Top 4 Best & Free MLA Citation Generator Tools [2025]

If you’ve ever been stuck in the middle of writing a paper and realized you don’t know how to cite a book, website, or journal in MLA format, you’re not alone. It’s a common hurdle for students, educators, and even content creators.I’ve personally tried a bunch of these to see which ones are fast, easy to use, and don’t mess up the formatting. In this guide, I’ll take you through some of the best MLA citation generator free tools.

4 Best & Free MLA Citation Generator Tools

There are hundreds of citation generators out there, but not all of them are created equal. Some are overloaded with pop-up ads that make them frustrating to use, while others frequently get the MLA formatting wrong, which defeats the purpose entirely. A few even offer basic features for free but hide

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the more useful ones behind paywalls. It can be time-consuming to test them all just to find one that actually works well. The best citation tools should be fast, easy to navigate, and consistently accurate. These four stood out for their overall performance and user-friendly design.

Scribbr

Scribbr is one of the most polished MLA citation generator free with ai tools I tested. It has a clean interface, offers step-by-step input fields, and auto-generates both in-text citations and full references. You can access it on both desktop and mobile, and it doesn't flood you with pop-ups like many others do.

Features:

• Generates citations in MLA 9th edition and other formats

• Chrome extension available

• Supports books, websites, journals, and videos

Pros:

• No sign-up required

• Export citations to Word, BibTeX, or copy directly

• Fast and easy-to-use

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer bulk citation features

• Limited customization in formatting

I liked how Scribbr walks you through the citation step-by-step without overwhelming you. It’s a great fit for students writing essays or reports.

Quillbot Citation Generator

Quillbot is better known for its paraphrasing tool, but it also has a pretty good citation generator. It supports multiple styles including MLA, and it’s optimized for fast entry, just drop your source link or details and get your citation.

Features:

• One-click citation generation

• Support for multiple formats including MLA

• Integration with Quillbot’s writing tools

Pros:

• Quick results

• Works well with academic sources

• Can be used alongside other Quillbot features

Cons:

• No batch citation feature

• Editing the format can be a bit clunky

When I used Quillbot during a late-night writing sprint, it saved me from flipping through MLA guides. It’s handy, but not as detailed as Scribbr.

Grammarly Citation Tool

Grammarly’s citation generator lives inside its writing platform, so if you’re already using Grammarly for grammar and tone, adding citations is seamless. It’s clean, accurate, and helps maintain consistent formatting.

Features:

• MLA citation generation inside Grammarly Editor

• Auto-detection of source type

• Citation suggestions based on text

Pros:

• Integrated with grammar checking

• Great for essay writing in real-time

• Saves and manages citations in one place

Cons:

• Requires a Grammarly account

• Doesn’t support bulk generation

I’ve used this when drafting content directly in Grammarly. The in-context suggestions help keep everything streamlined, especially when juggling multiple sources.

MyBib

MyBib is probably the simplest and most straightforward MLA citation generator free of distractions. It doesn’t offer extra bells and whistles, but if all you want is a clean citation in seconds, this is it.

Features:

• Supports MLA, APA, Chicago, and more

• Easy source lookup and manual entry

• Available as a Chrome extension

Pros:

• 100% free, no login needed

• Simple and fast interface

• Allows download and copy

Cons:

• No advanced editing options

• Lacks integration with writing tools

I used MyBib on my phone during a commute to quickly cite a website. No login, no delays, just copy and paste. It’s the most no-nonsense option I found.

Scribbr vs Quillbot vs Grammarly vs MyBib

With so many citation tools available, choosing the right one depends on your workflow. Below is a breakdown of the MLA citation generator free of cost compared on features that matter most:

Even though each of these may be one of the best MLA citation generator for free on their own, some people may have preferences in features. Therefore, If you want rich features with clean formatting, go with Scribbr. If you’re already in Grammarly or Quillbot for writing, their tools are a great bonus. For fast citations without login, MyBib is your best bet.

The Best Writing and Citation Helper – WPS Office

After generating citations, you’ll need a tool that helps you apply them neatly into your writing. That’s

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where WPS Office comes in. I’ve used WPS across devices and found it lightweight, responsive, and surprisingly rich in citation support, especially for MLA. WPS Office includes a full suite of writing tools: Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and PDF editor. And all of them now come with built-in AI support. For anyone working on papers, it's an easy recommendation. Here are some key features:

Features:

• Support for MLA, APA, Chicago, and more in the “References” tab

• Built-in AI writing and formatting tools

• Works on Windows, Mac, Android, and browser

Pros:

• Free version has no core feature limits

• Runs smoothly on low-end systems

• Built-in cloud support for saving and sharing

Cons:

• Citation styles may require initial setup

• Some advanced features need AI credits

I used WPS Writer to format a full research paper with MLA citations, and the in-text tools handled everything without breaking formatting. It even flagged inconsistent punctuation in citations, which saved me editing time.

How to Cite MLA Style in WPS Office

Understanding how to cite sources in MLA format when there are no authors or multiple authors is crucial, especially when dealing with online content that often lacks complete details. MLA provides clear guidelines for these situations, helping you maintain credibility and consistency in your work even when the sources are incomplete or unconventional.

Step 1: If a source has no author, use the title instead. Shorten long titles in in-text citations and place them in quotation marks. The full title should appear in the Works Cited list.

Step 2: If there are no page numbers, include only the author’s name in the in-text citation. If it's mentioned in the sentence, there's no need to repeat it in parentheses.

Step 3: If a source doesn’t list a publication date, MLA recommends including the date you accessed the material instead. This should be added at the end of the Works Cited entry. The example below shows the proper formatting for this type of citation.

I used to skip undated sources because I wasn’t confident about how to cite them correctly. It seemed safer to leave them out than to make a mistake. But after learning that MLA allows access dates, it became much easier, and now I include helpful sources even if they’re missing some information.

FAQs

1. How accurate are free MLA citation generators?

They’re generally reliable for books, websites, and journals, but always double-check the output against the MLA 9th edition guidelines.

2. Do I need to register to use these tools?

No. Scribbr, MyBib, and Quillbot don’t require sign-ups. Grammarly does, but you get citation integration within your writing dashboard.

3. Does WPS Office support MLA formatting?

Yes. WPS Office offers full support for MLA, APA, and other major formats through the References tab in WPS Writer.

4. Can I use these citation generators on mobile?

All four tools mentioned work well on mobile browsers, and some even have dedicated Chrome extensions.

The Best MLA Citation Generator Free Tools in 2025

When it comes to getting MLA citation generator free tools right, these four tools, Scribbr, Quillbot, Grammarly, and MyBib, each bring something useful to the table. Scribbr is the most polished, Quillbot is fast and accessible, Grammarly is ideal if you’re editing while writing, and MyBib is perfect for no-fuss use. If you want a writing platform that complements these citation tools, WPS Office is an excellent pick. It’s light, intuitive, and handles citations across formats without slowing you down. Whether you're drafting essays, building bibliographies, or finalizing research, WPS helps you stay on track and organized.