Rectoly for Zotero

Read and annotate your Zotero papers — right in Reading Mode. Highlights, notes, and Apple Pencil ink sync back to Zotero automatically.

Rectoly is the research-focused PDF reader built for Zotero users. Your library stays in Zotero — Rectoly makes reading and annotating on iPhone and iPad a genuine pleasure.

READING MODE Academic papers are often formatted in two columns, making them hard to read on a phone. Reading Mode reflows the content into a single, clean column — without losing access to the original PDF. Jump back to the exact page anytime. Navigate by table of contents, search the whole paper, and customize the toolbar.

ANNOTATE IN READING MODE Unlike other readers, Rectoly lets you highlight, underline, add sticky notes and comments, and draw with Apple Pencil — all while staying in Reading Mode. No need to switch back to the raw PDF just to mark something up.

APPLE PENCIL HANDWRITING Write directly on the PDF or on the Reading Mode text. Handwriting syncs across your devices as a Zotero attachment, and a change history lets you go back to an earlier version at any time.

SPLIT VIEW AND WORKBENCH (iPAD) Keep Reading Mode open while glancing at a figure, the original layout, or another section — side by side, all within a single window. On iPad, the Workbench pins a figure beside the text while you read on. No multi-window setup required.

ZOTERO SYNC Annotations you create are written back to Zotero automatically. Highlights from Zotero Desktop or other apps appear in Rectoly automatically. Your reading position syncs too, so you can pick up on iPad right where you left off on the desktop. Group libraries are supported.

WORKS OFFLINE Downloaded PDFs and annotations are stored locally. Read anywhere, anytime — even without an internet connection.

14-DAY FREE TRIAL → ONE-TIME PURCHASE Try every Pro feature for free for 14 days. Unlock with a one-time payment — no subscription, no recurring charges.