How to Cite Software in APA Format

Citing software in APA format requires the author or developer, year, software name, version number, publisher, and URL. This applies to standalone programs, mobile apps, programming languages, and open-source tools.

Basic Software Citation Format

The standard APA 7th edition format for a software citation is:

Reference list entry:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of software (Version x.x) [Computer software]. Publisher. https://www.example.com

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Author, Year)

Narrative in-text citation: Author (Year)

In-Text Citation Examples

When you reference software within your paper, you have two options:

• Parenthetical: The data was analyzed using the statistical package (IBM Corp., 2023).
• Narrative: IBM Corp. (2023) provided the tools used for data analysis.

Common Variations

Commercial Software

IBM Corp. (2023). IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 29.0) [Computer software]. https://www.ibm.com/spss

Open-Source Software

R Core Team. (2024). R: A language and environment for statistical computing (Version 4.3.2) [Computer software]. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. https://www.r-project.org

Mobile Application

Headspace Inc. (2024). Headspace: Meditation & sleep (Version 4.180) [Mobile app]. App Store. https://apps.apple.com/app/headspace/id493145008

Tips for Citing Software

• Use [Computer software] or [Mobile app] in square brackets to identify the format.
• Include the version number in parentheses after the title.
• Do not cite standard software like Microsoft Word, Excel, or common programming languages unless the version is critical to your research methodology.
• Use the developer or company as the author when no individual is credited.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to cite Microsoft Word or Excel? No. APA does not require citations for standard, widely available software. Only cite software that is central to your methodology or analysis (e.g., SPSS, R, custom scripts).

How do I cite a specific version of software? Include the version number in parentheses after the software title: Software Name (Version x.x).

How do I cite an R package or Python library? Cite the package author, year, package name in italics, version, [R package] or [Python package], and the URL (typically CRAN or PyPI).