Quick Start

Two tools, two jobs. Do not mix them.

Citely does not invent paper-like entries. It checks real publishing records in CrossRef, PubMed, OpenAlex, and other scholarly sources. The right entry point makes the match much tighter.

• Source Finder: use it when you have a paragraph or claim, but no references yet.
• Citation Checker: use it when you already have a bibliography, or you suspect AI fabricated citations.

The fastest way to learn Citely is to run Source Finder once, then verify a related reference list in Citation Checker.

Best for paragraphs, research questions, and paper claims. One run accepts about 300 characters.

One claim per search is more accurate than dumping a whole chapter.

A successful search costs 1 credit only when at least one usable source is found.

Best for bibliographies, AI-generated citations, and a final check before submission. Put one reference on each line.

Run the full list before submission instead of spot-checking a few lines.

Up to 2,000 characters costs 1 credit; 2,001–4,000 costs 2; every extra 2,000 characters adds 1 credit.

One run can query several databases so a single index miss is less likely.

• CrossRef: checks DOI, journal name, and publication metadata.
• OpenAlex: adds authors, institutions, and the open scholarly graph.
• PubMed: covers biomedical and life-science literature.
• arXiv: covers preprints and fast-moving drafts.
• Wanfang and other Chinese collections: cover Chinese journals, theses, and conference papers.

Paste Chinese titles, author names, and paragraphs as they are.

• In Source Finder, paste the Chinese claim directly. Citely looks at both Chinese and English collections.
• In Citation Checker, keep the original title and author names. Do not convert them to pinyin first.
• A Chinese item without a DOI can still match on title, authors, and year.

Check verification status before you export. Do not carry failed items into the paper.

• APA
• MLA
• Chicago
• Harvard
• IEEE

Journals differ on italics, punctuation, and DOI display. Do a last pass against the target author guidelines.

From finding trusted sources to checking a bibliography and doing a pre-submission review.

The two main tools charge differently. Check character count before you submit.

• Source Finder: 1 credit for a successful search; 0 credits if no usable source is found.
• Citation Checker: 1 credit up to 2,000 characters; 2 credits for 2,001–4,000; then 1 extra credit per 2,000 characters.
• Character count includes letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation. CJK characters usually count as one each.
• 1 credit usually covers about 8–15 typical references, depending on length.

See the homepage pricing section for current prices.

• Trial: one source search or a small verification run.
• Monthly: coursework and ongoing writing.
• Yearly: papers across the year at a lower effective rate.
• Believer: labs or heavy use over three years.

How accurate is Citely?

Citely cross-checks CrossRef, PubMed, OpenAlex, and other scholarly records to separate real literature from common fabrication patterns. You should still open the DOI or original record before you cite.

Can it catch citations invented by ChatGPT?

Yes. Paste the generated bibliography into Citation Checker. Citely flags items that are missing from databases, have mismatched authors or years, or look stitched together.

Do I pay if Source Finder finds nothing?

No. Source Finder charges 1 credit only when at least one usable source is found.

Is my manuscript safe?

Research text is encrypted and is not sold to third parties. You keep ownership of your content. Avoid pasting unnecessary personal data.

Does it work with Zotero or EndNote?

Yes. Verify and export in Citely, then import into your reference manager.

Can I check Chinese literature?

Yes. Paste Chinese titles, authors, and paragraphs directly. Citely searches both Chinese and English collections.