Head-to-head · LaTeX Editors
Overleaf vs LyX
Overleaf leads on 0 checks, LyX on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreOverleaf · 9.3/10
- Free planboth
- Free trialonly Overleaf
- Most featuresLyX · 1 of 4
Overleaf scores higher on our rubric for latex editors: 9.3 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.
Overleaf is the better fit for established teams needing polished collaboration. LyX is the better fit for structured academic and mathematical documents.
- Overleaf fits best
Established teams needing polished collaboration
- LyX fits best
Structured academic and mathematical documents
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Side by side
| Feature | Overleaf 9.3/10 Visit ↗ | LyX 8.9/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.3 | 8.9 |
| Ranking | #1 in LaTeX Editors | #3 in LaTeX Editors |
| Best for | Established teams needing polished collaboration | Structured academic and mathematical documents |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free |
| Starting price | — | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted | Desktop |
| Platforms | Web | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Email, Docs | Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 6 integrations | 7 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Overleaf 0/4 · LyX 1/4 | ||
| Real-time collaboration | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Offline editing | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Visual editor | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Git integration | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Editor type | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Supported platforms | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Overleaf is a browser-based LaTeX editor for researchers, students, authors, publishers, and technical teams. Its Visual Editor and Code Editor support different working styles, while automatic PDF compilation and preview keeps the… Read the review → |
LyX is an open-source document processor for Linux, Windows, and macOS. It combines a graphical interface with TeX and LaTeX to support structured academic and technical writing, including articles, books, theses, letters, scripts, and… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Overleaf — where it wins
- Visual and code editors with automatic PDF compilation
- Real-time editing, comments, chat, track changes, and history
- Git, GitHub, Dropbox, Zotero, Mendeley, and ReadCube integrations
Where it doesn't
- Free projects allow only one collaborator
- Free history covers only the last 24 hours
- Hosted web editing requires an internet connection
LyX — where it wins
- Integrated equation editor with structured layouts for theses, books, and articles
- Change tracking, version comparison, branching, and external version-control support
- Imports and exports LaTeX, PDF, HTML, OpenDocument, RTF, and Word formats
Where it doesn't
- Desktop-focused workflow rather than a hosted browser editor
- Collaboration is centered on revision and version-control workflows
- Requires familiarity with structured document and LaTeX-based authoring
- Overleaf9.3/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial
A capable collaborative LaTeX workspace for teams that need editing, review, and citations together.
Visit OverleafFull verdict → - LyX8.9/10 · Free plan
A capable LaTeX-based editor for academic, mathematical, and technical documents.
Visit LyXFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update