APA & MLA Citation Generator
Free APA 7 and MLA 9 citation generator — instantly create reference list entries, works cited entries, and in-text citations for websites, books, journals, and more. No sign-up required.
Supports APA reference list generator, APA bibliography generator, MLA bibliography generator, works cited generator, and free APA 7 citation format. Runs entirely in your browser.
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Runs entirely in your browser. Your data is never uploaded, stored, or shared. Free APA cite generator and MLA citation generator — no sign-up required.
Fill in the fields above and click Generate Citation to create your APA reference list entry, MLA works cited entry, and in-text citations.
Supports APA format citation generator, free MLA citation generator, works cited generator, and APA 7 citation format.
Free APA & MLA Citation Generator Features
How to Cite APA 7 — Quick Guide
APA Reference List (Book)
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of work. Publisher.
APA Reference List (Website)
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Website Name. URL
MLA Works Cited (Website)
Author Last, First. "Title of Page." Website Name, Day Mon. Year, URL.
Getting Citations Right the First Time Saves More Than You Think
Most students and researchers treat citations as something to sort out at the very end, after the writing is finished. That habit creates unnecessary stress because citation formats are strict, and a single misplaced comma or missing publication year can result in a formatting error. Whether you are submitting an academic paper, a research report, a thesis, or a class assignment, citations must follow a recognized format precisely. This free APA and MLA citation generator removes the guesswork by producing properly structured entries for every major source type — instantly, with no account required.
Searches like free APA citation generator, MLA bibliography generator, works cited generator, and APA reference list generator reflect how many people need citation help at every level of education and research. This tool covers all of them in one place, supporting APA 7th edition and MLA 9th edition across nine different source types.
APA 7 vs MLA 9 — Understanding the Key Differences
Choosing between APA and MLA is usually determined by your academic discipline or institution. APA 7 (American Psychological Association) is the standard format for social sciences, psychology, nursing, education, business, and economics. MLA 9 (Modern Language Association) is used most widely in humanities, literature, language studies, film, and philosophy. Both formats require a full list of sources at the end of the paper, and both use brief in-text citations within the body.
The table below highlights the core structural differences between the two formats to help you understand what each citation style requires.
| Feature | APA 7 | MLA 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fields | Social sciences, psychology, education | Humanities, literature, language |
| In-Text Format | (Author, Year) | (Author Page) |
| Reference Page Title | References | Works Cited |
| Book Author Format | Smith, J. A. | Smith, John A. |
| Publication Date | After author in parentheses | Near end of citation |
| Article Titles | No quotation marks | In quotation marks |
| Book / Journal Titles | Italicized | Italicized |
| DOI Preference | Strongly preferred | URL acceptable |
How to Cite a Website in APA 7 Format
Website citations are among the most frequently needed and most commonly formatted incorrectly. APA 7 requires specific elements in a precise order. Understanding the correct structure makes it much easier to evaluate whether a generated citation is accurate.
APA 7 Website Citation Structure
Author Last, F. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Website Name. URL
APA 7 Website Citation Example
Smith, J. (2023, April 12). How to write an APA citation. Citation Guide. https://citationguide.org/apa-examples
If no author is named on the webpage, begin the citation with the title of the page. If the publication date is unknown, use n.d. in place of the year. Many researchers searching for how to cite APA or trying to understand APA style citation requirements find this structure confusing at first, which is exactly why an automated generator reduces errors significantly.
How to Cite a Website in MLA 9 Format
MLA 9 Website Citation Structure
Author Last, First. "Title of Page." Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.
MLA 9 Website Citation Example
Smith, Jane. "How to Write an APA Citation." Citation Guide, 12 Apr. 2023, citationguide.org/apa-examples.
MLA 9 places article and page titles inside quotation marks while italicizing the larger container — the website, journal, or book. The date format in MLA follows Day Month Year order rather than the Year, Month Day order used in APA. For sources that may update or change over time, adding an access date at the end of the MLA citation is recommended.
APA and MLA In-Text Citation Formulas
In-text citations are brief references placed directly in the body of your paper each time you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source. They allow readers to locate the full citation in the reference list or works cited page. The two formats use different information inside the parentheses.
APA In-Text Citation Formula
(Author Last Name, Year)
(Author Last Name, Year, p. Page)
Example: (Johnson, 2021) or (Johnson, 2021, p. 34)
MLA In-Text Citation Formula
(Author Last Name Page Number)
Example: (Johnson 34) or (Johnson) if no page number
Supported Source Types in This Citation Generator
Different academic disciplines rely on different types of sources. This free citation generator supports nine distinct source types, covering the most common research materials used across academic and professional writing.
| Source Type | Common Use | Key Fields |
|---|---|---|
| Website | News, blogs, official pages | Author, title, URL, date |
| Book | Academic texts, reference books | Author, title, publisher, year |
| Journal Article | Peer-reviewed research | Author, journal, volume, DOI |
| Newspaper | Current events, opinion pieces | Author, headline, paper, date |
| Magazine | Feature articles, reviews | Author, title, magazine, date |
| Report | Government, corporate reports | Organization, title, publisher |
| Thesis / Dissertation | Graduate-level research | Author, title, university, year |
| Online Video | YouTube, educational content | Creator, title, platform, URL |
| Podcast | Audio episodes, interviews | Host, episode, show, URL |
Common Citation Mistakes That Affect Academic Grades
Even experienced researchers make citation errors. The formatting rules in APA 7 and MLA 9 are detailed, and small mistakes can add up across a long reference list. Understanding the most common errors helps you review generated citations more effectively before submitting your work.
Frequent Citation Errors to Avoid
- Wrong author format: APA uses Last, F. M. format. MLA uses Last, First for the first author only.
- Missing hanging indent: Both APA reference lists and MLA works cited pages require a hanging indent where the first line is flush and all subsequent lines are indented.
- Incorrect date placement: APA places the date immediately after the author in parentheses. MLA places dates near the end of the entry.
- URL instead of DOI: In APA 7, a DOI is always preferred over a URL when both are available for a journal article.
- Missing article quotation marks in MLA: Article and webpage titles in MLA must appear in double quotation marks.
- Forgetting access dates: For web sources that change frequently, MLA recommends including the date you accessed the page.
- Inconsistent formatting across entries: All entries in a reference list or works cited page must follow the same formatting rules throughout.
Tips for Building an Accurate APA Reference List or MLA Works Cited Page
Generating a citation is only the first step. How you organize and present your citations within the paper matters just as much as the individual entries. Below are practical tips that apply regardless of whether you are completing a college assignment, a research paper, or a professional report.
- List all entries in alphabetical order by the first author's last name on both the APA reference list and the MLA works cited page.
- Use a hanging indent for every entry — the first line starts at the margin and all subsequent lines are indented by half an inch.
- Every in-text citation must have a corresponding full entry in the reference list or works cited page, and vice versa.
- For sources with no author listed, alphabetize by the title of the work (ignoring A, An, or The).
- Double-check DOI links by visiting https://doi.org/ followed by the DOI number before including it in any citation.
- When citing multiple works by the same author in APA, list them in chronological order from earliest to most recent.
- For APA citations with three or more authors, use the first author's name followed by et al. in the in-text citation. List all authors in the reference list entry up to 20 names.
Related Text Tools Hub
After generating your citations, use the Word Counter to check the total length of your paper and confirm your works cited page stays within any word limit requirements.
Improve the clarity and readability of your paper with the Readability Checker, which helps identify sentences that may be too complex or difficult to follow quickly.
If you want to review how often specific terms appear across your paper, the Keyword Density Checker can show keyword frequency and help you maintain balanced, natural usage throughout your writing.
The Sentence Counter gives a quick overview of sentence count and structure, which is useful when reviewing paragraph length across your research paper or essay.
For consistent heading capitalization across title pages, section headings, and citation entries, the Text Case Converter can quickly apply title case, sentence case, or all caps formatting to any text.
Why Accurate Citations Matter Beyond Avoiding Plagiarism
Proper citations serve a purpose that goes well beyond satisfying assignment requirements. They demonstrate that your arguments are grounded in credible, verifiable sources. They allow readers to locate the original material and explore a topic further. They show respect for the intellectual work of other researchers. And in academic and professional settings, citation quality is often considered a reflection of writing discipline and research rigor.
The growing popularity of searches such as free APA 7 citation generator, MLA works cited generator, APA style citation generator, and cite generator shows how many students and researchers value having a reliable, accurate tool available during the writing process. Manually constructing every citation from scratch is time-consuming, and formatting rules change with each new edition of each style guide.
This free APA and MLA citation generator was designed to make that process straightforward and accurate. Select your citation style, choose the source type, fill in the available fields, and generate formatted citations in seconds. Whether you are working on a class assignment, a graduate dissertation, a published article, or a corporate research report, having the right citation format from the start saves time and reduces errors throughout the entire writing process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an APA citation generator?
An APA citation generator is a free tool that automatically creates properly formatted APA 7th edition citations for sources including websites, books, journal articles, newspapers, reports, videos, and podcasts. It produces both reference list entries and in-text citations following APA style guidelines.
What is the difference between APA 7 and MLA 9 citation formats?
APA 7 is commonly used in social sciences, psychology, education, and business. MLA 9 is standard in humanities, literature, and language studies. APA in-text citations use Author and Year format such as (Smith, 2022), while MLA uses Author and Page format such as (Smith 45). Both require a full reference list at the end of the paper.
How do I cite a website in APA 7 format?
To cite a website in APA 7 format: Author Last, First. (Year, Month Day). Title of the page. Website Name. URL. If no author is listed, begin with the page title. If no date is available, use n.d. in place of the year.
How do I cite a website in MLA 9 format?
To cite a website in MLA 9: Author Last, First. "Title of Page." Website Name, Day Month Year, URL. For content that may change, include an access date at the end of the citation.
What is an APA in-text citation?
An APA in-text citation is a short reference placed within the text immediately after using a source. The standard format is (Author Last Name, Year). For direct quotes, include the page number: (Author Last Name, Year, p. 34). Every in-text citation must match an entry in the APA reference list.
What is the difference between a reference list and a bibliography?
An APA reference list includes only sources cited within the paper. An annotated bibliography may include sources consulted but not directly cited, along with brief summaries. MLA uses the term Works Cited for sources referenced in the paper.
Can I use this free citation generator for books?
Yes. Select Book as the source type, enter the author name, book title, publisher, year, and edition if applicable. The tool will generate a properly formatted APA book citation, MLA book citation, and in-text citations for both styles.
Does this citation generator work for journal articles?
Yes. Select Journal Article, then enter the author, article title, journal name, volume, issue, page numbers, year, and DOI if available. A DOI is preferred over a URL in APA 7 because it provides a permanent, stable link to the article.
Is this APA and MLA citation generator completely free?
Yes. This is a completely free APA and MLA citation generator with no sign-up required. The tool runs entirely inside your browser. Your source information is never uploaded, stored, or shared with any server.
What should I do after generating my citations?
Use the Copy All button to copy every citation format at once, or use the individual Copy buttons next to each output. You can also download a plain text report using the Download TXT button or print a formatted version using the Print button. Always review the final citation against your institution's style guide before submitting.