Free Referencing Generator
Search real academic databases and generate accurate references in any style. Harvard, APA, Vancouver, IEEE, and more — formatted in seconds.
Choose Your Referencing Style
Harvard Referencing
The most widely used style at UK and Australian universities.
APA Referencing
Standard for social sciences, psychology, and education worldwide.
Vancouver
Numbered system used in medicine, nursing, and health sciences.
IEEE
Standard for engineering, computing, and technology papers.
OSCOLA
The standard referencing style for UK law schools.
MHRA
Used in humanities subjects at UK universities.
Why Use Our Referencing Generator?
Real Academic Databases
Search 250M+ works from OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, PubMed, and CrossRef. Every reference is real and verifiable.
43+ Referencing Styles
Harvard, APA, Vancouver, IEEE, OSCOLA, MHRA, Chicago, MLA, and many more. Switch styles instantly.
Used by Students
Used by university students across the UK, Australia, Nigeria, and worldwide for essays, dissertations, and assignments.
Free to Use
Generate up to 20 references per month for free. No credit card required.
How It Works
Search
Type your topic, paste a DOI, URL, or ISBN. We search 250M+ academic works instantly.
Format
Choose your referencing style — Harvard, APA, Vancouver, or any of 43+ options.
Copy
Copy the formatted reference and in-text citation directly into your essay or paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a referencing generator?
A referencing generator is an online tool that automatically formats your sources into a specific referencing style (such as Harvard, APA, or Vancouver). You search for your source, and the tool creates both the full reference list entry and the in-text citation, saving you time and ensuring accuracy.
Which referencing style should I use?
It depends on your university and subject area. Harvard is the most common style at UK and Australian universities. APA is standard for social sciences, psychology, and education. Vancouver is used in medicine and health sciences. IEEE is standard for engineering and computing. OSCOLA is used for UK law. Check your assignment brief or ask your lecturer if unsure.
Is this referencing generator free?
Yes! CiteMe offers a generous free tier with up to 20 references per month. No credit card required. For unlimited references, you can upgrade to our Pro plan.
What is the difference between referencing and citation?
They refer to the same practice of crediting your sources, but the terminology varies by region. "Referencing" is the standard term used in the UK, Australia, and most Commonwealth countries. "Citation" is more common in North America. Our tool supports both conventions across all styles.
Can I use this for my university assignment?
Absolutely. CiteMe searches real academic databases including OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, PubMed, and CrossRef, so every reference is genuine and verifiable. The formatting follows official style guidelines, making it suitable for essays, dissertations, and research papers.
Explore All Referencing Styles
Browse our full collection of referencing and citation generators, or jump to a specific style.
Start Generating References
Join thousands of students who save hours on referencing with CiteMe.