APA Citation Generator
Craft each APA citation like a professional with QuillBot's APA Citation Generator.
Why You'll Love QuillBot's Free APA Citation Generator
Here is how QuillBot makes it easier and faster for you to cite sources in APA format:
Autosave While You Work
Once you create a citation, it is automatically saved to your QuillBot account so that you can always come back and access or edit it later—no double-work necessary.
Keep Up with Current Rules
Our APA generator supports the most up-to-date APA 6th and 7th editions, so you never have to worry about those tedious manual updates again.
Avoid Ads
With us, you'll never have to deal with annoying ads, pop-ups, tabs, or distractions. We make citations painless.
Create Both Full and In-Text Citations
We value your time and effort, so you get what we promise- complete citations, for free.
Get Alerts for Missing Info
QuillBot gives you instant feedback on important missing information right when you create or edit your citations, so you can cite with confidence.
Quickly Find and Review Source Material
Click on Open Citation Source from the three-dot menu on any cited source to navigate back and review the original reference material.
Begin For Free
Our Citation Generator is free! Check out our Citation Generator for a full list of advantages and perks.
Write More and Worry Less Using QuillBot's Citation Generator
Creating citations shouldn't be a stressful project, and with QuillBot, it won't be. Our APA Citation Generator works with APA 6th and 7th editions to generate citations in seconds, whether the source material is a book, website, or journal article.
| ⚙️ Citation styles | APA 6 and APA 7 |
|---|---|
| 📚 Citation sources | Websites, books, and journal articles |
| 🔍 Automatic citations | Search by title, URL, or DOI |
| 💰 Pricing | 100% free (no ads) |
What is the APA Citation Format?
Here are some of the basics that you'll need to get started:
Everything is double-spaced.
There are no extra blank lines between headings and the text that follows, since it’s already all double-spaced.
The headings for all sections, besides the title page, are centered and bolded at the top of a new, fresh page.
The APA style title page title page has its own special formatting requirements with different elements for different purposes (students vs. professionals), unlike the other main sections, which are easy and always the same.
Page headings are done in bold but never underlined or italicized.
Page numbers go in the top right corner of your pages.
Font must be consistent throughout and easy to read, but there is no one font mandated.
APA: Citations and References
Here are some of the APA citation courses available on QuillBot to get you started:
Other QuillBot Tools
Here are some other tools and resources to help round out your writing toolbox:
FAQs
Is QuillBot’s Citation Generator free?
Yes! Our online Citation Generator is free to use. In fact, we love freebies, so if you haven’t checked out our other free writing and research tools yet, you’re missing out.
Can I export my list of full citations?
You have the option of copying your entire list of full citations to your clipboard or exporting them to Word. You can also download them in BibTeX or CSL-JSON formats.
Do I have to create an account?
Accounts are cool and all, but sometimes you need to work and don’t have time to make up a new password. You can use the QuillBot platform tools, including the Citation Generator, for free without even signing in. You may eventually want an account for the perks of higher word counts and other features within the platform, but you can decide that for yourself whenever you’re ready.
What styles does the QuillBot Citation Generator support?
The citation generator supports APA, MLA, and Chicago style (Author-Date) formats for citing books and websites, but we are always working to add more variety to our tools. Which ones do you want us to add first? Let us know here in our feedback portal.
Are citations and references the same?
No. A citation can be either full or in-text and notates a source that the writer has used to support their argument or research. There are many styles of citations, but the most commonly used styles are APA, MLA, and Chicago citation styles. A citation says, “Hey, I didn’t know this before I read/spoke to this person, so I’m noting where the idea or information came from originally.”
Without context, a reference functions the same as a full citation. It refers to work done by other authors to support your own work. However, “References” can also refer to a specific page at the end of your work which lists all of the sources cited to support the work, IF you are working in APA format or the Author-Date system in Chicago style.
In MLA format, this page would be called a Works Cited, although those working in Author-Date Chicago style have the option to title their list of full citations either “References” or “Works Cited”. A Bibliography page is only used within the Notes and Bibliography system for Chicago style citations, just as an FYI.
Is a bibliography the same thing as a citation?
No. A citation can be either full or in-text and notates a source that the writer has used to support their argument or research. There are many styles of citations, but the most commonly used styles are the APA, MLA, and Chicago citation styles. A citation says, “Hey, I didn’t know this before I read/spoke to this person, so I’m noting where the idea or information came from originally.”
A bibliography, on the other hand, is a complete list of sources used within a work to support your claims, ideas, and arguments. A Bibliography page, when specifically titled this way, is used in the Notes and Bibliography system for Chicago style citations. A single citation could never be mistaken for bibliography, which by definition, is a list of citations in a specific style.