Reference and citation maker tools are extremely helpful for students, researchers and content writer as well. It is obvious that to add references and citation in the research project or in writing content manually is really a laborious work. In this fast age of technology, everyone wants to complete the task as soon as possible and to produce error-free content in a short span of time.
It is not hidden that many researchers wish to do away with this part after toil through their research methodology and other crucial parts of their research project. Numerous editing styles and their accompanying citation formats assure that interpretation of this part of the research project does not come as simple or straightforward as it should.
Referencing the person whose ideas are used, by the researcher in his research paper, is of the extreme significance. Plagiarism is the worst nightmare of every researcher. So every researcher wants to get rid of this horrible dream.
Best online reference and citation maker tools have become an integral part of every research and content writing. Content developers extensively use these platforms to avoid plagiarism.
In this article, we discuss various reference and citation maker tools with plug-ins or are accessible via online. We built a list of 18 best online reference and citation maker tools and gave primary considerations to convenient use, citation styles supported and accuracy of the citations. We also discussed the extra features of these tools such as ability to edit, copy-paste citations, change citation styles and collaboration.
So, here is the list of 18 best online reference and citation maker tools. Check out the list and choose your favorite from below!
List of 18 Best Online Reference and Citation Maker Tools
Table of Contents
1. Mendeley Cite
Mendeley cite is plug-in for Microsoft Word that allows its user to cite sources without leaving your document. The plug-in happens in the references tab in Word which permits its user to mechanically add in-text citation and create bibliographies.
Mendeley Cite works in the most best possible way if the user has the Mendeley desktop app where he/she keeps and manages his/her research. They also have Mendeley Web Importer for mechanically save webpages into your desktop app.
When the users are ready to write their paper, they simply need to click Insert Citation and a pop-up box will appear. It will let the users to search their Mendeley library by keywords or by author, title or year of the source material. They just have to select the appropriate reference material and the plug-in will produce an in-text citation.
Mendeley Cite also allows the users to manually edit the citation and still support the citation as a part of their reference list. For instance, the users can select to incorporate the author’s name in the paragraph and only have the year set in brackets. Similarly, the plug-in permits one-click generation of a bibliography. Just hit on Insert Bibliography and it will build one for the user’s based on the reference data that they have in the Mendeley database.
Key Features:
- It supports one-click citation generation.
- It helps in one-click bibliography generation.
- It supports up to 8,000 citation styles.
- It can change citation style.
- It can edit citations manually.
- It is compatible with Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Word 2016 and later versions and Microsoft Word app for iPad.
2. Zotero
Zotero is a free, open-source research tool that allows its user to collect research material, organize them, create references and citations. Zotero has a downloadable desktop app for Mac and Windows. They also have Zotero Connector, a browser extension that allows the user to save webpages online and sync it to the desktop app.
Zotero permits the user to add simply about any reference material, from an artwork to a webpage. He/she can input reference material data like its title, the author’s name, date and more.The user can use the reference library in conjunction with the Zotero Google Doc add-in. This tool allows the user to search his/her sources in his/her personal Zotero library and mechanically reference them in user’s document or research paper. The plug-in provides users with one-click citation and generation as well as the ability to let others insert and edit citations spontaneously, for instance (University of America, 2020).
Key Features:
- It supports more than 9,000 citation styles.
- It has the ability to add 40+ reference materials, called “items”.
- It adds notes and tags to reference material.
- It organizes reference materials into a collection.
- It generates a bibliography from the collection.
3. EndNote
EndNote is a perfect and complete reference management software that promises users to research smarter. Excluding from user’s own library where he/she can gather, sort and share his/her research, it also has a Cite-As-You-Write plug-in for Word and Mac. The plug-in bridges user EndNote library and Microsoft Word or Apple Pages so the user can seamlessly cite sources without switching to different interfaces.
With the EndNote Cite-As-You-Write plugin, the user can easily create citations and bibliographies with just one click. It permits the user to search his/her EndNote library directly from Word and create a citation. It can also mechanically produce bibliographies and unlike other bibliography markers, there are options for controlling its formatting and layout.
For instance, the user can restrain the bibliography font size and style, first-line indents, hanging indents and more. Moreover, the bibliography list will mechanically be updated when there are changes to user’s citation since the plugin formats it as a set of field codes instead of plain text.
Key Features:
- It supports for more than 6,000 bibliographic styles. By default, 500 styles are available when the user first download the tool. However, the user can download styles individually or by area of study.
- It imports citations from article databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, PubMed and other publishers.
- It helps in changing citation style.
- It has the ability of customization options for in-text citations. The user can choose to show the author’s name with the publication date in brackets, eliminate the writer or year from the citation, or cite the source in the bibliography only.
- It can insert and edit in-text citations.
- It gives bibliography formatting options.
- It can mechanically update citations and bibliography.
4. Paperpile
Paperpile is a subscription-based reference management system that allows the users to store, organize and share your research all from one place. The paid version adds beta version of Word plug-ins for Mac and Windows. However, Paperpile also proposes a free reference manager for Google Docs.This reference manager is an add-on that displays on user’s Google Docs sidebar. The tool allows the user to look for references online or from user’s document by author, keywords, DOI, PubMed ID. The user can produce in-text citations and bibliographies manually or mechanically. Once the user has done , he/she can export references to other reference management systems like BibTex and RIS.
Key Features:
- It supports thousands of citation styles from major to journal to specific formats.
- It supports 36 source types with sub-types.
- It has the ability to change citation style.
- It helps in adding in-text citations.
- It can generate manual citations.
- It uploads custom citation style.
- It exports document with no citation codes or with EndNote or BibText citation codes.
- It exports references to RIS and BibTex.
- It mechanically adds DOIs and URLs.
5. Cite This for Me
Cite This for Me has a decent amount of tools that will make citation easier and faster. Through it can only support a moderate number of source types, it makes up for it in the array of citation styles available. While it has the general download, export and copy-paste tools that other citation generators have, its collaboration features which make it unique and special.
This tool has a browser extension called Cite This for Me: Web Citer, which offers one-click citation of sources. Nevertheless, the browser extension only supports APA, MLA, Chicago and Harvard referencing styles.There is only one drawback to use Cite This for Me is that user’s bibliography expires in about a week. The tool has a countdown timer that tells the user how many seconds he/she has until he/she loses his/her work. In order to avoid this, the user can sign up for an account and enjoy many other features.
Key Features:
- It supports 34 source types.
- It supports for 7,500 citation styles.
- It can change citation style.
- It has the ability to download your bibliography as a .docx or .rtf file.
- It exports as BibTex, Google Drive or EndNote.
- It works faster.
- It saves time with just one-click buttons for copying bibliography or in-text citations.
- It organizes references. The user can sort out the sources by added date, author, title or year. The user can also use search or filtering tools to find sources.
- It collaborates with others. The user can share his/her bibliography with group members so the user can work in it spontaneously. He/she can also send his/her bibliography to email.
6. Citation Machine
Citation Machine is a free online reference generator that is also straightforward to use. Like most citation generators, users are asked to identify the source material, search for it via URL and supply any missing information to complete the citation. Completed citations are added to users online bibliography which the user can then copy-paste to a document or export to Word. Nonetheless, if the user would like to save his/her bibliography, the user would need to upgrade to Citation Machine Plus. The free version also requires the user to watch an ad after every 48 hours for its users to continue citing material.
Key Features:
- It supports 60 source types.
- It supports for 7,000 citation styles.
- It can change citation style.
- It sorts references alphabetically or by most or least recent.
7. EasyBib
EasyBib is an another free, easy to use online bibliography maker. Like Citation Machine, EasyBib is a part of the online learning program Chegg Service. This aptly describes why it has a similar interface and characteristics to Citation Machine.
Key Features:
- It supports 60 source types.
- It supports more than 7,000 citation styles.
- It can change citation style.
- It sorts references alphabetically or by most or least recent.
- It can add annotation to a source material.
8. BibMe
BibMe is an online reference generator that makes the tiresome task of citation more comfortable and easy.BibMe proposes dual methods for its users to fill in users’ citations: auto-fill mode and manual entry mode. With auto-fill mode, the users simply need to write the keywords or the URL of his/her source, select the accurate search result and have BibMe fill in the citation data.
BibMe finds out external databases such as Amazon, Find Articles, Yahoo News and CiteULike Academic Papers to come up with auto-citations. As a final step, the user will be asked to supply any information that BibMe was unable to search. Later on, the user will be able to generate a citation. If the user want to download his/her citation to Word or to save user’s work online, the user just have to create an account.
Key Features:
- It can automatically cite up to 22 different source types.
- It supports more than 7,000 citation styles.
- It can copy-paste citations.
9. Cite Maker
It is the best on online bibliography maker that promises fast output in triple easiest steps which are as following:
First, the user just need to select a citation style from the drop down. Cite Maker supports APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA, Oxford and Turabian citation formats. Next, decide if the user wish to cite manually or automatically. The user can mechanically cite a source by having the tool search it using its BibTex citation, ISBN, website URL or DOI. On the other hand, the user can manually create citations for nine source types with various sub types for each.Cite Maker bestows the user with a preview of the citation and mechanically arranges them alphabetically for its users. Later on, the user can copy-paste or export his/her citation and bibliography list. Nonetheless, if the user wants to save the citation, he/she just has to generate an account.
Key Features:
- It supports 6 citation styles.
- It supports 4 resource types for auto-generated citations and 9 resource types with various sub types for manual citations.
- It provides manual or automatic citation.
- It helps in copy, delete and edit citation.
- It exports citation to email, Google Drive, Microsoft One Drive, Microsoft Word and PDF.
10. Cite Fast
Cite Fast is an online citation creator that is not only a free tool but also a fast one. Cite Fast can mechanically generate citations out of webpage URLs, ISBNs and many more. The user can also type in the information himself/herself. Fields for reference data have tips that the user can linger on so the user know how to perfectly format his/her sources.
Cite Fast permits the user to save his/her citations. Nonetheless, if the user does not have an account, the user’s citations will be deleted after four days of inactivity. The user can save citations indefinitely when the user create an account.
Key Features:
- It supports 19 source types.
- It supports 3 citation styles: APA 6 & 7, MLA 7 & 8 and Chicago.
- It can change citation style.
- It can copy-paste citations.
- It exports to Word.
11. KnightCite
KnightCite is a free online citation generator run by the Hekman Library at Calvin College. It was created by a student of the school with the aim of building a rapid and reliable citation tool for other students. KnightCite provides users with the standard elements added in a citation. It bestows the user with a brief guide for the resource type the user is trying to cite in his/her chosen citation style. The tool gives support 26 resource types but only for MLA, APA and Chicago formats. Anyone can use KnightCite, nevertheless, one can register for free to enjoy more benefits such as saving, alphabetizing citations and exporting them to word.
Key Features:
- It supports more than 20 resource types, including print and electronic sources.
- It supports MLA, APA and Chicago styles only.
- It can edit citations.
- It has the facility to copy-paste citations.
12. Citation Builder
Citation Builder is a free online bibliography generator run by the North Carolina State University Library. It has a rather simplistic interface with dropdowns for the resource type and citation style. The user just need to select the options from the dropdowns and manually fill out the required information for the resource type. Once the user strike submit, it will generate a citation for the user which he/she can copy-paste to a document, content or research paper.
Key Features:
- It supports 6 resource types.
- It supports 4 citation styles: APA, MLA, Chicago and CSE/CBE.
- It supports the citation for both print and digital resources.
13. OttoBib
OttoBib is a straightforward online citation generator that allows the user to cite the books by utilizing their International Standard Book Number (ISBNs). The user can cite multiple ISBNs as long as they are separated with commas. OttoBib supports MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian, BibTex and Wikipedia. Sarcastically, the positive point of OttoBib also its negative point. Although, it is simple and convenient to use, it lacks the citation editing and export tools which other bibliography and citation maker tools have.
Key Features:
- It supports ISBN citations.
- It supports 6 citation styles.
- It provides the facility of Google Chrome Extension.
- It does not require subscription.
14. Citavi
Citavi is a multi-functional free online tool for bibliography and citation. It can be used by content developers and researchers for their knowledge organization requirements. It helps in creating work-cited pages. It can import sources and referencing them properly.
Key Features:
- It imports sources.
- It is very easy to use.
- It is very helpful in creating work-cited page.
- It gives the option of adding references automatic or manual.
- It also has the facility of using bar code scanner or PDF referencing.
- It has free version and various premium options.
15. Citelighter
Citelighter is an award-gaining multi-functional free online tool for bibliography and citation that also performs the role of an outstanding assistance tool for writing. It will generate bibliographies automatically and provides the facility of adding variety of templates to its users.
Key Features:
- It is the award-winning multi-purpose tool.
- It is very convenient to utilize.
- It adds references automatically.
- It has the facility of adding variety of templates in writing.
- It is available in in Demo Version and Paid Version in reasonable price.
16. Docear
Docear is the free online bibliography and citation tool which has multiple interesting features that will aid content developers and researchers in adding references in their documents or writing materials. It helps the users in organizing their documents and categorizes annotations.
Key Features:
- It is very easy to utilize.
- It provides single-section interface.
- It helps in organizing documents.
- It supports categorizes annotations.
- It provides the layout that is very convenient to utilize.
- It supports Windows, Mac and Linux in order to fulfil content developers and researchers’ needs.
- It does not have any premium membership options.
17. Recipes4Success
Recipes4Success is a radical free online bibliography and citation tool. It provides the chance to its users to add reference sources such as effects, music pieces, images and email messages.
Key Features:
- It can format citations automatically.
- It provides simple and easy to use interface.
- It does not require Premium Subscription.
18. RefDot
RefDot is an another amazing free online bibliography and citation tool which is very beneficial for content developers and researchers in adding their references in their documents, content and writing materials.
Key Features:
- It allows the users to cite books, journals and websites.
- It has various citation options.
- It provides the facility of reference storing.
- It has lots of features such as simultaneous author management, XML, standard text and HTML format viewing.
- It does not need subscription.
- It provides the facility of Google Chrome Extension.
Conclusion
These top ranking 18 free online bibliography and citation maker tools are the most effective way for content developers and researchers to give appreciation to people whose ideas they used. These amazing tools are extremely helpful and provide various platforms and features to the users. These tools provides you the facilities of citation format, edit citation, cite the resource type and copy-paste citations. These tools make the written document or content more trustworthy and reliable.
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