Best Citation Machine alternatives in 2026
Another Chegg-owned tool with a limited free tier and paid upgrades; public reviews often cite its heavy ads. If you're looking for a Citation Machine alternative, here are the best citation tools to consider — starting with our top pick.
1. CitePlex
A free, ad-free citation and academic writing platform. The best all-round Citation Machine alternative for students and researchers who want clean, accurate citations without ads or paywalls on the basics.
- All 11 citation styles free (incl. Bluebook, IEEE, AMA)
- No ads, no forced sign-up
- AI essay tools — thesis, outline, paraphrase, summarize
- Export to Word, BibTeX & RIS (Pro)
2. EasyBib
A long-running, Chegg-owned generator with a free MLA tier; APA and other styles require a paid plan, and the interface carries ads.
CitePlex vs EasyBib3. Scribbr
A polished, ad-free generator known for strong APA guidance, covering four styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard) alongside paid proofreading services.
CitePlex vs Scribbr4. MyBib
A free, ad-free generator with a very large CSL style library; great for breadth, with auto-generated output that can vary in quality.
CitePlex vs MyBib5. BibMe
A Chegg-owned generator with a free MLA tier and paid upgrades for APA and other styles; ads throughout.
CitePlex vs BibMeHow to choose a Citation Machine alternative
Check whether your citation style is free (many tools gate APA behind a paywall), whether the interface is ad-free, and whether you need extras like legal Bluebook citations, saved projects, or AI writing tools. CitePlex covers all of these for free; Citation Machine may still suit you if citation Machine bundles grammar and plagiarism checking inside a Chegg subscription, which may suit users already paying for Chegg.
Frequently asked questions
Is CitePlex a good Citation Machine alternative?
Yes. CitePlex offers all 11 citation styles free with no ads and no sign-up, plus Bluebook legal citations and AI writing tools — a cleaner, faster alternative to Citation Machine.
Do I need to pay for APA on CitePlex?
No. APA and all other styles are free to generate and copy. You only need Pro to save unlimited citations and export to Word, BibTeX, or RIS.