CiteMe
AI-powered academic citation generator. Searches 11+ databases (OpenAlex, PubMed, Semantic Scholar) and formats references in 40+ citation styles. Available as web app, Chrome extension, Google Docs add-on, and Word add-in.
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What is CiteMe?
CiteMe is a web-based academic citation generator designed for students, researchers, and academics who need verified citations from real scholarly databases. Unlike AI tools that can hallucinate references, CiteMe searches 250M+ academic works across 10+ databases including OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, PubMed, CrossRef, SciELO, CORE, Europe PMC, Springer Nature, Google Books, and BDTD to fetch authentic metadata before formatting.
Key features include support for 10,000+ citation styles (43+ built-in including APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, Vancouver, ABNT), multiple search inputs (DOI, PMID, ISBN, URL, paper title, author name, keywords), BibTeX and RIS export for Zotero/Mendeley/Overleaf, Chrome and Firefox browser extensions for one-click citing, a personal citation library with projects and tags, Reference Checker to detect fabricated citations, PDF to BibTeX converter for extracting references, and zero ads forever. The tool generates both bibliography citations and in-text citations ready to paste into papers.
CiteMe is built for students writing papers, theses, and dissertations, as well as researchers who need accurate citations without manual formatting. It serves users across 500+ universities worldwide who prioritize academic integrity and verified metadata over AI-generated guesses.
CiteMe pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free tier: 20 citations per month, zero ads, no account needed for basic citation generation. Verified signups include researchers from 500+ universities. The website does not display specific paid plan pricing or premium tier details publicly. All citation styles, BibTeX/RIS export, Reference Checker, and PDF to BibTeX tools appear available on the free tier. Browser extensions are free. Paid plans or premium features are not detailed on the public website.
CiteMe pros
- Searches 250M+ academic papers across 10+ real scholarly databases
- Pulls verified metadata from OpenAlex, CrossRef, PubMed, SciELO, not AI guesses
- Supports 10,000+ citation styles with 43+ built-in styles
- No account needed to generate first citations
- 20 free citations per month with zero ads forever
- Exports to BibTeX and RIS for Zotero, Mendeley, Overleaf
- Chrome and Firefox browser extensions for one-click citing
- Supports DOI, PMID, ISBN, URL, arXiv, and natural-language queries
- Instant style switching without re-searching
- Reference Checker detects fabricated citations before submission
- PDF to BibTeX converter extracts references client-side
- Personal citation library with projects, tags, and analytics
- In-text citations ready to paste alongside bibliography
- Fast results in 142ms from parallel database searches
- ABNT NBR 6023:2025 support for Brazilian academia
- AI used only for search ranking, not for fabricating metadata
CiteMe cons
- Free tier limited to 20 citations per month
- Requires verified signup for features beyond free tier
- No mobile app, web-only interface
- Browser extensions only for Chrome and Firefox
- Some advanced library features need account creation
- No direct Google Docs or Word plugin integration
- PDF extraction runs client-side, may struggle with complex scans
- Founder is solo developer based in Brazil, limited support team
Frequently asked questions about CiteMe
What can I search with this citation generator?
You can search by paper title, DOI, ISBN, URL, author name, or keywords. CiteMe looks up real metadata first from academic databases, then formats the citation in your chosen style.
Does CiteMe generate citations from real sources or AI guesses?
CiteMe searches real academic databases such as OpenAlex, CrossRef, Semantic Scholar, PubMed, and Google Books. It formats verified metadata instead of inventing references from text prompts.
Can I export the citation after generating it?
Yes. You can copy the formatted citation directly to clipboard or export compatible formats such as BibTeX and RIS for reference managers like Zotero, Mendeley, and LaTeX workflows.
How many citation styles does CiteMe support?
CiteMe supports 10,000+ citation styles on demand with 43+ built-in styles including APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago 17th, Harvard, IEEE, Vancouver, ABNT NBR 6023:2025, AMA, ASA, Bluebook, CSE, OSCOLA, Turabian, ACS, MHRA, APA 6th, Nature, PLOS, Science, Cell, Lancet, AIP, RSC, CAPS, AAA, AGLC, McGill, NP 405, and ISO 690 variants.
Which academic databases does CiteMe search?
CiteMe searches OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, PubMed, CrossRef, SciELO, CORE, Europe PMC, Springer Nature, Google Books, and BDTD, pulling metadata directly from publisher records.
Do I need to create an account to use CiteMe?
No account is needed to generate your first citations. You can search, verify, format, and copy citations immediately. Account creation is optional for saving to your library, projects, and bulk export features.
What browser extensions are available?
CiteMe offers free browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox that let you search academic papers and copy formatted citations in 40+ styles with one click while browsing.
How does CiteMe compare to ChatGPT for citations?
ChatGPT and similar AI tools can hallucinate or fabricate sources. CiteMe searches real scholarly databases and verifies metadata before formatting, preventing fabricated references that look correct but don't exist.
What is the Reference Checker tool?
The Reference Checker verifies your bibliography against 4 academic databases to catch fabricated citations, incorrect DOIs, wrong years, and suspicious references before you submit your paper to a professor or journal.
How does PDF to BibTeX work?
Upload a PDF and CiteMe extracts all bibliography references as BibTeX entries (.bib file). Processing happens 100% client-side in your browser, so your PDF never leaves your computer. Import the result into Zotero, Mendeley, or Overleaf.