---
title: "How to Cite MolDraw in Papers, Theses, Slides and Blogs | MolDraw Blog"
url: https://www.moldraw.com/blog/how-to-cite-moldraw.html
description: "Copy-ready credit lines and references for MolDraw: figure captions, methods, theses, presentations, posters, reports, blogs and videos. APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, ACS, Vancouver and BibTeX."
lang: en
publisher: Scidart Academy
generated: 2026-11-02
---
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# How to Cite MolDraw in Papers, Theses, Slides and Blogs

Published: 2 Nov 2026 • Author: Scidart Academy • 5 minutes

![3-Methylphenol with a figure caption reading Created using MolDraw (moldraw.com)](https://www.moldraw.com/blog/thumbs/how-to-cite-moldraw.webp)

One short line is all it takes.

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

**Free users are requested to cite MolDraw.** Add this line wherever a MolDraw structure or figure appears.

```
Created using MolDraw (moldraw.com)
```

**With MolDraw Pro, no citation is needed.** You are welcome to add it anyway.

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

| Plan | Credit | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free | Please add the credit line | Created using MolDraw (moldraw.com) |
| [MolDraw Pro](https://www.moldraw.com/pricing) | Optional | No credit needed |

## 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](https://www.moldraw.com/blog/chemfig-latex-moldraw-guide.html).

## Show us your work

Published a paper, thesis, poster or course that uses MolDraw? Post it in the [MolDraw Community](https://www.moldraw.com/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](https://www.moldraw.com/). 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.

[Open MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/)

Last updated: November 2, 2026