The Best Free LaTeX Editors in 2026 (Online and Desktop)
By Shihab Shahriar Antor · Updated September 2026 · 7 min read
The best free LaTeX editor depends on whether you want zero-install online editing or a desktop app. Online, LetX and Overleaf need no installation and compile in the cloud; on the desktop, TeXstudio, TeXmaker, and Kile are free but require a local TeX Live or MiKTeX install. For fast, collaborative, no-setup editing, LetX is the top free pick.
We make LetX, so we are not neutral here. The other editors are described from their own websites, checked on 27 September 2026, and how we compared and where LetX is the wrong choice are set out below.
Online free LaTeX editors (no install)
LetX and Overleaf run in the browser and compile on cloud servers, so there is nothing to install and your project is available on any machine. LetX compiles in a few seconds, gives every project unlimited free collaborators, ships 1000+ templates, and never trains AI on your work without your consent. Overleaf’s free plan is popular but limits you to one collaborator per project and a shorter compile timeout (see Is Overleaf free?).
Desktop free LaTeX editors
Desktop editors are free and open-source but need a local TeX distribution, TeX Live (cross-platform) or MiKTeX (Windows), which is a multi-gigabyte install.
- TeXstudio: the most popular free desktop editor; integrated viewer, autocompletion, and a structure browser. Cross-platform.
- TeXmaker: a clean, cross-platform editor TeXstudio was originally forked from.
- Kile: a KDE editor, strong on Linux.
- TeXworks: a minimal editor bundled with MiKTeX and TeX Live; good for beginners.
Comparison: free LaTeX editors
| Editor | Type | Install | Real-time collab | Compile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LetX | Online | None | Unlimited (free) | Cloud, a few seconds |
| Overleaf | Online | None | One (free) | Cloud |
| TeXstudio | Desktop | TeX Live/MiKTeX | No | Local |
| TeXmaker | Desktop | TeX Live/MiKTeX | No | Local |
| Kile | Desktop | TeX Live | No | Local |
| TeXworks | Desktop | TeX Live/MiKTeX | No | Local |
Free plans as each editor published them on 27 September 2026. Free plans change, so check the editor’s own page before you commit a thesis to one.
How we compared
- What we looked at. The four things that decide a free editor in practice: whether you install anything, whether you can write with others on the free plan, where the document compiles, and whether it works offline.
- Where the facts come from. Each editor’s own website, read on 27 September 2026. We did not install every desktop editor for this page, so the desktop rows describe what their projects publish.
- How we timed LetX. From our own service: over the 30 days to 27 September 2026, half of all compiles finished within 5.4 seconds of the request, queue included. The method is on how to compile LaTeX online. We have not timed the other editors under the same conditions, so there is no speed ranking here.
Where LetX is the wrong choice
- No connection, no LetX. It runs in the browser and compiles on our servers, so it does not work offline. On a plane or behind a firewall that blocks it, a desktop editor over TeX Live keeps working.
- Your files live in the cloud. Like Overleaf, LetX stores projects on its servers. If your lab or employer requires files to stay on your own machine, use a desktop editor.
- Younger than Overleaf. Overleaf has more third-party links, journal submission buttons and years of community answers. If a publisher’s workflow assumes Overleaf, that is a real reason to stay.
- A daily compile allowance on the free plan. The free plan includes 40 compiles a day, which is plenty for writing and tight for a long debugging session. Pro removes it.
Which free LaTeX editor should you pick?
If you write with others, submit from multiple devices, or just want to avoid a multi-gigabyte TeX install, choose an online editor, and LetX is a free option with unlimited collaborators. If you work offline on one machine and prefer a native app, install TeXstudio with TeX Live. Both routes are free; the difference is setup and collaboration.
For free LaTeX editing with no installation and real-time collaboration, LetX is the strongest option; if you would rather work offline, TeXstudio is the best free desktop editor.
If you want zero setup and collaborators, use LetX: it is free, runs in the browser, and does not charge per collaborator.
If you need to work offline or on restricted machines, install TeXstudio, TeXmaker or Kile over TeX Live or MiKTeX.
If you are already on Overleaf and only write alone, its free plan is enough and switching gains you little.
Start writing LaTeX free in your browser, nothing to install.
Open LetX FreeFrequently asked questions
What is the best free LaTeX editor?
For no-install, collaborative editing, LetX is the best free LaTeX editor. It compiles in a few seconds and allows unlimited free collaborators. For offline desktop work, TeXstudio (with TeX Live or MiKTeX) is the most popular free choice.
Is there a free online LaTeX editor?
Yes. LetX and Overleaf are free online LaTeX editors that compile in the cloud with no installation. LetX offers unlimited free collaborators and compiles in a few seconds; Overleaf’s free plan allows one collaborator per project.
Is TeXstudio free?
Yes. TeXstudio is free and open-source, as are TeXmaker, Kile, and TeXworks. They are desktop editors, so you also need a free TeX distribution such as TeX Live or MiKTeX installed locally.
Do I need to install anything to write LaTeX?
No, with an online editor like LetX you write and compile in the browser with nothing to install. Desktop editors (TeXstudio, Kile) require a local TeX Live or MiKTeX distribution.
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Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor , AI Engineer & Founder of Shahriar Labs. Builder of LetX (collaborative LaTeX) and QuantumSketch (AI STEM video).