Zotero, Mendeley and EndNote. Choose BibTeX if you write in LaTeX, RIS otherwise.
Side by side
| BibTeX (.bib) | RIS (.ris) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | LaTeX, Overleaf, JabRef | EndNote, Mendeley, Zotero |
| Used directly in a document | Yes, with LaTeX | No, import first |
| EndNote import | Needs an import filter | Direct |
| Readable by a person | Yes | Yes, tagged lines |
Which to choose
- Choose BibTeX (.bib) if your manuscript is in LaTeX or you manage references in JabRef.
- Choose RIS (.ris) if you use Word with EndNote, Mendeley or Zotero.
Frequently asked questions
BibTeX (.bib) or RIS (.ris): which is better?
Neither in general. Choose BibTeX (.bib) if your manuscript is in LaTeX or you manage references in JabRef. Choose RIS (.ris) if you use Word with EndNote, Mendeley or Zotero.
Will entries be complete?
No. NotebookLM does not expose authors or dates, so entries carry title, link and access date. Complete them in the reference manager.
Related guides
How to export NotebookLM sources to BibTeX. You get BibTeX entries for the selected sources, to copy on Free or download as a .bib file with Pro.
How to export NotebookLM sources to RIS. You get RIS records for the selected sources, the exchange format EndNote, Mendeley and Zotero import.
NotebookLM does not connect to Zotero, but NotebookLM Ultra Exporter builds a bibliography from the sources in a notebook and outputs BibTeX or RIS, which.
Both export a NotebookLM mind map as an editable tree, and both are free. OPML is an outline format: best for outliners such as Workflowy and OmniOutliner.
PNG is a fixed-resolution picture that works everywhere, including slides, chats and documents.
CSV is the most widely accepted table format, used by Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion and databases.
A ZIP archive is a one-off snapshot of a NotebookLM notebook in a single file; one full archive is free.
Export NotebookLM notes as Markdown when they are going into a notes app, wiki or repository, and as Word when someone will edit, comment on or format them.