Free Citation Generator
Generate APA, MLA, Chicago Author-Date, and Harvard references from your source details. Build your bibliography in your browser, then copy it or export to Word or BibTeX.
Free to use, with no account required. Your source details and imported files are processed on your device.
Add Citation
Import BibTeX to build workspace quickly.
Bibliography Workspace
Initializing formatting engine...
Your bibliography is empty.
Add a source using the form, or open a .bib file.
One citation generator for four referencing styles
A citation generator formats the information you enter about a source into a reference entry. Use this workspace for books, journal articles, and webpages, or import a BibTeX file to start with references you already have.
Choose APA 7 for an APA reference list, MLA 9 for Works Cited, Chicago Author-Date for author-year references, or Harvard for a general Harvard reference format. You can switch styles without re-entering your source details. Follow the style requested by your course, publisher, or organization.
How to build your bibliography
- Choose Book, Journal, or Web and enter the title, author, publication year, and other available details.
- Select your citation style in the bibliography workspace. APA is selected initially on this page.
- Add each source to the bibliography, or use Open File to import a .bib file.
- Review the entries against your sources. Copy the list or export it to Word or BibTeX before leaving the page.
The same book in four citation styles
These examples use a fictional book by Maya Chen, published in 2024 by Northbank Press. The author, date, and punctuation appear in different positions depending on the style. Enter titles in the capitalization required by your style.
Chen, M. (2024). Reading cities. Northbank Press.
Chen, Maya. Reading Cities. Northbank Press, 2024.
Chen, Maya. 2024. Reading Cities. Northbank Press.
Chen, M. (2024) Reading cities. Northbank Press.
Choosing the right citation format
Match the assignment
Check the required style and edition before formatting. Chicago has two systems, and Harvard has institutional variations, so the style name alone may not be enough.
Keep a reusable source file
BibTeX stores source information for use in other reference managers. Word export is useful when you want to finish and arrange your reference list in a document.
Check the source details
Formatting cannot recover information you have not entered. Check author names, publication dates, and titles, then add any missing journal or website details in your final document.
Frequently asked questions
Is this citation generator free?
Yes. You can enter sources, change styles, import BibTeX, copy references, and export Word or BibTeX files without registering.
Does the tool look up a URL, DOI, or ISBN?
No. Enter the source details yourself or import a .bib file. A website URL is included in the reference; it is not used to fetch information about the page.
Are my citations saved automatically?
References stay in the current page session. Export or copy your work before refreshing, closing the tab, or opening another citation page.
Can I use it offline?
After the page, formatting engine, and style files have loaded, you can enter and format sources without a continuous connection. Initial loading requires internet access; your source details are not sent with style-file requests.
Does it create in-text citations and footnotes?
The tool generates reference-list entries. Add in-text citations in your document and check that they match the reference list. Chicago footnotes and the Notes and Bibliography system are not currently supported.
Further guidance: APA Style reference examples.