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17 Citation Styles Supported - Free to use

AI Citation Generator

Say goodbye to the struggles of citing sources. Generate spot-on citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, and 14 other formats - instantly.

Last updated: July 2026

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AI can suggest sources that need checking - confirm each source exists before you cite it.

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Trusted by 1.2M+ students worldwide

17 citation styles supported

How it works

How to Easily Use Our Online Citation Machine

Our AI citation tool is user-friendly, versatile, and suitable for anyone - whether you're starting with sources or still need to find them.

STEP

Enter Your Essay Topic

Begin by entering the subject of your paper. This helps the tool find sources relevant to your topic.

STEP

Specify Source Quantity

Indicate the number of sources you need for your project.

STEP

Choose Citation Style

Pick from 17 styles including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard.

STEP

Pick Source Type

Choose the type of sources you need, such as books, journals, or websites.

STEP

Set Time Frame & Generate

Once you've completed these steps, the citation finder provides suggestions you can add to your paper.

STEP

Enter the URL or Title

Copy and paste the URL or enter the title of the source you want to cite.

STEP

Choose Citation Style & Generate

Select your style. The tool determines the author, title, and other details of your source automatically.

STEP

Enter Your Topic

Provide the topic for which you need references and annotations.

STEP

Specify Source Quantity

Indicate the number of sources you need for your project.

STEP

Choose Citation Style

Select the citation style required, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, or others.

STEP

Pick Source Type

Choose the type of sources you need, like books, websites, or journals.

STEP

Set Time Frame & Generate

Hit Generate to receive relevant references along with brief annotations in your chosen format.

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Questions

FAQs About the Citation Machine

Quick answers to the questions students ask most about our AI citation generator.

What is a citation generator?

A citation generator is a free tool that automatically formats references for your sources in any academic style. Instead of manually arranging author names, dates, and publication details, you enter your source and the citation machine produces a perfectly formatted citation in seconds.

How do I create a citation in APA or MLA?

Enter your topic or source, choose APA, MLA, or any other style, and click Generate. The APA and MLA citation generator formats each reference to the latest guidelines in seconds - then you can edit, copy, or download the result.

How do I cite a website with this tool?

Open the Citation Generator tab, paste the website URL, and pick your style. The tool extracts key details - author, title, publication date, and more - to produce an accurate, ready-to-use citation for the web page.

Which citation styles does the tool support?

Our tool supports 17 citation styles including APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, AMA, IEEE, ASA, ACS, Turabian, CSE, Vancouver, NLM, APSA, Bluebook, AAA, Oscola, and MHRA - covering virtually every academic discipline and journal requirement.

Can it create an annotated bibliography?

Yes. An annotated bibliography lists each citation with a short paragraph that summarizes and evaluates the source. Our Annotation Generator creates the formatted citation and the annotation together, saving you significant research time.

Are the generated citations accurate?

Our tool follows current citation guidelines for all supported styles and places every comma, period, and title correctly. We always recommend a quick review against your institution's style guide, as requirements can occasionally vary by journal or program.

Can I edit, copy, and download my citations?

Yes. You can edit any citation right in the results, copy a single reference or the whole list with one click, and download your bibliography as a Word or PDF file to drop straight into your paper.

Is the citation machine free and do I need to sign up?

Yes - the citation machine is free with up to 3 generations per session and no sign-up. Create a free account for more uses, and paid plans include unlimited citations across all 30+ tools plus Word and PDF downloads.