Overleaf
Overleaf is an online LaTeX editor that allows real-time collaboration on documents. It has templates for papers, resumes, thesis, and more. The basic version is free.
Overleaf: Online LaTeX Editor
Online LaTeX editor with real-time collaboration, templates for papers, resumes, and more, including a basic version that's free.
What is Overleaf?
Overleaf is an online collaborative LaTeX editor and publishing platform that makes the process of writing, editing and publishing scientific documents much quicker for both beginners and advanced users. Overleaf supports real-time editing and previewing of LaTeX documents, allowing multiple authors to edit a document simultaneously while seeing changes appear immediately after they are typed.
Some key features of Overleaf include:
- Real-time collaborative editing for teams
- Rich text editor and LaTeX code modes
- Hundreds of LaTeX templates for papers, resumes, presentations, thesis documents, and more
- Support for LaTeX, BibTeX, and Markdown formats
- Version control and document history
- Private and public projects
- Online preview mode to see compiled PDF output side-by-side
- Automatic LaTeX compiler with error detection
- Import from Dropbox, GitHub, Google Drive
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Robust security, data encryption
- Extensive reference and citation tools integration
- Spell check
- Basic plan is free with some limitations, paid tiers remove limits
Overleaf streamlines the LaTeX workflow, allowing collaborators to focus on writing high-quality documents rather than worry about installation issues or compiling complex LaTeX code. Its intuitive editor, real-time preview, version control, and other features make Overleaf popular in academia as well as for businesses and individuals producing technical documents.
Overleaf Features
Features
- Real-time collaborative editing
- Rich text editor mode
- LaTeX compiler
- Version control
- Hundreds of LaTeX templates
- Online preview
- Supports images, figures, and bibliographies
- Integrates with GitHub, Mendeley and Plotly
Pricing
- Freemium
Pros
Easy to use even for beginners
Allows real-time collaboration
Free basic version available
Syncs with GitHub seamlessly
Large collection of templates
Fast compilation
Rich text editor for non-LaTeX users
Good for managing large documents
Cons
Can be slow with large documents
Limited features in free version
Formatting not WYSIWYG
Steep learning curve for LaTeX
Only supports LaTeX, not other TeX formats
Must be online to use
Official Links
Reviews & Ratings
Login to Review3.7
★
★
★
★
★
5 reviews
Rating Breakdown
Ease of Use
★
★
★
★
★
4.0
Features
★
★
★
★
★
4.2
Value for Money
★
★
★
★
★
3.2
Customer Support
★
★
★
★
★
3.6
Overall Experience
★
★
★
★
★
3.6
Recent Reviews
Avery Moore
Mar 30, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Overleaf makes LaTeX collaborative and approachable!
As an academic, Overleaf has been a game-changer for collaborative writing. My co-authors and I can work on a paper simultaneously, with the LaTeX compiling and preview updating in real-time—no more emailing .tex files back and forth. The comment and …
Skyler Hall
Mar 30, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A powerful collaborative tool, but with frustrating quirks.
Overleaf is fantastic for collaborating on LaTeX documents in real-time with my thesis team, and the free plan offers a ton of templates to get started. However, I've experienced frustrating lag when working on longer documents, and the auto-compile feature …
Liam Lee
Mar 26, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A Game Changer for Academic Collaboration
As a researcher who frequently writes and co-authors complex papers, Overleaf has been a godsend. The ability to collaborate in real-time with colleagues on a single LaTeX document is a huge time-saver and eliminates the back-and-forth of emailing compiled PDFs. …
Phoenix Harris
Mar 24, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Powerful but Pricey for Teams
Overleaf is a fantastic tool for writing papers collaboratively in LaTeX. The real-time collaboration and rich set of templates make drafting papers and theses much smoother than doing it all locally. However, the free version is quite limited on collaboration, …
Anna King
Mar 23, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Frustrating and Unreliable
The real-time collaboration is more of a headache than a help, with constant sync errors and lost edits. For a tool that markets itself for academic work, the performance is surprisingly slow and prone to crashes, especially with larger documents. …
Rating Distribution
The Best Overleaf Alternatives
View all Overleaf alternatives with detailed comparison →
Top Office & Productivity and Document Editing and other similar apps like Overleaf
Here are some alternatives to Overleaf:
Suggest an alternative ❐
Fidus Writer
Fidus Writer is a free and open source web-based collaborative document editor for academics and researchers. It is designed for collaboratively writing long documents like research papers, theses, books and reports.Key features of Fidus Writer:Real-time collaboration - Multiple authors can edit the same document at the same time with changes...
Texmaker
Texmaker is a feature-rich, open-source LaTeX editor that allows users to efficiently write and compile LaTeX documents. As an integrated writing environment, Texmaker includes many useful tools for authoring with LaTeX, such as:Built-in PDF viewer to see compiled document alongside the source codeSyntax highlighting for error detectionReference checker to easily...
WinEdt
WinEdt is a feature-rich text editor and integrated development environment specifically designed for Windows. It excels at editing LaTeX documents and has strong TeX/LaTeX support.Key features of WinEdt include:Syntax highlighting and code folding for easy editing of TeX/LaTeX filesReference checking and index generation for catching errorsBuilt-in LaTeX compiler and viewer...
MathType
MathType is a powerful interactive equation editor for Windows and Mac that lets you create mathematical notation for word processing, web pages, desktop publishing, presentations, elearning, and for TeX, LaTeX, and MathML documents. It has an intuitive graphical interface allowing you to type or handwrite equations.Some key features include:Thousands of...
LyX
LyX is an open source document processor that emphasizes the visual layout and structure of documents rather than stylistic markup. It uses LaTeX, an advanced document preparation system, behind the scenes to render documents to PDF or other formats while insulating authors from the LaTeX code.Some key features of LyX...
Kile
Kile is a feature-rich LaTeX editor for Linux, Windows, and macOS operating systems. As an open-source application, Kile is free to download and use.Some of the key features that Kile provides include:Syntax highlighting and code folding for LaTeX filesSupport for compiling documents and viewing output directly within the editorProject management...
TexitEasy
TexitEasy is a free and open source cross-platform text editor designed to be user-friendly while still providing robust text editing capabilities. Some key features of TexitEasy include:Lightweight and fast, with low memory usageSupport for syntax highlighting of multiple programming languages like Python, JavaScript, CSS, etcCustomizable interface with different color schemes...
IMathEQ Math Equation Editor
iMathEQ is a feature-rich math equation and formula editor for Windows. It allows you to easily create mathematical equations, formulas, symbols, matrices, and more using an intuitive graphical interface and toolbar.With iMathEQ, you can insert various common and advanced math symbols, templates, structures, and formats to quickly build even complex...
TeXnicCenter
TeXnicCenter is a free and open-source integrated development environment (IDE) for creating LaTeX documents on Windows. Some key features include:Project management tools to organize LaTeX documents and filesSyntax highlighting and code completion to write LaTeX code more efficientlyCustomizable build configurations for compiling LaTeX projectsInline spell checking and code validationVisual LaTeX...
Typeset
Typeset is a cloud-based platform that aims to make research writing and publishing easier for academics and researchers. It utilizes artificial intelligence to provide a suite of tools for writing, formatting, collaborating on, and submitting research documents like journal articles, conference papers, theses, grant proposals, and more.Some key features of...
Bakoma Tex
Bakoma Tex is a specialized TeX and LaTeX formatting program developed by Bakoma Software. It is designed specifically for writing complex mathematical and scientific documents easily and intuitively.Unlike regular TeX distributions which require manually typing TeX code, Bakoma Tex provides a graphical user interface with a WYSIWYG editor. This allows...
Texpad
Texpad is a feature-rich LaTeX editor designed specifically for working with LaTeX documents. Some key features of Texpad include:Beautiful and clean user interface optimized for writing LaTeXLive preview that renders equations and diagrams for rapid document creationPowerful auto-completion of LaTeX commands, citations, cross-references, etc.Robust syntax highlighting and error detectionSupports major...
TeXpert
TeXpert is a feature-rich LaTeX editor and productivity suite aimed at students, academics, scientists, and other technical writers who use LaTeX. It was created to make writing documents, research papers, theses, and books in LaTeX more efficient.Key features of TeXpert include:Intelligent auto-completion of LaTeX commands, references, citations, images, and moreExtensive...
Swift Calcs
Swift Calcs is a free, open-source calculator application designed specifically for iOS. Developed using the Swift programming language, it features a minimalistic user interface with an emphasis on simplicity and ease-of-use.With Swift Calcs, users have access to basic, scientific, and programmer calculator layouts for performing different types of calculations. The...
Manuscripts.io
Manuscripts.io is an open-source, web-based writing platform designed specifically for authors writing long-form content like books and academic papers. It incorporates features tailored for extensive writing projects, including:Advanced formatting options for setting up book/paper structure and layoutsWiki-style linking between documents to connect ideas and chapters/sectionsGranular user access controls and document...
VerbTeX LaTeX Editor
VerbTeX is a feature-rich LaTeX editor optimized for efficient writing and publishing of scientific papers, reports, theses and books. It has an intuitive and customizable user interface designed specifically for LaTeX.Key features of VerbTeX include:Auto-completion of LaTeX commands, environments, references and citations as you typeCustomizable templates and wizard for quick...
SwiftLaTeX
SwiftLaTeX is an open-source LaTeX editor developed specifically for macOS. It aims to provide a fast, stable and easy to use editing experience for working with LaTeX documents.Some key features of SwiftLaTeX include:Clean and intuitive user interface following macOS design conventionsLive preview that updates in real-time as you typeSyntax highlighting...
TexMaths
TexMaths is a handy Windows application for typing and inserting mathematical equations into documents. As an open-source LaTeX equation editor, it allows anyone to access a robust tool for math typesetting without expensive proprietary software.At its core, TexMaths utilizes the powerful LaTeX typesetting system for rendering professional-quality mathematical notation. However,...
Latexian
Latexian is an open-source document preparation system aimed at making it easier to create professional documents with LaTeX typesetting. It features a user-friendly graphical interface that allows you to write and edit LaTeX code visually without having to remember complicated syntax.Key features include:Intuitive WYSIWYG-style LaTeX editor with live previewSyntax highlighting,...
Authorea
Authorea is an online collaborative editor and publishing platform designed specifically for academic writing and research publications. It aims to make the process of writing, editing, discussing, sharing, and publishing academic papers much easier and more efficient.Some key features of Authorea include:Real-time collaborative editing - Authors can invite collaborators to...
TeXmacs
TeXmacs is a free, open-source WYSIWYG scientific word processor and typesetting system that runs on major platforms. It integrates features such as mathematical formulas, graphs, two- and three-dimensional graphics, multi-lingual support, customizable syntax highlighting, dynamic buttons and menus, animated images, slideshows, indexes, bibliographies and more.As an alternative to LaTeX editors,...
TeX Live
TeX Live is a distribution of the TeX typesetting system that includes major TeX-related programs like TeX, LaTeX, ConTeXt, Metafont, BibTeX, and many supporting programs and macro packages. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows systems.TeX Live is developed and maintained by the TeX user groups worldwide. The main goals...
Verbosus: Online LaTeX Editor
Verbosus is an innovative online LaTeX editor aimed at making creating professional documents easy. It offers a user-friendly web interface for writing, editing, and exporting LaTeX projects without needing to install any software locally.Key features of Verbosus include:Intuitive visual editor with live preview - See changes rendered in real-time as...
Curvenote
Curvenote is a powerful knowledge management and collaboration software. It allows users to create a visual network of interlinked concepts, notes, and thoughts. This flexible knowledge graph lets you intuitively capture ideas and link related pieces of information together in a structured way.Some key features of Curvenote include:Flexible canvas for...
CoCalc
CoCalc is an online platform for collaborative computational environments and REPLs. It allows real-time collaboration on Python and R code, LaTeX documents, Jupyter notebooks, data exploration, terminal commands and more. Multiple users can simultaneously edit worksheets, documents and notebooks and see each other's changes in real-time.Some key features of CoCalc...
TeXPortal
TeXPortal is an open-source, cross-platform LaTeX editor and PDF viewer designed specifically to meet the needs of academics and researchers. It features a user-friendly WYSIWYG editor that allows you to write professional documents in LaTeX without having to learn LaTeX code.Some of the standout features of TeXPortal include:Intuitive WYSIWYG LaTeX...
VimTeX
VimTeX is a powerful Vim plugin that brings extensive LaTeX support and capabilities to Vim, the popular text editor. It helps LaTeX authors and editors work more efficiently when writing or editing LaTeX documents in Vim.VimTeX provides syntax highlighting specifically for LaTeX files, which visually distinguishes LaTeX commands, environments, sections,...
MonsterWriter
MonsterWriter is a distraction-free word processor and text editor designed specifically for creative writers. It has a clean, minimalist interface that eliminates distractions so you can stay focused on your writing.Some key features of MonsterWriter include:Distraction-free writing environment - No bells and whistles, just a simple, clutter-free interfaceAdvanced export options...
TeXworks
TeXworks is a free, open source LaTeX editor and PDF viewer that runs on Windows, MacOS, and Linux. It aims to provide an easy-to-use interface for working with LaTeX documents.Some key features of TeXworks include:Syntax highlighting and auto-completion for LaTeX documentsBuilt-in PDF viewer to preview documentsSupport for compiling LaTeX files...
MathEditor
MathEditor is a powerful equation editor and math typesetting software. It allows users to create, edit, and display mathematical equations and formulas with professional quality typesetting. MathEditor provides an intuitive graphical user interface that makes it easy to build equations by simply clicking on math symbols and structures.Key features include:Extensive...
ShareLaTeX
ShareLaTeX is a free online LaTeX editor and compiler that allows real-time collaboration for writing and editing LaTeX documents. Some key features of ShareLaTeX include:Real-time collaborative editing - Multiple authors can edit a document at the same time while seeing each other's changes instantly.LaTeX compiler - Documents are compiled in...
Paperspade
Paperspade is an AI-powered writing assistant designed to help anyone write better. It works like an advisor looking over your shoulder, giving you real-time feedback and suggestions to improve your writing.As you type in Paperspade, it analyzes your text and offers advice on style, tone, clarity, conciseness, structure, and more....
Papeeria
Papeeria is a free online document editor and collaboration platform aimed at academic and scientific writing. It allows multiple users to edit a document at the same time with real-time co-editing, making it easy to collaborate on research papers, reports, theses and more.Some key features of Papeeria include:Built-in LaTeX support...
ScribTeX
ScribTeX is a free and open source reference management software designed specifically for use with LaTeX. It helps writers organize, manage, and insert citations and bibliographies in LaTeX documents.Some key features of ScribTeX include:Store reference metadata like title, author, year, etc. for books, articles, websites, and moreOrganize references with tags...
\Bluelatex
Bluelatex is a modern TeX typesetting engine optimized for complex documents and designed to generate publication-ready PDF files. It is based on pdfTeX and provides significant improvements in terms of speed, stability, and capability to handle complex files with extensive graphics, fonts, color spaces, metadata, hyperlinks, etc.Some key advantages and...
LaTexLab
LaTexLab is a free, open-source LaTeX editor that makes writing LaTeX documents easier and more efficient. It was created by James Yu as an Electron-based alternative to offline LaTeX editors like TeXworks or TeXmaker. Some key features of LaTexLab include:Real-time preview - See your formatted LaTeX document update live as...
LaTeXing
LaTeXing is a free, open-source document preparation system designed specifically for advanced typesetting needs, especially in technical and scientific writing. Unlike typical word processors like Microsoft Word, LaTeXing uses a markup language to structure documents, separating content from design.Some key features and benefits of LaTeXing include:Professional typesetting quality - LaTeX...
Vim-LaTeX
Vim-LaTeX is a powerful Vim plugin that greatly enhances the experience of editing LaTeX files in Vim. It provides a wide range of features that make working with LaTeX extremely efficient, including:Compiling LaTeX files with a single shortcut and showing compilation errorsForward and inverse search - jump between source code...
RedCrab Calculator
RedCrab Calculator is a free, open-source desktop calculator application for Windows. Developed by a small team of engineers and mathematicians, it aims to provide both simple calculator functionality as well as more advanced mathematical and programming capabilities.At its core, RedCrab Calculator offers the basic arithmetic functions you would expect from...
Latexila
Latexila is a lightweight yet full-featured LaTeX editor for Linux systems. Developed in C and GTK+, Latexila aims to provide an easy-to-use editor for working with LaTeX documents.Key features of Latexila include:Syntax highlighting for LaTeX filesCode completion for LaTeX commands, environments, references etc.Document structure tree view showing sections, subsections etc.Integrated...
TeXlipse
TeXlipse is a feature-rich LaTeX editor plugin for the Eclipse IDE. It allows LaTeX authors and programmers to easily edit, structure, and compile LaTeX projects and documents from within Eclipse.Some of the key features of TeXlipse include:Syntax highlighting for LaTeX source codeCode folding for document sections and environmentsCode completion for...
Table Generator
Table Generator is a free online application that makes it easy for anyone to create HTML tables for websites and other projects. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you can quickly build tables with the desired number of rows and columns.Some key features of Table Generator include:Add or remove rows and...
JLatexEditor
JLatexEditor is a free, open-source LaTeX editor written in Java. It provides an easy-to-use graphical interface for writing, editing, and compiling LaTeX documents.Key features of JLatexEditor include:Syntax highlighting for LaTeX filesAuto-completion of LaTeX commands and environmentsIntegrated PDF viewer to see compiled document in real-timeCustomizable editor themes and layoutsProject explorer to...
Inlage
Inlage is an open-source, cross-platform note taking and knowledge management application. It is designed to be highly flexible and customizable to suit a variety of workflows.Some key features of Inlage include:Support for rich text documents with formatting, images, tables, etc.Hierarchical note organization using notebooks and tagsBi-directional links between notes for...
WinShell
WinShell is a free and open source tool that enhances the Windows command line interface and file management capabilities. It adds many useful features on top of the default Windows command prompt and Windows Explorer.Some of the key features of WinShell include:Commonly used commands like copy, move, delete, etc. with...
