How to Cite an App in APA, MLA & Chicago Style

Quick Reference: App Citation Formats

Style	Reference Entry Format	In-Text
APA 7	Developer. (Year). App title (Version X) [Mobile app]. App Store. URL	(Developer, Year)
MLA 9	App Title. Version X, Developer, Year.	(App Title)
Chicago	Developer. App Title. Version X. Platform, Year. URL.	(Developer Year)
Harvard	Developer, Year. App Title. Mobile app. Version X. Available from: URL. Accessed DATE.	(Developer Year)

When to Cite the App vs. When to Cite the Content Inside It

Only cite the app itself when the app is your primary source. If you read an article, a database record, or a study through an app, cite that original source instead. Include the app name as part of the citation only if it is the only way to access the source.

What Information Do You Need to Cite a Mobile App?

Gather these details from the app store listing before writing any citation. Most of this information appears on the app’s download page in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

• Developer or rights holder – the company or person who published the app
• App title – the full name of the app as listed in the store
• Version number – for example, 3.5 or 1.0.3
• Year – the year the version was published or last updated
• Platform – Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or another source
• URL – the direct link to the app store listing

How to Cite an App in APA (7th Edition)

APA 7th edition treats mobile apps similarly to software. In the reference list, the app title is italicized and written in sentence case. The label [Mobile app] appears in square brackets after the version number. The publisher line names the app store.

Reference list format:

Developer. (Year). App title in sentence case (Version X.X.X) [Mobile app]. App Store Name. URL

In-text citation examples:

• Parenthetical: (3D Brain, 2017)
• Narrative: 3D Brain (2017)
• No listed author (cite by title): (Oxford Dictionary, 2017)

When writing the app title in the body of your paper (not in a reference), do not italicize it. Only italicize the title in the reference list entry. If no author is listed, begin the citation with the app title in italics followed by the year.

How to Cite an App in MLA (9th Edition)

MLA 9th edition cites a mobile app as a software source. The app title is italicized. Include the version number, developer name, and year after the title. If the app was accessed through a specific app store, you may include it as the container.

Works Cited format:

App Title. Version X.X, Developer Name, Year.

In-text citation examples:

• Standard: (Oxford Dictionary of English)
• Named in text: (WordWeb Software)

Cite the version you actually used, since apps receive frequent updates that can change content. If an individual author is identified, begin the Works Cited entry with the author’s last name, first name format.

Related: How to cite a video game and how to cite an article in an essay.

How to Cite an App in Chicago Style

Chicago style treats mobile apps as software. Both Chicago systems (Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date) can be used depending on your field. The 17th edition recommends including the developer, app title (italicized), version, platform, year, and URL.

Notes-Bibliography bibliography entry:

Developer. App Title. Version X.X. Platform, Year. URL.

Notes-Bibliography footnote format:

Developer, App Title, version X.X (Platform, Year), URL.

In Author-Date format, the in-text reference is (Developer Year) and the reference list entry matches the bibliography format above. For more on Chicago citation systems, see our citation guide hub.

How to Cite an App in Harvard Style

Harvard referencing for mobile apps follows a format similar to software citations. Include the rights holder, year, app title (italicized), a descriptor, version number, platform, and access date.

Harvard reference list format:

Rights Holder, Year. App Title. Mobile app. Version X.X. Available from: URL. Accessed DATE.

Harvard in-text citations use author-date format without a comma between the name and year. When no author is listed, italicize the app title in the in-text citation as well as in the reference list entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the app has no listed author?

Use the name of the company or organization that published the app. If the company name is also unavailable, begin the citation with the app title. In APA, italicize the title in both the in-text citation and the reference list entry when there is no author.

Should app titles be italicized?

In APA, Chicago, and Harvard, the app title is italicized in the reference list or bibliography entry. In MLA, the title is also italicized in the Works Cited entry and in the body text. In APA body text, the title is not italicized.

Do I need to include the version number when citing an app?

Including the version number is required in APA (in parentheses after the title) and recommended in MLA, Chicago, and Harvard. Apps receive frequent updates that can change content, so the version number helps readers locate the exact release you used.

How do I cite an app I downloaded from a website rather than an app store?

Use the URL of the download page in place of the app store name and link. All other citation elements (developer, title, version, year) remain the same. If no version number is listed, record the access date so readers can identify the release.

Can I use a citation generator for mobile apps?

Yes. Our free citation generator supports mobile app citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, and other major styles. You can also use the APA citation generator or MLA citation generator for style-specific formatting. For other digital sources, see how to cite YouTube videos and how to cite a website.

Tip: Apps change with every release, so record the exact app name, developer, version number, platform, and the date you accessed it the moment you decide to cite it. These details are easy to lose once the app updates.