Citation[Z] vs CitePlain
Citation[Z]
citationz.com
CitePlain
citeplain.comSide by side
| Figure | Citation[Z] | CitePlain |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1.67/mo | $3.25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 7 |
| Spec score · Citation Generator Tools | 8.1 (#7) | 8.7 (#4) |
| Spec score · Citation generators | 8.4 (#14) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Browser extension | The extension reads the active tab's URL, title, and any DOI in its metadata when opened, and can submit all open HTTP(S) tab URLs when the user selects that action. | The extension is listed for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox and reads metadata from the active tab. |
| Support | The privacy policy provides [email protected] for privacy questions and removal requests for submitted URLs. | Email support is handled by one person, with replies promised within one business day and often within a few hours. |
Plans
CitePlain
- FreeFree
- Pro monthly$4.99 a month
- Pro yearly$39 a year
- Founder Lifetime$89, paid once
- Lifetime Founder$89, paid once
- Lifetime$199, paid once
- Lifetime$199, paid once
In their own words
Citation[Z]
Citation[Z] is a web and browser-extension tool for generating citations and organizing bibliographies. It accepts website URLs, DOIs, ISBNs, or source details entered manually, and formats citations in APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago, Harvard, and IEEE. Users can edit citation fields and switch results among supported styles. Its bibliography builder alphabetizes references and exports Word documents with hanging indents and double spacing; TXT export is also included in the free plan. A free account unlocks more than 10,000 styles, including Vancouver, AMA, ACS, Turabian, and CSE.
Free accounts include saved citations and projects, five styles, and bulk paste for up to five references. Premium raises the bulk-paste limit to 50 and adds Citation Finder, source recommendations, and paragraph analysis to flag claims that may need citations. Citation Finder searches scholarly works by topic and shows citation counts and open-access status. Premium costs $5 a month or $50 per year; Academic costs $20 a year and requires a verified.edu or equivalent academic email. The extension reads the active tab’s URL, title, and DOI metadata, and can submit all open HTTP(S) tab URLs when the user selects that action.
CitePlain
CitePlain creates citations and bibliographies from web pages, journal articles, books, tweets, YouTube videos, and podcasts. It accepts URLs, DOIs, or ISBNs, and uses publisher citation and Open Graph metadata, with Crossref lookup for DOIs and Open Library for ISBNs. The free plan includes APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago 17, Vancouver, CSE, and BibTeX, plus a bibliography builder for up to 50 sources per batch. The extension for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox can read metadata from the active tab and provide BibTeX with a stable cite key for Overleaf or Zotero. Pro adds 24 specialised styles, batch URL import for up to 50 sources, and cloud storage synced across the web app and extension. Free-tier references stay in browser local storage. Pro costs $4.99 a month or $39 a year. Lifetime options are listed at 89.00 USD once and 199.00 USD once. CitePlain describes its focus as individual citations rather than replacing a research reference manager.