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BibGuru

bibguru.com

From $4.99/mo Free plan WebWindowsmacOSBrowser extension
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Spec score 9.3 #1 of 29 in Citation Generator Tools

What it is

BibGuru creates citations and bibliographies for essays and papers, through the web and browser extensions. It supports APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, AMA, CSE, and thousands of additional citation styles. Users can add websites, books, articles, and other sources by entering a URL or searching by title or author. BibGuru says it formats citations and corrects mistakes automatically. Its Chrome and Edge extensions can generate citations for websites and online journal articles, then let users edit or copy citations and change styles. The About page describes a curated database of 100 million journal articles and 30 million books. The free plan saves sources in the browser for seven days and displays ads. BibGuru Plus costs $4.99 a month and adds longer-term source storage, access on computers and phones, projects and folders, and an ad-free experience. A three-day trial is offered. Teachers and educators can request an access key to provide Plus to students. BibGuru was founded in 2019 and describes its intended users as K12 and undergraduate students.

Spec sheet

What it does
BibGuru is an online bibliography and citation generator aimed at students and researchers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Product
BibGuru is a citation and bibliography generator for creating citations for essays and papers.Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Intended users
The About page says BibGuru brings Paperpile's experience to K12 and undergraduate students.Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Integrations
The site offers sign-in or sign-up with Google, Facebook, Clever, and ClassLink; Clever and ClassLink are described for schools with BibGuru Plus.Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Privacy
The privacy policy says BibGuru collects only the minimum information necessary or appropriate for the purpose of a user's interaction with its services.Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Support
Users can contact BibGuru at [email protected] with questions, bug reports, feedback, and feature requests.Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Founded
2019Read 28 Sep 2026 · bibguru.com
Browser extension
The Chrome and Edge extension generates citations for webpages and online articles and lets users edit, copy and change styles in its popup.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Chrome extension reach
The Chrome listing shows 60,000 users, version 1.0.85, a 2.22 MiB package and an update date of January 13, 2022.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Citation editing
BibGuru says it automatically corrects mistakes and formats citations, and the browser extension lets users edit citations, copy them, and change citation style.Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Citation styles
It supports APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, AMA, CSE and thousands of additional styles.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Crunchbase company status
Crunchbase describes Paperpile as a private, active web-based commercial reference-management company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a 1–10 employee band.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Database size
BibGuru says its curated data covers about 100 million journal articles and 30 million books.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Documentation depth
The site publishes citation guides and research-writing resources covering major styles and academic-writing topics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stage.bibguru.com
Educators
Teachers and educators can access BibGuru Plus for free for their students by requesting an access key.Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Exports
Bibliographies can be downloaded as Word files, copied to Google Docs, or exported as BibTeX and RIS data.Read 15 Oct 2026 · paperpile.com
Free plan limit
On the free plan, sources remain saved in the user's browser for 7 days and the service shows ads.Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
G2 buying insight
G2 says there are not enough BibGuru reviews to provide buying insight.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Help center
BibGuru's knowledgebase is organized into getting started, FAQs, projects, folders, account settings and citing sections.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Languages
The extension is listed in German, English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Launch news
Paperpile announced the public launch of BibGuru on November 30, 2020 as a free, ad-free citation generator.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stage.bibguru.com
Licence and extensibility
The public BibGuru repository page displays no licence, API documentation or SDK listing, so it does not establish an open-source licence or developer API.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: browser bugs and support
Chrome-Stats reports missing fields or browser-specific problems and some users saying support emails went unanswered.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chrome-stats.com
Limit: metadata completeness
Chrome-Stats reports complaints that exports can omit DOI values or full journal titles.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chrome-stats.com
Limit: PDF handling
Chrome-Stats reports that citations may fail when users are viewing PDFs and may require opening the original webpage.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chrome-stats.com
LinkedIn product description
LinkedIn classifies BibGuru as reference-management software and describes it as a fast, ad-free citation tool.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Maker background
BibGuru says it is developed by Paperpile, founded by former MIT researchers, and that its citation algorithms were developed in a two-year Austrian-government-funded research project.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Maker company size
LinkedIn lists Paperpile as privately held, founded in 2012, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with 11–50 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
No-sign-in use
The main generator can be started without creating an account.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Praise: ease and speed
Chrome-Stats summarizes repeated user praise for fast, accurate citation generation and ease of use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chrome-stats.com
Privacy collection
The privacy policy says the service may collect profile data, bibliographic content, usage data, device information, crash data and cookies.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Privacy policy date
The posted privacy policy is marked “Updated 12/6/2021.”Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Privacy rights
Users may request access, deletion, restriction or structured export of their information; RIS, BibTeX and JSON exports are described.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Projects and folders
Registered users can keep sources in projects and organize them with folders.Read 15 Oct 2026 · paperpile.com
Public repository
BibGuru's public GitHub repository shows six stars, three commits and only a README.md file in its visible file list.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Rating on Chrome Web Store
4.5 out of 5 from 24 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Rating on G2
0.0 out of 5 from 0 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Research database
The About page says BibGuru uses a curated database of 100 million journal articles and 30 million books.Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
RIS/BibTeX import
A help article documents uploading RIS or BibTeX files into a project.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Security storage
BibGuru says data is stored in US and EU data centers using Amazon Web Services and that absolute security cannot be guaranteed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Source search
Users can search books, journal articles and websites and add matching records to a bibliography.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Sources
Users can cite websites, books, articles, and other sources by entering a URL, searching a title, or searching a title or author.Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Supported sources
The service can cite websites, books, articles and more than 60 additional source types.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Terms and licence
The terms grant users a limited, non-exclusive right to use the service and provide it as-is, with no warranty.Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
Usage milestone
A BibGuru blog post dated August 30, 2024 says the service had surpassed 12 million users in the preceding year.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stage.bibguru.com

Plans and prices

BibGuru Free Sources remain saved in browser for 7 days · Ads shown Read 7 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
BibGuru Free Free Sources retained in browser for 7 days · ads shown · no sign-in required Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
BibGuru Plus for Educators Free Free access for students through educator access key Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com
BibGuru Plus $4.99 a month $4.99/month Persistent account storage · access on computers and phone · projects and folders · ad-free · 3-day free trial Read 15 Oct 2026 · bibguru.com

Every BibGuru plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports thousands of citation styles.
  • Adds sources by URL or title or author search.
  • Chrome and Edge extensions can generate citations.
  • Plus includes projects and folders.
  • Educators can request free Plus access for students.

Limits

  • Free-plan sources remain in the browser for seven days.
  • The free plan displays ads.
  • The trial lasts three days.

Who it suits

BibGuru suits students preparing essays and papers who need citations in a range of styles. Teachers and educators can request Plus access for their students.

BibGuru in depth

Read the full write-up

BibGuru is a citation and bibliography tool for students writing essays and papers. It is best suited to K12 and undergraduate students who need broad style coverage and browser-based citation creation. Its free plan handles short assignments, but keeping sources beyond a week or working across devices requires Plus.

Overview

BibGuru creates citations for websites, books, articles, and other sources. Add material by URL, title search, or author search; it supports APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, AMA, CSE, and thousands of other styles. That range makes it useful when a course or publication sets a particular format, rather than requiring students to build references manually.

BibGuru says it automatically formats citations and corrects mistakes. Its curated database contains 100 million journal articles and 30 million books, giving users a substantial base for research lookup. The Chrome and Edge extensions can generate citations for websites and online journal articles, then let users edit, copy, or change the style.

Key features

Flexible source entry

URL import and identifier lookup offer practical ways to capture a reference, while title and author search help locate sources without a URL. Automatic formatting and style changes can reduce repetitive cleanup, though users who need a durable source library should account for the free plan's seven-day retention.

Browser extensions and school access

The Chrome and Edge extensions bring citation creation into the browser, which is convenient for students working from online articles. Google and Facebook sign-in are available, as are Clever and ClassLink for schools using BibGuru Plus. Educators can request an access key to provide Plus to their students at no charge.

Pricing

BibGuru is freemium, with a free option, a three-day trial, and a paid plan at $4.99 a month. The free BibGuru plan costs nothing and includes citation generation, but sources remain saved in the user's browser for only 7 days and ads are shown. It suits a one-off assignment better than ongoing research or work that needs a persistent bibliography.

BibGuru Plus costs $4.99 a month, billed $4.99/month. It keeps sources as long as needed, provides access on every computer and phone, adds projects and folders, and removes ads. That makes it the more practical choice for students managing several assignments or returning to research over time. BibGuru Plus for Educators is free: teachers and educators can request an access key for students. The three-day trial lets prospective subscribers try the paid option before deciding.

Platforms

BibGuru runs on the web and as Chrome and Edge browser extensions. The extensions make it possible to generate and edit citations while browsing, while Plus extends access across computers and phones.

Who it's for

BibGuru is aimed at K12 and undergraduate students, and is a good fit for anyone who needs citations in a specific style without assembling each reference by hand. Students with short-lived projects can start with the free plan; those who need lasting source storage, folders, or access across devices have a clearer case for Plus. Educators can request Plus access for their students.

Pros and cons

Pros: Thousands of citation styles, multiple ways to add sources, and browser extensions cover common student research workflows.

Pros: Plus keeps sources indefinitely, adds projects and folders, works across computers and phones, and removes ads.

Pros: Educators can request free Plus access for students.

Cons: Free-plan sources are retained in the browser for only 7 days, limiting its usefulness for longer projects.

Cons: The free plan includes ads, and ongoing storage and cross-device access require a monthly subscription.

Alternatives

For more options, browse Citation Generator Tools.

Cite This For Me is worth considering if Android or iOS access matters; its free account is limited to Harvard, shows ads, and saves citations for 7 days.

CiteMaker is another freemium option with a free trial and Android and iOS apps.

EasyBib may suit writers who also want grammar suggestions; its free plan includes a citation generator and the first five grammar suggestions.

Citation Machine is an alternative for web users seeking plagiarism scans and in-text citations alongside citation styles.

Citation.js is the alternative to consider if you want free, MIT-licensed open-source software installable from npm, rather than a student-oriented web service.

Citation[Z] offers a free citation generator, converter, and bibliography builder, with five styles and bulk paste for up to five references.

CiteMe may appeal to users who want an API and a free plan with 60+ styles, a reference checker, library saves, and one project.

CitePlain is another free-plan browser-extension and web alternative.

Verdict

BibGuru is a strong fit for students who need broad citation-style support and want to create references from the browser or through source lookup. The free plan is sufficient for a short assignment, but seven-day retention and ads are meaningful trade-offs; choose Plus when you need persistent sources, projects, and access across devices. Look elsewhere if those terms do not fit your workflow.

Verdict

BibGuru offers citation generation across many styles, with browser extensions and a free option. Consider the seven-day source retention and ads on the free plan, or the $4.99 a month Plus plan.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to BibGuruAll alternatives →