macOS BibTeX library, rebuilt for PDFs

A better way to manage BibTeX.

BibKit is smoother, cleaner, and easier to use than old-school citation managers. Drop PDFs or `.bib` files, review the result, repair metadata, and export clean LaTeX-ready BibTeX without fighting a database-style interface.

See BibKit in action View preview

Planned subscription: $2.99/year after any included 1-month trial.

@article Liang_2026_origin On the origin of superlattice stacking faults...

@article Berthier_2024_Yielding Yielding and plasticity in amorphous solids

@article{Berthier_2024_Yielding,

              author = {Berthier and Biroli and Manning},

              title = {Yielding and plasticity...},

              eprint = {2401.09385v1}

            }

Drop.bib or PDF batches

Extractlocal + online metadata

Revieweditable BibTeX before import

ExportLaTeX-ready library

screenshots

Designed around the moment you actually need citations.

Library

what it does

A lean citation cockpit.

Batch import that pauses for judgment

Drop up to 10 PDFs or BibTeX files. BibKit queues PDFs and shows each extracted citation before it enters your library.

Hybrid extraction

Uses local PDF text, Vision OCR fallback, Apple Foundation Models on macOS 26+, and online metadata checks where useful.

DOI, arXiv, and HAL repair

Update incomplete records from trusted identifiers, including arXiv DOI checks and CrossRef/OpenAlex enrichment.

Modern cite keys

Choose templates, regenerate selected keys, avoid duplicates, and keep citation keys predictable across projects.

BibTeX-first export

Preview the output before exporting, keep author and journal formatting explicit, and avoid silent rewriting surprises.

Keyboard-driven library

Move through citations with arrows, copy BibTeX with Command-C, delete entries, and clear selection with Escape.

why not just another reference manager?

More pleasant than classic BibTeX tools.

BibDesk-style tools

Excellent for mature BibTeX libraries.
Often database/table-first.
Manual cleanup can dominate PDF workflows.
Metadata repair is usually a separate habit.

          BibKit
          Beautiful modern SwiftUI interface that feels fast and smooth.
PDF import and BibTeX review are simple, visible, and central.
Online lookup is built directly into citation editing and repair.
Duplicate detection and cite-key regeneration are one-click actions.

        

BibKit focuses on the everyday citation work researchers actually repeat: getting references from PDFs, fixing metadata, keeping keys clean, and exporting BibTeX.

privacy

Your library stays local by default.

BibKit stores its citation database in your macOS Application Support folder. PDF extraction begins locally. Online lookup is used when you ask BibKit to identify, verify, or enrich citations through services such as CrossRef, OpenAlex, arXiv, or HAL.

BibKit does not sell personal data. It does not require an account for the local library. If subscription support is enabled, purchases and entitlements are handled by Apple StoreKit.

support

Questions, bugs, or metadata failures?

Send the PDF title, DOI/arXiv/HAL identifier, and the BibTeX output you expected. Email support: ou.salman@icloud.com

We review bug reports, subscription questions, privacy requests, and citation metadata issues sent to this address.