10 LaTeX Editors for Research Writing: Online and Desktop Options
New to LaTeX? Here's a guide created for you!
What is a LaTeX editor?
Before addressing what a LaTeX editor is, let us see what TeX and LaTeX are. TeX is an advanced typesetting system which was majorly developed by Donald Knuth. TeX is mainly popular because of its ability to handle complex technical text and in displaying mathematical formulae.
So, what is LaTeX? Put simply, LaTeX is a set of macros (or macro packages) built on top TeX. It was built by way back in the ’80s. Whatever LaTeX command you use are basically a set of TeX commands being compiled underneath. In short, it is a document preparation system which is predominantly used for technical or scientific writing and publishing.
Leslie Lamport
A LaTeX editor lets you write and revise source, then compile it with a TeX distribution or a hosted service. Some tools emphasize source code, while others provide a more visual document interface.
LaTeX editors make it easier to write structured source and compile it to PDF. Other export formats depend on the editor, TeX toolchain and conversion workflow; test the output required by your venue.
LaTeX is particularly common in research fields where documents contain mathematical notation, technical figures, extensive references, or complex formatting requirements.
Top 9 advantages of LaTeX Editors
...that convince researchers to move from traditional word processors
Word processors can also handle academic writing. Why use a LaTeX editor in the first place? Here are some of the reasons researchers keep coming back to them.
1. Professional-looking documents
LaTeX is particularly good at producing consistently formatted academic and technical documents. Once your document structure and formatting rules are in place, you don't have to manually format every heading, equation, reference, or figure.
2. Excellent mathematical typesetting
This is one of LaTeX's biggest strengths.
If your research involves equations, matrices, mathematical symbols, or other technical notation, LaTeX gives you a huge amount of control over how they appear.
This is one reason LaTeX has remained so common in mathematics, physics, computer science, engineering, economics, and other technical fields.
3. References and citations
LaTeX can manage citations and bibliographies through tools such as BibTeX and BibLaTeX. Instead of manually maintaining a bibliography every time you add a new source, you can connect your document to a bibliography database and let the system handle much of the formatting.
4. Automatic numbering
Sections, equations, figures, tables, and other elements can be numbered automatically.
That becomes particularly useful when you're dealing with a 100-page thesis rather than a five-page class assignment.
5. Cross-referencing
LaTeX can also keep track of references between different parts of a document.
You can refer to a particular equation, figure, table, or section without having to manually change the number every time you move something around.
6. Templates
You don't always have to start from scratch.
Universities, journals, conferences, publishers, and researchers have created thousands of LaTeX templates for papers, theses, dissertations, presentations, CVs, and more.
For example, Overleaf currently provides thousands of templates, including templates for journal articles and theses.
7. Better suited to long documents
LaTeX really starts to make sense when your document gets complicated.
A research paper with several equations and references is one thing. A dissertation with dozens of chapters, hundreds of citations, figures, tables, appendices, and cross-references is another.
LaTeX is designed to handle this kind of structured document.
8. Collaboration
Online LaTeX editors have made collaboration considerably easier.
Instead of emailing a .tex file back and forth and ending up with final-paper-v7-really-final.tex, you can work on the same project with your co-authors.
Overleaf, for example, supports simultaneous editing, comments, project sharing, and version history.
9. You have a lot of control
For experienced users, one of the biggest advantages of LaTeX is simply how much control it gives you.
You can customize document classes, packages, fonts, equations, references, tables, figures, and much more. If you really want to get into the weeds, there are a lot of weeds to get into.
That can be a strength or a weakness, depending on how much you enjoy tinkering.s.
The best LaTeX editors to choose from
There is no single LaTeX editor that works for everyone.
If you want to collaborate with researchers in different locations, an online editor may make more sense. If you prefer working locally and want complete control over your files, a desktop editor might be a better fit.
And if the thought of writing LaTeX commands makes you want to close this article immediately, there are editors that give you a much more visual way of working.
Here are 10 options to consider.
Top LaTeX editors
1. Overleaf
Overleaf is probably the first LaTeX editor most researchers will encounter today. It is an online LaTeX editor that lets you write, compile, preview, and collaborate on documents from your browser.
And it is not exactly a small operation anymore.
Overleaf says it has more than 30 million users, has been used to create more than 100 million documents, and has users across 189 countries and 6,800+ institutions.
One of the biggest advantages of Overleaf is that you don't have to install a local LaTeX distribution or figure out package management before you can start. Pick a template, open a project, and start writing.
You can use its Code Editor if you want to work directly with LaTeX, or its Visual Editor if you would rather work with a more familiar document-editing interface. It also provides tools for tables, figures, references, comments, collaboration, and project history.
Overleaf has also moved further into AI-assisted writing. In a 2026 product survey, the company reported that 81.6% of respondents use AI in their research or studies, while 60% use AI for LaTeX support. Overleaf AI now includes tools for explaining compile errors, helping with LaTeX, generating tables and equations, and improving text.
So, yes, Overleaf has come a long way from being simply “an online LaTeX editor.”
Best for: Researchers, students, and teams who want to write and collaborate online.
What happened to ShareLaTeX?
ShareLaTeX and Overleaf joined forces in 2017 and moved to a unified Overleaf service. Choose the present Overleaf plans and features rather than the historical standalone ShareLaTeX plans.
2. Authorea
Authorea takes a slightly broader approach to academic writing. It is an online collaborative writing platform designed for researchers and supports scientific documents containing text, equations, citations, figures, and data.
The idea is fairly straightforward: bring more of the research-writing process into one collaborative environment instead of having separate tools for the manuscript, figures, data, and references.
Authorea can therefore be useful when you're working with several contributors or creating research documents that contain more than just text.
Best for: Collaborative scientific writing and research documents that combine text, data, figures, and references.
3. Papeeria
Papeeria is another browser-based LaTeX editor, but it has a few features that make it worth a look.
It provides a full TeX Live environment in the browser, so you don't need to install the TeX distribution yourself. It also supports real-time collaboration, templates, autocomplete, spellchecking, mathematical previews, and project versioning.
There is also a built-in plot builder and support for gnuplot, which is handy if your research involves generating plots alongside your LaTeX document.
Papeeria currently offers a free plan with unlimited public projects and unlimited collaborators, while its paid plan starts at $5/month for additional private-project and collaboration features.
Best for: Researchers who want an online LaTeX environment with collaboration, plotting, and project-management features.
4. Lyx
LyX is a little different from most of the editors on this list.
Rather than making you work directly with LaTeX code all the time, LyX gives you a graphical interface built around the structure of your document. It describes this approach as WYSIWYM: “What You See Is What You Mean.”
In practice, it looks considerably more like a traditional document editor than a source-code editor.
You can create equations through a visual interface, manage references and bibliographies, work with figures and tables, and still access the underlying LaTeX when you need it. LyX supports Linux, Windows, and macOS.
It is also still actively maintained. LyX 2.5.3 was released in September 2026, with the 2.5 series adding improvements including cross-referencing and other document-management features.
This makes LyX an interesting middle ground: you get much of LaTeX's power without having to stare at LaTeX source code quite so much.
Best for: Researchers who want LaTeX's typesetting capabilities with a more visual writing experience.
5. TeXstudio
TeXstudio is an open-source, cross-platform LaTeX editor designed to make writing LaTeX a little less painful.
It includes syntax highlighting, an integrated PDF viewer, reference checking, autocomplete, assistants, and tools for working with figures, tables, and formulas. It also provides access to more than 1,000 mathematical symbols.
TeXstudio is actively maintained, too. Version 4.9.8 was released in September 2026, following several releases earlier in the year.
That makes it a solid option if you want a traditional desktop editor without giving up modern conveniences.
Best for: Researchers who want a full-featured, open-source desktop LaTeX editor.
6. Vim-LaTeX
Vim-LaTeX is for a rather different kind of LaTeX user.
If you already use Vim and are comfortable doing most of your work from the keyboard, Vim-LaTeX lets you bring LaTeX into that environment rather than moving to a dedicated graphical editor.
The appeal is customization and speed. You can work with commands, shortcuts, templates, and Vim's extensive configuration options.
The downside is equally obvious: if you've never used Vim before, learning Vim and LaTeX at the same time may be a slightly ambitious weekend project.
Best for: Experienced Vim users who want a highly customizable, keyboard-driven LaTeX workflow.
7. Texmaker
Texmaker is a free, cross-platform LaTeX editor available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
It combines a source editor with features such as syntax highlighting, document structure navigation, spellchecking, and PDF viewing. It is less about adding a huge number of bells and whistles and more about giving you the tools you need to write and compile LaTeX documents.
For someone who wants a traditional desktop LaTeX editor without a browser-based workflow, Texmaker is still a straightforward option.
Best for: Students and researchers looking for a conventional, cross-platform LaTeX editor.
8. TeXworks
TeXworks takes the minimalist route.
It provides a relatively simple interface for editing TeX and LaTeX source files and viewing the resulting document. There aren't quite as many bells and whistles as you'll find in some of the larger LaTeX environments.
And that is partly the point.
If you don't need an enormous interface full of tools, panels, assistants, and configuration options, a lightweight editor can be refreshing.
Best for: Beginners and users who want a simple desktop LaTeX environment.
9. Kile
Kile is an integrated LaTeX editing environment associated with KDE.
It includes tools for compiling and viewing documents, autocomplete for LaTeX commands, templates and wizards, project management, reference insertion, document navigation, and a flexible build system.
Kile is particularly interesting if you're already working in a Linux/KDE environment and want your LaTeX workflow to fit naturally into it.
Best for: Linux and KDE users who want an integrated LaTeX writing environment.
10. TeXShop
TeXShop is a LaTeX editor and previewer for macOS.
Its approach is relatively simple: write your TeX or LaTeX source, compile it, and preview the resulting PDF in the same environment.
For Mac users who don't need an elaborate collaborative platform or a highly customized development environment, TeXShop can be a lightweight way to get started with LaTeX.
Best for: macOS users who want a straightforward native LaTeX editor.
To Conclude
There are a ton of LaTeX editors out there. It’s an unsettling task to figure out the right LaTeX editor to compile your document. It’s a pretty competitive market where all the top tools offer similar features with subtle differences. A lot of research is required from your end to figure out the tool that suits your needs.
The ten options below span hosted collaboration, desktop source editing and a visual document processor. Compare your operating system, collaboration needs and TeX setup before choosing.
The best of LaTeX without having to learn LaTeX
SciSpace
Of course, there is another option.
SciSpace offers writing and research tools alongside templates and citation tools. Check the current editor and export options against the format your venue requires.
SciSpace AI Writer can help draft and revise text; check its current output formats and verify citations and venue formatting before submission.
SciSpace also has an APA citation generator. Review generated references and check available export formats against your citation workflow.
Explore current SciSpace templates by journal or manuscript type, then compare the output with the journal’s latest author instructions.
You can use it to discover and understand research papers, chat with PDFs, extract information, work with citations, and streamline parts of the research and writing process.
So while LaTeX is excellent at the “make this complicated research document look right” part of the job, SciSpace focuses more on the “help me understand all this research so I can actually write the thing” part.
For researchers who don't want to spend their time learning LaTeX commands, that can be a useful distinction.
