Overleaf
Overleaf: A focused workspace for collaborative LaTeX documents, citations, revisions, and PDF output. Ranked #15 of 32 in Document Collaboration Software by our editors (7.5/10); pricing: Free plan · 7-day trial; best for researchers and technical writers.
At a glance
- Editor score7.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan · 7-day trial
- Best forResearchers and technical writers
- Free planYes
- Founded2011 · London, United Kingdom
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Real-time LaTeX editing with automatic PDF compilation and preview
- Track changes, comments, chat, and project history support collaboration
- Git, GitHub, Dropbox, Zotero, Mendeley, and ReadCube integrations
Where it doesn't
- The Free plan allows one collaborator per project
- Free history covers only the last 24 hours
- The hosted editor requires an internet connection
Our verdict on Overleaf
Overleaf is a browser-based collaborative LaTeX editor for researchers, students, authors, publishers, and technical teams. It combines Visual Editor and Code Editor modes with automatic PDF compilation, scientific and technical templates, bibliography tools, citations, reference search, simultaneous editing, comments, collaborator chat, and project sharing by email invitation or link. Its focus is specialized rather than general-purpose: teams working on papers, reports, theses, and other LaTeX documents get tools designed around structured technical writing.
The pricing tiers scale collaboration and document workflow capacity. Free includes unlimited projects, one collaborator per project, and a basic compile timeout. Student costs $8.25 per user per month with annual billing and requires student verification; it adds ten collaborators per project, AI Assistant, and a 24x basic compile timeout. Standard costs $16.75 per user per month with annual billing and has the same collaborator, AI Assistant, and compile-time highlights. Pro costs $33.25 per user per month with annual billing and allows unlimited collaborators per project. Organizations uses contact sales pricing and adds SSO, enterprise capabilities, and optional on-premises deployment.
Its ecosystem fit is a major consideration. Git and GitHub synchronization support version-controlled workflows, while Dropbox, Papers/ReadCube, Zotero, and Mendeley connect document work with storage and reference management. Project history, version comparison, restoration, and real-time track changes support review-heavy writing, although the Free plan provides only the last 24 hours of history; full history is a premium feature. Offline work is supported through local Git/GitHub or Dropbox synchronization, while the hosted web editor requires internet access. Choose Overleaf for collaborative scientific or technical documents where LaTeX and citations are central. Choose an alternative if you need a general-purpose editor or a fully offline primary editing environment.
Your product? Our editors can test Overleaf in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Overleaf pricing
All 5 Overleaf plans and prices →
Overleaf fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Approval workflows | Not verified |
| Version history | Limited |
| Guest access | Not verified |
| Role permissions | Not verified |
| Audit log | Not verified |
| Collaborator limit | Not verified |
| Free trial | 7 days · card required |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | ISO 27001, GDPR, SSO/SAML |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 6 integrations: Git, GitHub, Dropbox, Zotero, Mendeley, ReadCube See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan · 7-day trial (source) |
| Website | overleaf.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Overleaf integrations
Overleaf lists 6 integrations on its own site.
- Git
- GitHub
- Dropbox
- Zotero
- Mendeley
- ReadCube
See all Overleaf integrations →
Alternatives to Overleaf
- Google DocsA capable collaborative word processor with strong editing, sharing, and document-history tools.9.4
- Zoho WriterA broad, free document workspace with desktop apps, offline editing, and automation options.9.2
- Microsoft WordA mature choice for document creation and collaboration across Microsoft 365.9.1
See all Overleaf alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Overleaf is ranked in 5 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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