Citation Generator

Generate perfectly formatted citations in APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago, Harvard, and BibTeX. 100% free, no signup.

Supports DOIs (CrossRef), ISBNs (Open Library), and URLs (auto-sets source type to Website).

Author(s)

Frequently Asked Questions

What citation styles are supported?

We support the five most common citation styles: APA 7th Edition (American Psychological Association), MLA 9th Edition (Modern Language Association), Chicago 17th Edition (notes-bibliography style), Harvard (author-date), and BibTeX (for LaTeX users). APA and MLA are updated to their latest editions.

How accurate are the citations?

Our generator follows the official style manuals for APA 7th and MLA 9th editions, including correct author formatting (et al. rules), italicization, punctuation, and DOI/URL handling. We recommend double-checking against your institution's specific requirements, as some professors have additional preferences.

What is the difference between APA and MLA?

APA is commonly used in social sciences, psychology, and education. It emphasizes the date of publication. MLA is commonly used in humanities, literature, and arts. It emphasizes the author and page numbers. APA uses "et al." after 2 authors; MLA uses it after 1 author (for 3+ authors).

How do I cite a source with no author?

Leave the author fields empty. The generator will automatically handle it according to each style's rules — typically using the title in place of the author name. In APA, the title moves to the author position. In MLA, the entry begins with the title.

Can I build a full bibliography?

Yes! After generating each citation, click "Add to Bibliography" to build a running list. You can copy the entire bibliography at once, download it as a .txt file, or download as a .bib file for LaTeX. Citations can be removed individually from the list.

What is BibTeX format?

BibTeX is a reference management format used with LaTeX typesetting. It stores citation data in a structured format like @article{'{'}key, author='{'{'}...{'}'}, title='{'{'}...{'}'}{'}'}. If you're writing papers in LaTeX or Overleaf, download your bibliography as a .bib file.

Does this tool store my data?

No. Everything runs 100% in your browser. No data is sent to any server. Your bibliography is stored in your browser's local storage so it persists between visits, but never leaves your device.

How to Generate a Citation

  1. Choose your citation style — select APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago 17th, Harvard, or BibTeX from the dropdown.
  2. Select the source type — pick from website, book, journal article, newspaper article, video, or podcast.
  3. Fill in the details or use DOI/ISBN auto-fill — enter author(s), title, publisher, and other fields manually, or paste a DOI (fetched via CrossRef) or ISBN (fetched via Open Library) to auto-populate all fields instantly.
  4. Click Generate and copy — view your formatted citation with parenthetical and narrative in-text citations. Copy it to your clipboard or add it to your running bibliography for bulk export.

Why Use ForgeDaddy's Citation Generator?

  • 5 citation styles including BibTeX — APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago 17th, Harvard, and BibTeX for LaTeX users. Updated to the latest editions of each style manual.
  • Auto-fill from DOI via CrossRef and ISBN via Open Library — paste a DOI or ISBN and all fields (author, title, publisher, date, volume, issue) are populated automatically. No manual typing needed.
  • All source types: books, journals, websites, videos, podcasts — cite any source type with correct formatting. Each style handles source-specific fields (volume, issue, DOI, URL, access date) according to the official manual.
  • No signup required — unlike EasyBib and Citation Machine, which require account creation and show intrusive ads, ForgeDaddy works instantly with zero barriers.
  • 100% private — everything runs in your browser. No data is sent to any server. Your bibliography is stored in local storage and never leaves your device.

Related Tools

  • Resume Builder — create a professional resume with live preview and PDF export.
  • Word Counter — count words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs in your essay.
  • AI Detector — check if text was written by AI before submitting your paper.
  • Markdown Preview — preview and format Markdown documents in real time.
  • Fancy Text Generator — generate stylized Unicode text for social media and presentations.

Last Updated: March 2026