Quick Answer
Citation Generator is a free online citation builder and bibliography generator by ThinkaBell. It runs citation generation happens locally in your browser — no sign-up, no file uploads, and no data ever leaves your device.
- Citation styles: APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago 17th edition, Harvard
- Source types: Website, book, journal, podcast, video, social media, government report, dataset, software, and AI sources
- Export formats: BibTeX, RIS export, batch citation generation
- Privacy-first: no data collection, no tracking, no uploads.
- Free forever: no premium tiers, no hidden charges, no accounts.
Citation Generator
Free citation generator for APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard styles. Create citations for websites, books, journals, podcasts, videos, social media, government reports, datasets, software, and AI sources. BibTeX, RIS export, in-text citations, and bibliography manager — no account required.
Putting together a bibliography is tedious enough without worrying about whether every comma and period is in the right place. Pick your source type — website, book, journal, podcast, video, social media, government report, dataset, software, or AI source — choose a style, fill in the details, and get a perfectly formatted citation you can copy straight into your paper. Everything runs in your browser, so your sources stay on your machine.
Key Terms
- Web Application
- A web application that runs entirely in your browser using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. No software installation, no account creation, and no file uploads to external servers.
- Client-Side Processing
- All calculations and data processing happen on your device. Your information never leaves your browser, ensuring complete privacy and security.
- Free Online Tool
- A utility accessible through a web browser at no cost. ThinkaBell tools are free with no premium tiers, no usage limits, and no account requirements.
How to Use Citation Generator
All processing happens in your browser — nothing is uploaded to any server.
- Choose Source Type — Select Website, Book, Journal, Podcast, Video, Social Media, Government Report, Dataset, Software, or AI Source using the tabs.
- Pick Citation Style — Choose APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard from the dropdown.
- Add Authors — Fill in last name, first name, middle initial. Click "+ Add Author" for more.
- Fill Details — Enter title, publication date, and source-specific fields (URL, ISBN, DOI, etc.).
- Generate & Export — Click "Generate Citation" to get formatted reference. Copy, add to bibliography, or export as BibTeX.
About This Tool
Citation Generator is a free online citation builder academic citation tool by ThinkaBell that simplifies the process of creating properly formatted references for research papers, essays, dissertations, and journal articles. Every citation is generated entirely on your device using client-side JavaScript — meaning your research sources, notes, and personal information never leave your browser and are never transmitted to any external server. This privacy-first approach makes it safe to use with sensitive or unpublished research materials.
The tool supports the four most widely used citation styles worldwide: APA 7th Edition, favored in psychology, education, and social sciences; MLA 9th Edition, standard for humanities and literature; Chicago 17th Edition, used extensively in history and some sciences; and Harvard referencing, common in UK universities and business disciplines. Each style has its own nuanced formatting rules for author names, publication dates, titles, publishers, URLs, DOIs, and punctuation placement, and this tool handles all of those variations automatically so you don't have to memorize dozens of style guide rules.
With support for 10 distinct source types — websites and web pages, print and digital books, peer-reviewed journal articles, podcast episodes, YouTube and video content, social media posts, government publications, datasets and data repositories, software and applications, and AI-generated content — the Citation Generator covers virtually every source you'll encounter during academic research. Each source type surfaces only the fields relevant to that category, so you're not overwhelmed with irrelevant inputs. ISBN lookup via the Open Library API auto-fills book details, saving you significant time when citing published works.
The built-in bibliography manager lets you accumulate multiple citations, reorder them by drag and drop, switch the entire bibliography between citation styles with one click, and export your complete reference list in BibTeX format for import into Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, or other reference management software. RIS export provides compatibility with a broader range of reference managers. Batch URL import lets you paste dozens of URLs at once to generate citations automatically. In-text citation generation produces both parenthetical and narrative forms for APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard styles.
Citation Generator is a free online Student Toolkit by ThinkaBell. Generate citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard styles. Create accurate citations for websites, books, journals, podcasts, videos, social media, government reports, datasets, software, and AI sources. BibTeX, RIS export, in-text citations, and bibliography manager — no account required.
Every tool on ThinkaBell runs entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. When you use Citation Generator, all processing happens on your device — no files are uploaded to any server, no data is collected, and no tracking occurs. This privacy-first design makes it safe to use with sensitive information, research materials, or unpublished work.
ThinkaBell stays free through non-intrusive advertisements. We never sell your data, require payments, or hide features behind paywalls. The tools are free — today, tomorrow, and forever. Citation Generator is supported by our community of students, developers, and creators who rely on these utilities every day.
Built with modern web standards, Citation Generator works on any device with a browser — desktop, tablet, or smartphone. The responsive interface adapts to your screen size, and keyboard shortcuts let you work efficiently. All data is saved locally in your browser and can be cleared at any time.
Why This Tool
- Core citation generator functionality with accurate results
- Privacy-first design — no data collection, everything stays in your browser
- 10 source types: website, book, journal, podcast, video, social media, government report, dataset, software, AI source
- 4 citation styles: APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago 17th, Harvard
- Advanced features: in-text citations, RIS/BibTeX export, batch URL import, bibliography analytics, style switcher
- Bibliography manager with drag-and-drop reorder, save/load to browser, undo last entry
- Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers
- Free to use with no account or registration required
Frequently Asked Questions
What citation styles are supported?
APA 7th Edition, MLA 9th Edition, Chicago 17th Edition, and Harvard.
Can I generate citations for books and journals?
Yes. Use the tabs to switch between Website, Book, Journal, Podcast, Video, Social Media, Government Report, Dataset, Software, and AI Source.
How do I add multiple authors?
Click "+ Add Author" to add more author rows. Fill in last name, first name, and middle initial for each.
Can I build a bibliography?
Yes. Generate each citation and click "Add to Bibliography" to save it. Then copy all or export as BibTeX.
Can I batch generate multiple citations?
Yes. Use the Batch Citation Generator section with format: Title | Author | Year | Type (one per line).
Is this citation generator free?
Completely free. No sign-up, no hidden limits, no premium tiers.