This article has been just updated: January 15, 2024

APA is a citation norm and writing style published by the American Psychological Association, the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. APA Style is typically used in the field of social sciences, but you can also find it on the web because it has been developed to aid reading comprehension and improve the clarity of communication.

The rules of APA Style are described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, which has over 250 pages and covers everything from manuscript structure and content to writing clarity and conciseness to punctuation, spelling, capitalization, the use of italics, abbreviations, numbers, metrication, statistical and mathematical copy, equations, and other mechanics of style.

apa citation machine

Unsurprisingly, not many people are keen on reading over 250 pages that talk about nothing else but various aspects of the writing process. The good news is that it’s possible to write in accordance with the APA Style even without reading the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. How? With the help of APA citation tools.

APA citation tools allow you to generate valid APA citations of books, scientific papers, websites, online videos, and you about everything else without being familiar with APA Style. Some can even check your document formatting to ensure that your headings, tables, and figures are all as they should be. To help you start writing without any unnecessary delay, we’ve selected top 7 free APA citation tools that you can download and use right now.

 

1. Zotero

apa citation

Zotero is a free and open-source reference management software whose purpose is to help you collect, organize, cite, and share research. It’s available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, and it supports APA Style as well as more than 8,000 other citation styles. To save you time, Zotero automatically senses research on the web, allowing you to import a scientific article or a news story with a single click. Everything you put in Zotero can be optionally synchronized across your devices, so your research material is always readily available.

How to use Zotero:

  1. Go to: https://www.zotero.org/.
  2. Click the Download button.
  3. Select the version for your operating system.
  4. Open the downloaded file and follow the instructions.
  5. Go to: https://www.zotero.org/support/quick_start_guide.
  6. Read the Quick Start Guide to learn how to collect, organize, and cite research resources using Zotero.
 

2. EasyBib

bibliography maker

EasyBib is an online bibliography generator that supports APA, MLA, and Chicago citation styles. For $9.95 a month, you can upgrade to EasyBib Plus and enjoy unlimited suggestions to improve your writing style, grammar, and sentence structure, unlimited checks for unintentional plagiarism, unlimited citations directly to your paper, and multiple styles and source types to choose from to create accurate citations. If you’re working on your first APA paper, EasyBib Plus is definitely worth the money as it can be a real lifesaver.

How to use EasyBib:

  1. Go to: http://www.easybib.com/.
  2. Click “I only want to create citation.”
  3. Choose your preferred citation style using the buttons at the top of the page.
  4. Choose your source type and enter the URL of your source into the source field.
  5. Press the Cite button to generate a valid citation.
 

3. Mendeley

apa format

Mendeley is a proprietary application for managing and sharing research papers, discovering research data and collaborating online. Academics use it to generate references, citations, and bibliographies in a whole range of journal styles with just a few clicks, receive personalized recommendations to stay up to date, share documents with groups of colleagues and annotate them together. Mendeley works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it has a handy web importer that allows you to quickly add articles from any supported website directly into your reference library, as well as a plug-in for Word, LibreOffice, and BibTeX.

How to use Mendeley:

  1. Go to: https://www.mendeley.com/.
  2. Click the Download now button.
  3. Download the version for your operating system.
  4. Read the official guide and watch video tutorials to learn how to generate APA citations with the application.
 

4. BibMe

apa citation

BibMe is a no-frills bibliography maker with a plagiarism, citation, grammar, and punctuation checker. It offers basically the same functionality as EasyBib, only in a different package. Even the previous version of BibMe costs the same: $9.95 a month.

How to use BibMe:

  1. Go to: http://www.bibme.org/.
  2. Click “I only want to create citation.”
  3. Choose your preferred citation style using the buttons at the top of the page.
  4. Choose your source type and enter the URL of your source into the source field.
  5. Press the Cite button to generate a valid citation.
 

5. Qiqqa

cite generator

Qiqqa is freemium reference management software for researchers who cite hundreds of research documents in a variety of citations styles. The software can automatically identify and categorize research material to make it easier to find what you’re looking for, and it keeps all your documents secure and accessible across all your devices. Aspiring researchers will appreciate Quiqqa’s ability to highly the most influential papers in a research niche.

How to use Qiqqa:

  1. Go to: http://www.qiqqa.com/.
  2. Click the Download button located in the top menu.
  3. Download Qiqqa for your operating system.
  4. Read the official manual to learn how to use the software to manage research material and generate APA citations.
 

6. Citation Machine

apa citation generator

Citation Machine is an online citation generator aimed at students and professionals who need to cite their sources in APA, Chicago, or any other popular citation style. The service allows you to upload your paper and have it checked for citation errors, grammar mistakes, and plagiarism.

How to use Citation Machine:

  1. Go to: http://www.citationmachine.net/.
  2. Click “I only want to create citation.”
  3. Choose your preferred citation style using the buttons at the top of the page.
  4. Choose your source type and enter the URL of your source into the source field.
  5. Press the Cite button to generate a valid citation.
 

7. Papers

free apa citation

Papers by ReadCube is a reference management software for macOS and Windows. You can use it to collect and curate research material, read papers with highlight support, and keep everything in sync across all your devices. Papers supports over 7,000 citation styles, including APA. You can use the application for free for up to 30 days, and a license costs €59 or €34 for students.

How to use Papers on a Mac:

  1. Go to: https://www.readcube.com/papers/.
  2. Click the Download for macOS button.
  3. Open the downloaded file.
  4. Follow the instructions.

How to use Papers on a Windows computer:

  1. Go to: https://www.readcube.com/. ReadCube is a sister app of Papers.
  2. Click the Try ReadCube button.
  3. Open the downloaded file.
  4. Follow the instructions.
 

Conclusion

Writing in APA Style doesn’t have to be torture. There are many excellent free APA citation tools that can generate valid APA citations for you with a click of a button and save from reading the 250-page official style manual for APA Style.

FAQ

There are several free tools available for generating APA citations, including ZoteroBib, BibMe, Citation Machine, Cite This For Me, EasyBib, Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab), and Mendeley. These tools help users easily create citations in the APA format by inputting the necessary information about their sources.

ZoteroBib is a free citation generator that allows users to quickly create bibliographic references without the need for creating an account. Users can input information such as the title, author, or DOI, and ZoteroBib will automatically generate the APA citation. It’s an efficient tool for students and researchers looking to cite their work properly. More information can be found on the ZoteroBib website. ZoteroBib Homepage

Yes, BibMe supports various citation formats, including APA. It provides a user-friendly interface where you can enter the details of your source, and it creates the citation which can be copied and used in your work. BibMe also checks for plagiarism and helps with grammatical corrections. Visit their site here: BibMe Homepage

Citation Machine offers features such as accurate citation generation in APA format, plagiarism detection, and grammar checks. It’s a comprehensive tool that guides users through the citation process to ensure accurate referencing. For more information, check out the Citation Machine website: Citation Machine Homepage

Yes, Cite This For Me can automatically format citations in APA as well as other styles. Users can search for a book, article, website, or other sources, or manually enter the details, and Cite This For Me will format the citation correctly. It’s an easy-to-use online tool for academic writing. Visit Cite This For Me Homepage for more details.

EasyBib is a reliable citation tool that helps in creating APA citations quickly and accurately. It offers a simple interface where users can enter the details of their sources, and EasyBib generates the citation, which can then be inserted into a bibliography or reference list. Visit EasyBib’s website here: EasyBib Homepage

Purdue OWL provides extensive resources for creating APA citations, including guidelines, instructional materials, and examples. It’s an educational resource that helps writers understand the APA style more deeply, although it doesn’t generate citations automatically. For guidance, visit the Purdue OWL website: Purdue OWL Homepage

Mendeley assists with APA citation by providing a reference manager that allows users to import references directly from databases or manually input them. Mendeley then helps format the references according to APA or other citation styles. It’s particularly useful for researchers and students managing numerous sources. More about Mendeley can be found here: Mendeley Homepage

Using an APA citation tool provides students with numerous advantages such as saving time, ensuring accuracy, reducing plagiarism risk, and helping them to learn and adhere to APA citation guidelines, which are crucial for academic writing and scholarly communications.

Yes, most of these APA citation tools can not only generate individual citations but also compile the citations into a formatted reference list that can be included at the end of an academic paper or research project. This simplifies the process of creating a comprehensive bibliography according to APA guidelines.

Some free APA citation tools, like Mendeley, offer plugins that integrate directly with word processors like Microsoft Word. This integration allows users to insert citations and bibliographies into their documents without leaving their writing environment.

Not all free APA citation tools require users to create an account. For instance, ZoteroBib allows users to generate citations without signing up. However, other tools may require an account for access to more advanced features like saving and managing bibliographies.

Some citation tools like Cite This For Me and EasyBib offer mobile apps, which allow users to create APA citations on-the-go by using their smartphones or tablets. This provides convenience and portability for users who need to cite sources when away from their computers.

Free APA citation tools are generally accurate, especially if the information entered by the user is correct. However, it is always advisable for users to double-check generated citations against the latest APA guidelines, as minor errors can occur.

Yes, these free APA citation tools can be used for more extensive projects like a thesis or dissertation. They are designed to accommodate a variety of sources and can generate large numbers of citations that are typically required in such academic works.

Many of these APA citation tools offer guidance on generating proper in-text citations in addition to generating full bibliographic references, helping users maintain consistency and accuracy throughout their writing.

Yes, most APA citation tools give the option to export generated citations in various formats, such as plain text, RIS, or directly into word processors. This makes it convenient for users to incorporate the citations into their work seamlessly.

To choose the best free APA citation tool for your needs, consider factors such as the complexity of your work, the number of sources, ease of use, integration with other software, and whether you need to collaborate with others. Trying a few different tools and evaluating their features against your requirements can help you make the best choice.

Most free APA citation tools are equipped to handle a wide range of source types, including books, articles, websites, and more. However, some unique or unusual sources might require manual input to ensure accurate citations.

Reputable APA citation tools regularly update their systems to align with the latest APA edition and guidelines. However, it is always wise to cross-check with the official APA manual or official APA resources for the most current rules.

Limitations of free APA citation tools may include reduced features compared to paid versions, the need for manual checking to guarantee accuracy, occasional ads, and potential data limitations such as the number of citations that can be saved. Always be aware of these limitations when using a free service.