Citely is an AI-powered citation generator designed to simplify the process of creating accurate references for academic writing. Built for students, educators, and researchers, Citely allows users to quickly generate properly formatted citations and bibliographies using natural language or URLs.
Instead of manually formatting citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, or other styles, users can input a source or a short description, and Citely generates the correct citation instantly. This significantly reduces the time and effort spent on formatting references, allowing users to focus on content quality and research integrity.
Citely aims to remove friction from the academic writing process, making citation management more accessible, reliable, and fast.
Features
AI-Powered Citation Generator
Citely uses artificial intelligence to generate citations from plain English input or web links. Users can describe a source or paste a URL, and the tool returns a properly formatted citation in seconds.
Support for Multiple Styles
The platform supports popular citation formats, including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard. Users can switch styles with one click, making it easy to meet different institutional or publication requirements.
Instant Bibliography Creation
Users can generate full bibliographies by entering multiple sources. Citely compiles them into a clean, formatted list, ready to paste into research papers or essays.
Citation from URL or DOI
By entering a URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier), Citely automatically pulls metadata and generates the appropriate citation, saving time and improving accuracy.
Natural Language Input
Users can describe a source such as “a 2022 article by John Smith in The New York Times about climate change,” and Citely will interpret it and return a valid citation.
Editing and Customization
Citations can be edited directly within the interface. Users can update author names, dates, or publication titles as needed before copying.
Export and Copy Options
Citations and bibliographies can be copied to the clipboard or downloaded for use in documents, slides, or reference managers.
No Sign-Up Required
The platform offers immediate access without needing an account. Users can begin generating citations right away, making the tool ideal for quick referencing needs.
How It Works
Citely is designed to be simple and efficient. Users visit the website and enter either a URL, DOI, or a brief description of the source they want to cite. The AI processes the input, extracts relevant information, and formats it according to the selected citation style.
The platform then displays the citation, which users can copy, edit, or add to a bibliography. Users can add multiple citations to build a full reference list, then export or copy the entire list into their academic work.
There’s no setup required, no browser extensions, and no login barriers. The tool works instantly and is accessible from any device with internet access.
Use Cases
Academic Essays
Students writing research papers, dissertations, or term papers can use Citely to quickly generate accurate references and avoid losing marks for incorrect citation formatting.
Research Papers
Researchers preparing journal submissions or technical documents can use Citely to manage citations in compliance with different publisher requirements.
Classroom Assignments
Educators and students working on collaborative projects can generate bibliographies efficiently using shared source descriptions or links.
Blogging and Journalism
Writers who need to credit sources for facts, quotes, or statistics can generate citations for inclusion in posts or footnotes.
Presentation Slides
Professionals or students presenting academic content can use Citely to cite sources on slides or visual documents.
Library and Tutoring Services
Libraries, tutoring centers, and writing labs can use Citely as a recommended tool to help students independently format references.
Pricing
As of the latest information from the official website, Citely currently offers its services for free. There are no paid plans or premium features at this time. All features, including citation generation, bibliography building, and style switching, are available without cost.
The platform may introduce advanced plans or account-based features in the future. For the most up-to-date information, users should visit the Citely website directly.
Strengths
Fast and Accurate
Citely delivers properly formatted citations in seconds, reducing the time needed to create reference lists manually.
User-Friendly
No login, registration, or complex interface—just a single input box and instant results.
Multi-Style Support
Supports all major citation formats, including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard.
Smart Input Flexibility
Users can input URLs, DOIs, or even simple descriptions, and the AI can still generate a valid citation.
No Cost
All features are available for free, making Citely accessible to students and researchers regardless of budget.
Cross-Platform Access
The web-based tool works on any device, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
Drawbacks
Limited Source Types
While it supports articles, websites, and books well, Citely may have limited support for niche source types like interviews, conference proceedings, or non-English sources.
No Reference Manager Integration
Currently, Citely does not integrate with tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote, which may limit use for academic professionals managing large libraries.
No User Accounts or Save Options
Without sign-up, users can’t save citation history or return to a previously created bibliography.
Basic Customization
While you can edit individual fields, there’s limited advanced formatting control beyond the default citation output.
Early-Stage Tool
As a newer platform, some advanced features common in citation managers (e.g., PDF parsing, in-text citations) are not yet available.
Comparison with Other Tools
Compared to established citation tools like EasyBib or Citation Machine, Citely offers a more modern and streamlined experience. It uses AI to process natural language and URLs more intelligently than traditional rule-based tools.
Unlike reference managers such as Zotero or Mendeley, Citely does not require installation or account creation and focuses solely on citation formatting rather than full academic research management.
Its speed and simplicity make it ideal for quick use, while more advanced users might pair it with other tools for managing large reference collections.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
The official website does not yet list testimonials, but early users on platforms like Product Hunt and social media have shared positive feedback. Users appreciate the clean interface, speed, and accuracy of the citations.
Students often mention that it has helped them complete assignments faster, and educators have noted its usefulness as a teaching aid. Many highlight the simplicity of the tool as a major benefit over traditional citation websites, which can feel cluttered or outdated.
There is also appreciation for the lack of ads, popups, or login walls, which often interrupt the workflow on similar tools.
Conclusion
Citely is a modern, AI-powered solution to one of the most time-consuming parts of academic writing: citations. With its ability to generate accurate references from simple descriptions or links, Citely removes a major headache for students, researchers, and educators.
Its free, no-login model makes it widely accessible, and its support for multiple citation styles ensures flexibility across academic disciplines. While it may not yet match full-featured reference managers, it excels at what it promises: fast, reliable, and easy citation generation.
