LaTeX for classes: running a course on LetX
By Shihab Shahriar Antor · Updated October 2026 · 5 min read
A class can use LetX free: students write and compile in the browser with nothing to install, and every compile runs on the same TeX Live, so no laptop breaks an assignment. When some students need Pro for a term, such as unlimited compiles or full history, a teacher can buy Team seats, give them out, and take them back at the end.
Run a course on the free plan
- Nothing to install: students write in the browser on any laptop or lab machine, and every compile runs on the same full TeX Live, so an assignment builds the same way for everyone.
- Collaborators are free: a student can share a project with you and a teaching assistant at no cost, and you can comment in the document.
- 40 compiles a day on Free, which covers most coursework, with recent version history.
- Templates to start from: assignment templates, lab reports and slides.
When some students need Pro
A thesis project or a heavy lab course can outgrow the free plan. The Team plan gives Pro to the people you choose: $20 per seat a month or $200 a year, for 2 to 50 people on one bill. Give a seat to each student who needs it for the term and take it back when the course ends; the rest of the class stays on Free. For a whole department, use an Institution plan.
Start a team for your course.
Start a teamStudent work stays private
Projects are private by default, and documents are never used to train AI models. Verified students can also get Academic Pro at half the price of Pro.
Frequently asked questions
Is LetX free for students?
Yes. The free plan has unlimited projects and collaborators and 40 compiles a day, which covers most coursework. Verified students can also get Academic Pro at half the price of Pro.
Do students need an account?
Yes, a free one, to save a project and compile it. Anyone can look through the templates without signing in.
Can a teacher see every student’s work?
Only work a student shares. A student invites you to their project by email, and you can then read, comment and edit in it.
What if the class has more than 50 students?
Most of a class can stay on the free plan, since only students who need Pro need a seat. For more than 50 seats, a department can use an Institution plan.
Related
Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor , AI Engineer & Founder of Shahriar Labs. Builder of LetX (collaborative LaTeX) and QuantumSketch (AI STEM video).