Free Citation Generator: APA, MLA, Harvard & Chicago
Create correct references for websites, books and journal articles. Auto-fill from a DOI, copy with italics, and build a sorted bibliography.
Your bibliography (A–Z)
Quick answer: Choose the style your teacher or journal asks for (APA, MLA, Harvard or Chicago), choose the source type, fill in the author, title, date and URL, then press Copy citation. Italics are kept when you paste into Word or Google Docs. For articles and books, paste the DOI to fill everything in automatically.
Citation examples in each style
| Style | Website example |
|---|---|
| APA 7 | Smith, J. (2025, March 14). How to write a strong research paper. Study Guide Online. https://example.com |
| MLA 9 | Smith, Jane. “How to Write a Strong Research Paper.” Study Guide Online, 14 Mar. 2025, example.com. |
| Harvard | Smith, J. (2025) How to write a strong research paper. Available at: https://example.com (Accessed: 6 October 2026). |
| Chicago | Smith, Jane. “How to Write a Strong Research Paper.” Study Guide Online. March 14, 2025. https://example.com. |
Which citation style should I use?
- APA: psychology, education, nursing, business and most social sciences.
- MLA: English, literature, languages and humanities.
- Harvard: widely used by universities in the UK, Australia, Pakistan and the Gulf, especially in business and management.
- Chicago: history, arts and some publishers.
Always follow your teacher’s or university’s guide if it differs, because many institutions use their own Harvard variant.
Citation tips
- If there is no author, the citation starts with the title.
- If there is no date, the tool writes n.d. (no date).
- Use the DOI link instead of a database URL for journal articles whenever possible.
- Put the bibliography in alphabetical order by author surname; the tool sorts it for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is this citation generator free?
Yes. It is free, has no ads inside the tool and needs no account.
How do I cite a website in APA 7?
Author, A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page in italics. Site Name. URL. Choose APA 7 and Website, and the tool formats it for you.
Can it create in-text citations?
Yes. The matching in-text citation, for example (Smith, 2025) or (Smith 45) in MLA, is shown under each reference.
What is a DOI?
A DOI is a permanent identifier for an academic article or book, such as 10.1038/nature12373. Paste it and the tool fills in the author, title, journal and year from Crossref.
Will italics copy into Word?
Yes. Copy citation keeps the italic formatting when pasted into Word, Google Docs or most editors.
Does it save my bibliography?
The bibliography stays on this page until you close or reload it. Copy it into your document before leaving.
Related free tools
Related free tools
- Grammar CheckerFix grammar, spelling and punctuation in emails, essays and CVs.
- Paraphrasing ToolRewrite text in formal, simple, fluent or shorter wording with AI.
- Text SummarizerSummarize articles and notes into a paragraph or bullet points.
- QR Code GeneratorQR codes for links, WiFi, WhatsApp and contact cards that never expire.
- Barcode GeneratorCode 128, EAN-13 and UPC barcodes for products and labels.
- Password GeneratorStrong random passwords, passphrases and PINs made on your device.