Typst
Focus: typesetting, latex alternative and documents. Also in Writing and Research, like Overleaf. Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Rated 4.6 (Overleaf: 4.7).
Web AppFree planWeb, Windows
4.6Visit
Web App
Overleaf
An online LaTeX editor for writing and sharing papers in the browser.
Rating
4.7 / 5
Pricing
Freemium
Difficulty
Intermediate
Works on
Web
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What is Overleaf?
Overleaf is a collaborative LaTeX editor that runs in the browser, so there is nothing to install. The free plan covers unlimited projects, thousands of templates for papers, CVs and theses, and sharing with one collaborator per project, while paid plans add more collaborators, full history and track changes.
Pros: what Overleaf does well
- No LaTeX install needed
- Huge template gallery
- Live preview of the PDF
Cons: where it falls short
- Free plan allows one collaborator per project
- Compile time is limited on the free plan
Who Overleaf is for
Students and academics who write papers, theses or CVs in LaTeX.
Who can skip it
People who are happy writing in a normal word processor.
What people use Overleaf for
- Writing a thesis, research paper or report in LaTeX without installing anything
- Co-writing a paper with a supervisor or co-author in real time
- Starting a CV, poster or journal submission from a ready-made template
How to get started
- 1Create a free account at overleaf.com.
- 2Start a blank project or pick a template from the gallery, such as a journal or thesis layout.
- 3Write in the editor on the left and recompile to see the PDF preview on the right.
- 4Use Share to invite a collaborator, then download the PDF or source when you are done.
Overleaf pricing
Overleaf has a Free plan with unlimited projects, one collaborator per project, a basic compile time and the last 24 hours of history. Paid Standard and Pro plans (individual or group) and a Student plan add more collaborators, longer compiles, full history and track changes. Institutions can arrange site-wide plans. See current prices on Overleaf's site
Checked 2026-10-27. Prices change, so double-check before you pay.
Overleaf FAQ: quick answers
- Is Overleaf free?
- Yes, the Free plan lets you create unlimited projects and share each one with a collaborator. Paid plans add more collaborators, track changes and full history.
- Do I need to install LaTeX to use Overleaf?
- No. Everything runs in the browser, including compiling the PDF.
- Does the free plan include track changes?
- No. Track changes and full document history come with the paid plans.
Overleaf alternatives
Not sold on Overleaf? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
ZoteroBib
Focus: citations, bibliography and references. Shares academic writing with Overleaf. Free (Overleaf: Freemium). Same 4.7 rating.
Web AppFreeWeb
4.7Visit
MyBib
Focus: citations, bibliography and references. Shares academic writing with Overleaf. Free (Overleaf: Freemium). Rated 4.6 (Overleaf: 4.7).
Web AppFreeWeb
4.6Visit
Zettlr
Focus: markdown editor, citations and open source. Shares academic writing with Overleaf. A desktop app, not a web app. Free (Overleaf: Freemium). Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Rated 4.5 (Overleaf: 4.7).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.5Visit
Awesome Journal Skills
Focus: journals, claude code and skills. Shares academic writing with Overleaf. An AI tool, not a web app. Free (Overleaf: Freemium). Rated 4.3 (Overleaf: 4.7).
AI ToolFreeCross-Platform
4.3Visit
Datawrapper
Focus: charts, data visualisation and maps. Also in Research and Writing, like Overleaf. Same 4.7 rating.
Web AppFree planWeb
4.7Visit
Free alternatives to Overleaf
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
Google Ngram Viewer
Focus: language, books and word usage. Also in Research and Writing, like Overleaf. Free (Overleaf: Freemium). Rated 4.6 (Overleaf: 4.7).
Web AppFreeWeb
4.6Visit
Scribbr Citation Generator
Focus: citations, references and apa. Also in Writing and Research, like Overleaf. Free (Overleaf: Freemium). Adds Chrome. Rated 4.6 (Overleaf: 4.7).
Web AppFreeWeb, Chrome
4.6Visit
Tables Generator
Focus: latex tables, markdown tables and html tables. Also in Writing and Research, like Overleaf. Free (Overleaf: Freemium). Rated 4.6 (Overleaf: 4.7).
Web AppFreeWeb
4.6Visit
Google Forms
Focus: forms, surveys and quizzes. Also in Research and Collaboration, like Overleaf. Free (Overleaf: Freemium). Rated 4.5 (Overleaf: 4.7).
Web AppFreeWeb
4.5Visit
HedgeDoc
Focus: markdown, collaborative editing and self-hosted. Also in Collaboration and Writing, like Overleaf. Free (Overleaf: Freemium). Rated 4.5 (Overleaf: 4.7).
Web AppFreeWeb
4.5Visit
LibreTranslate
Focus: translation, self-hosted and privacy. Also in Writing and Research, like Overleaf. Free (Overleaf: Freemium). Adds Linux. Rated 4.5 (Overleaf: 4.7).
Web AppFreeWeb, Linux
4.5Visit
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