Free Citation Generator
Cite your sources correctly in seconds. Our free citation generator creates reference list entries and in-text citations in APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago and Harvard style for websites, books, journal articles and videos.
How to create a citation
- Choose a citation style and the type of source.
- Fill in the details you know: authors, title, publisher or website, date, URL or DOI.
- Copy the formatted citation, or add it to your bibliography and copy the full list when you are done.
Why use our reference generator?
4 popular styles
APA, MLA, Chicago (author-date) and Harvard, formatted to current guidelines.
In-text citations
Get the matching parenthetical citation for every reference.
Multiple authors
Add as many authors as you need, or cite an organization.
Bibliography builder
Collect references in one list, sorted alphabetically and ready to copy.
Italics preserved
Copy into Word or Google Docs with correct formatting.
Free forever
No sign-up, no limits on citations.
APA vs MLA vs Chicago: which style should I use?
- APA is common in psychology, education, nursing and social sciences.
- MLA is used in English literature, languages and the humanities.
- Chicago is popular in history, business and some sciences.
- Harvard is widely used in universities in the UK, Australia and Pakistan.
Always follow the style your teacher, university or journal requires.
Frequently asked questions
Is the citation generator free?
Yes, it is completely free and you can create unlimited citations.
Does it follow APA 7th edition?
Yes. APA references follow the 7th edition format, including DOIs as URLs and no “Retrieved from” for most web pages.
What if a source has no author or date?
Leave those fields empty. The generator starts the reference with the title and uses “n.d.” (no date) where the style requires it.
Should I double-check citations?
Yes. Automated citations are accurate when the details are correct, but always check capitalization of titles and any special requirements from your instructor.