Overleaf alternatives · Writing
Open-source alternatives to Overleaf
Overleaf is not described as open source on its own site. 19 of the 100 other writing tools in this directory are open source, according to their own sites.
Overleaf has a free plan. Paid plans start at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25. 18 of them are free or have a free plan.
19 tools · Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
The 12 closest to Overleaf
- Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Typst
Markup-based typesetting system with a collaborative web app
- Typst starts at $7.99 per month, billed monthly ($79.99 billed yearly). Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only Typst lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Typst is open source, according to its own site.
- Typst also covers presentations.
- Free
LyX
Structure-based document processor built on LaTeX
- LyX is free. Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only LyX lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Overleaf lists a web app.
- LyX is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
Quarto
Open-source publishing system for technical documents
- Quarto is free. Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only Quarto lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Overleaf lists a web app.
- Quarto is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
Texmaker
Free LaTeX editor for Windows, macOS and Linux
- Texmaker is free. Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only Texmaker lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Overleaf lists a web app.
- Texmaker is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
TeXstudio
Open-source LaTeX editor with an integrated PDF viewer
- TeXstudio is free. Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only TeXstudio lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Overleaf lists a web app.
- TeXstudio is open source, according to its own site.
- Free trial · from $12/mo
Pressbooks
Book publishing platform that exports EPUB, PDF and web books
- Pressbooks starts at $12 per book / month ($120 billed yearly). Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Overleaf has a free plan. Pressbooks does not, though it has a free trial.
- Pressbooks is open source, according to its own site.
- Overleaf also covers templates and citations.
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
LanguageTool
Grammar and style checker for more than 30 languages
- LanguageTool starts at $4.99 per month on a 2-year plan ($119.80); $69.90 billed annually. Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only LanguageTool lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Only LanguageTool lists a browser extension.
- LanguageTool is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
LibreOffice Writer
Free, open-source word processor for Windows, macOS and Linux
- LibreOffice Writer is free. Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only LibreOffice Writer lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Overleaf lists a web app.
- LibreOffice Writer is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
Zettlr
Free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing
- Zettlr is free. Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only Zettlr lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Overleaf lists a web app.
- Zettlr is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
Manuskript
Free, open-source novel planner with an outliner and index cards
- Manuskript is free. Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only Manuskript lists Windows, Linux and macOS apps.
- Only Overleaf lists a web app.
- Manuskript is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
novelWriter
Free, open-source plain-text editor for writing novels
- novelWriter is free. Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only novelWriter lists Linux and Windows apps.
- Only Overleaf lists a web app.
- novelWriter is open source, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $3.49/mo
bibisco
Novel planning and writing software built around characters
- bibisco starts at $3.49 per month for Everywhere sync; desktop Supporters Edition is $69 one-time. Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25.
- Only bibisco lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Overleaf lists a web app.
- bibisco is open source, according to its own site.
Common questions
Is there an open-source alternative to Overleaf?
Yes. Typst, LyX, Quarto, Texmaker, TeXstudio, Pressbooks, LanguageTool, LibreOffice Writer and 11 more are open source, according to their own sites.
Is Overleaf open source?
Overleaf is not described as open source on its own site. The listing was checked on Oct 5, 2026 against the pages it cites.
Which of these writing tools are free?
Typst, LyX, Quarto, Texmaker, TeXstudio, LanguageTool, LibreOffice Writer, Zettlr and 10 more are free or have a free plan.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Overleaf: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.