Head-to-head · LaTeX Editors
Texmaker vs TeXShop
Texmaker leads on 0 checks, TeXShop 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 scoreTexmaker · 8.7/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresTexmaker · 1 of 4
Texmaker scores higher on our rubric for latex editors: 8.7 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #8.
Texmaker is the better fit for free traditional desktop LaTeX editing. TeXShop is the better fit for mac users wanting a focused free editor.
- Texmaker fits best
Free traditional desktop LaTeX editing
- TeXShop fits best
Mac users wanting a focused free editor
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Side by side
| Feature | Texmaker 8.7/10 Visit ↗ | TeXShop 7.9/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.7 | 7.9 |
| Ranking | #4 in LaTeX Editors | #8 in LaTeX Editors |
| Best for | Free traditional desktop LaTeX editing | Mac users wanting a focused free editor |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS |
| Support | Docs | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business |
| Features Texmaker 1/4 · TeXShop 0/4 | ||
| Real-time collaboration | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Offline editing | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Visual editor | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Git integration | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Editor type | Desktop | Desktop |
| Supported platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Texmaker is a free, open-source desktop LaTeX editor for creating and compiling technical documents. It is suited to students, researchers, and other LaTeX users who want a traditional source-editing environment across Windows, macOS, or… Read the review → |
TeXShop is a native macOS front end for writing and compiling TeX and LaTeX documents. It is aimed at researchers, students, educators, and technical authors who want a focused desktop editor for local document production. The application… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Texmaker — where it wins
- Covers completion, spell checking, folding, and structure navigation
- Integrated PDF viewing includes SyncTeX support and error navigation
- Free, open-source editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux
Where it doesn't
- Requires a separate LaTeX distribution for compilation
- Desktop-focused rather than collaboration-oriented
- Limited integrations beyond Git assistance
TeXShop — where it wins
- Local typesetting with PDF preview, printing, and SyncTeX synchronization
- Syntax coloring, completion, configurable engines, and BibTeX support
- Free, open-source desktop editor for Intel and Apple silicon Macs
Where it doesn't
- Requires a separate TeX distribution for typesetting
- Available only on macOS
- Designed for local work rather than collaboration
- Texmaker8.7/10 · Free plan
A capable free desktop editor for traditional LaTeX workflows.
Visit TexmakerFull verdict → - TeXShop7.9/10 · Free plan
A focused, free Mac editor for local TeX and LaTeX writing and typesetting.
Visit TeXShopFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update