How Do You Cite An App In APA?

Here’s how to cite a mobile app correctly in APA (7th edition) as of 2026:

What's happening with app citations in APA?

Citing a mobile app in APA isn’t like citing a webpage. You’re not referencing the individual data inside—you’re citing the software itself. The tricky part? Figuring out who the "author" really is (usually a company) and when it was "published" (which is almost always the last update date). For reference apps like UpToDate, you might need to cite a specific entry within the app instead—kind of like citing a chapter in a book.

How do you actually build an APA app citation?

Here’s how to construct a proper APA reference entry for an app:

1. Find the rights holder. Look in the app store listing or the app’s "About" section. If no author is listed, use the app title where the author would normally go. Example: Wolters Kluwer.
2. Grab the year. Use the year the app was last updated or released, as shown in the app store. Don’t just grab a general company copyright year. Example: (2025).
3. Format the app title. Italicize the official app name and include the version number in parentheses if you’ve got it. Example: Lexicomp (Version 5.12).
4. Add the medium description. In square brackets, specify it’s mobile software. Example: Lexicomp (Version 5.12) [Mobile application software].
5. Include the retrieval URL. Use the direct link to the app’s store page (Google Play, Apple App Store, etc.). Start the retrieval line with "Retrieved from." Example: Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lexi.android

What if the standard format doesn’t work?

Sometimes the usual format just won’t fit. In those cases, try one of these alternatives:

1. Citing a specific entry in a reference app. For apps like UpToDate, cite the exact article or entry you used. Format it like a book chapter: Author of entry. (Year of article update). Entry title. In UpToDate. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL. Always include a retrieval date for frequently updated sources, as the APA Style guidelines recommend.
2. No version or author in sight? If the version number’s missing, leave it out. If there’s no clear rights holder, start the citation with the italicized app title and skip the author field. Your in-text citation would then use the app title in quotation marks.

How can you avoid citation mistakes with apps?

Follow these habits to steer clear of citation errors:

• Write everything down right away. Grab the rights holder, last update date, and app store URL as soon as you start using an app for research. A quick screenshot of the store page can save you headaches later.
• Let citation managers help—but double-check their work. Tools like Zotero or EndNote often have templates for software citations. They’re handy, but always compare their output to the official APA Style website to make sure it’s right.
• Focus on the software, not its content. Treat the app itself as the source—unless you’re citing a specific entry in a reference work. The APA format works like a book citation, emphasizing the software package as a whole.

Can you summarize the APA app citation format quickly?

Still stuck? Try these alternatives

The standard format doesn’t always fit. When that happens, try these other approaches:

1. Citing a specific entry within a reference app. For apps like UpToDate, cite the exact article you used. Format it like a book chapter: Author of entry. (Year of article update). Entry title. In UpToDate. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL. You should always include a retrieval date for sources like this, as the APA Style guidelines recommend for frequently updated content.
2. Dealing with missing version or author details? No version number? Omit it. No clear rights holder? Start the citation with the italicized app title and skip the author field. Your in-text citation would then use the app title in quotes.