APA 7th ed. Citation Guide: Citation Software

Citation software can go by many names: citation managers, citation generators, reference management software, bibliographic management tools, etc.

While the name may vary, they do have some common elements including the main function of collecting and organizing citations. Most of these software packages also allow for the creation of works cited or references lists in a variety of formats and styles. The ability to integrate with word processing software is a key feature of many of the more popular citation software.

Citation generators are tools that automatically create citations for your research materials.

Citation managers not only generate citations automatically, but also helps you collect, organize, store and often share your research materials.

A multitude of citation software exists including free and paid options. RefWorks and EndNote are popular retail citation software in use at colleges and universities. Some popular free software include Zotero and Mendeley. Note, while these latter are free, they do offer additional features and/or storage for a fee.

As these tools are becoming more popular it is important to note that they have limitations and should not be used in isolation. All citations should be checked for accuracy using the appropriate citation format.