How to Cite MolDraw in Papers, Theses, Slides and Blogs

MolDraw is free to use for drawing structures, reactions, mechanisms and 3D models. If you use a drawing from the free plan in your work, we ask for one thing in return: a short credit that says it was made with MolDraw. It helps other students and researchers find a free tool, and it keeps MolDraw free.

The short answer

Created using MolDraw (moldraw.com)

No permission or sign-up is needed to use your drawings. One line per figure, or one line for the whole work, is enough.

Where to put the credit

Research paper or journal article

• Figure caption: end the caption with the credit line.
• Acknowledgements: one line here is also fine, and covers every figure in the paper.
• Methods: or name MolDraw where you describe how the figures were made.
• References: if the journal cites software, add MolDraw in its style (see formats below).

Figure caption:

Figure 2. Proposed mechanism of the aldol condensation. Created using MolDraw (moldraw.com).

Acknowledgements:

Chemical structures and reaction schemes were drawn with MolDraw (https://www.moldraw.com/).

Thesis or dissertation

• Name MolDraw once in the Methods or Materials chapter, the Acknowledgements, or the list of figures and credits.
• Add it to the bibliography in your department’s style.
• Short acknowledgement if you prefer: “Structures were drawn with MolDraw (moldraw.com).”

All chemical structures in this thesis were drawn with MolDraw (https://www.moldraw.com/).

Presentation, lecture or conference talk

• Put the credit in small text under the structure, or once on the title or acknowledgements slide.
• For a whole deck made with MolDraw Slides, one line on the last slide is enough.

Structures: MolDraw (moldraw.com)

Poster

• Add the line to the figure credits or the acknowledgements box, next to your references.

Chemical structures created using MolDraw (moldraw.com).

Project report, lab report or assignment

• Add the line under each figure, or once in the references or acknowledgements.
• Teachers: ask students to credit the tool the same way they credit any source.

Figure 1. Structure of aspirin. Created using MolDraw (moldraw.com).

Worksheets, notes, exams and textbooks

• One line in the footer of the page or handout, or in the book’s figure credits.

Chemical structures drawn with MolDraw (moldraw.com).

Blog, website, wiki or newsletter

• Put the line under the image or at the end of the post, with a real link so readers can find the tool.
• Copy the HTML below, or write the same thing with your editor’s link button.

HTML:

<p>Created using <a href="https://www.moldraw.com/">MolDraw</a>, the free chemical structure drawing tool.</p>

Markdown:

Created using [MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/), the free chemical structure drawing tool.

Social media, YouTube and video

• Video: say it on screen or add the line to the description with the link.
• Posts: add the line or tag MolDraw, and include moldraw.com.

Chemical structures created using MolDraw → https://www.moldraw.com/

Reference list formats

For most reference lists, this simple form is enough:

MolDraw, Scidart Academy, 2026. https://www.moldraw.com (accessed 2 Nov 2026).

If your journal, university or teacher asks for a specific style, use one of these. Change the access date to the day you used it.

APA (7th edition)

Scidart Academy. (2026). MolDraw: Free online chemical structure drawing tool [Computer software]. https://www.moldraw.com/

MLA (9th edition)

Scidart Academy. MolDraw: Free Online Chemical Structure Drawing Tool. 2026, www.moldraw.com. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

Scidart Academy. 2026. “MolDraw: Free Online Chemical Structure Drawing Tool.” Software. https://www.moldraw.com/.

Harvard

Scidart Academy (2026) MolDraw: free online chemical structure drawing tool [Software]. Available at: https://www.moldraw.com/ (Accessed: 2 November 2026).

IEEE

[1] Scidart Academy, “MolDraw: Free online chemical structure drawing tool,” 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.moldraw.com/

ACS

MolDraw: Free Online Chemical Structure Drawing Tool; Scidart Academy, 2026. https://www.moldraw.com/ (accessed 2026-11-02).

Vancouver

Scidart Academy. MolDraw: free online chemical structure drawing tool [Internet]. 2026 [cited 2026 Nov 2]. Available from: https://www.moldraw.com/

BibTeX (LaTeX)

@software{moldraw2026,
  author  = {{Scidart Academy}},
  title   = {MolDraw: Free Online Chemical Structure Drawing Tool},
  year    = {2026},
  url     = {https://www.moldraw.com/},
  urldate = {2026-11-02}
}

RIS (Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote)

TY  - COMP
AU  - Scidart Academy
TI  - MolDraw: Free Online Chemical Structure Drawing Tool
PY  - 2026
UR  - https://www.moldraw.com/
Y2  - 2026-11-02
ER  - 

Writing in LaTeX? You can also draw structures for your document with the chemfig export.

Show us your work

Published a paper, thesis, poster or course that uses MolDraw? Post it in the MolDraw Community. Other students and researchers can see it, and you can link to your work from your post.

Questions

Do I have to credit MolDraw?

On the free plan, yes please: add one short line such as “Created using MolDraw (moldraw.com)” wherever a structure or figure made in MolDraw appears. With MolDraw Pro the credit is optional.

Do I need permission to use MolDraw drawings?

No. You can use drawings you make in MolDraw in papers, theses, slides, posters, reports, websites and videos without asking. On the free plan, just add the credit line.

Where does the credit go in a research paper?

Put “Created using MolDraw (moldraw.com)” in the figure caption, or name MolDraw once in the Methods or Acknowledgements, and add MolDraw to the reference list if the journal cites software.

What if I use MolDraw for many figures?

One credit covers them all. Name MolDraw once in the Methods, Acknowledgements or a figure-credits list, for example “All chemical structures were drawn with MolDraw (moldraw.com).”

How should I credit MolDraw on a blog or website?

Add the line under the image with a link: Created using MolDraw. A real link helps readers find the tool.

Does MolDraw Pro need a credit?

No. Pro subscribers can publish without the credit line. You are still welcome to add it.