Scribus vs Typst (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Typst grades higher than Scribus: 3.2 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Typst grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Typst
Markup-based typesetting system with a collaborative web app
Which one is for you
Pick Scribus if
- Fits if you lay out a newsletter or booklet for print
- Works for people who want a free alternative to paid layout software
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to write long text in it: it is a layout tool, not a word processor
- Not for you if you want a web or phone app, as it runs on computers only
- Tight if you are new to layout: frames and colour settings take time to learn
- Watch out: the download page lists source archives and installers, so check which fits your system
Pick Typst if
- Fits if you want an alternative to LaTeX for papers and theses
- Works for co-authors editing a technical document together in a browser, which the free plan allows
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you don't want to learn a markup language, because that's how every document is written
- Tight if you're staying free with big projects, as it's 200 MB of storage and 100 files per project, with no comments or folders
- Not for you if you want to host the web app yourself: it's closed source, and that needs the custom-priced On-Premises plan from 5 members
- Watch out: GitHub and GitLab sync and private packages are labeled experimental, and Zotero sync needs Pro
- Not for you if you want a phone app, as none is listed, and the free compiler on its own is command line
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAScribusGood | 3.2GPATypstVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree to download and run, against a category median of $9.75 a month. | AThe compiler is a free download for Windows, macOS and Linux, and co-editing in the web app is free as well, so plenty of people never pay at all. Pro is $7.99 a month, or $79.99 for the year, which is still under this category's $8.33 middle. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright: a program anyone can download, with no paid tier or trial. | AThe web app's Free plan lets you create, share and co-edit projects with community templates, 200 MB of storage and up to 100 files per project, and the compiler itself is free outright. Comments, folders and Zotero sync are the Pro parts. |
| Features | CPrint PDF export, colour management, scripting and vector drawing. The listing says it is a layout tool, not a word processor, so writing happens elsewhere. | BIt covers the whole job: markup that lays itself out into a PDF, math built in, tables filled from CSV or JSON, citations formatted automatically, and loops and functions that can turn a JSON file into a batch of invoices. GitHub and GitLab sync and private packages are labelled experimental. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Page layout in frames has a learning curve. | CNo store rating on record, and every document is written in Typst's own markup language, which you have to learn first. The web app softens that with autocomplete, a live preview and conversion from LaTeX, Word and Markdown, and the free compiler on its own is command line. |
| Platforms and integrations | CA computer program only, on Windows, Mac and Linux. No web, phone or integrations listed. | BA web app, plus a compiler for Windows, macOS and Linux, with Zotero, Mendeley, GitHub and GitLab sync on Pro, which is a real list of things to connect. The Git sync is labelled experimental, and the listing shows no phone apps. |
| Best for | print layouts and PDFs on a computer | typesetting papers without LaTeX |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Scribus and Typst. How we grade
Price against what you get
Scribus has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Typst starts at $7.99 a month and scores 2.7.
Typst scores higher, and starts $7.99 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other writing tools on the chart, none scores higher than Scribus for less, and 10 score higher than Typst for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Typst is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Scribus also covers documents.
- Typst also covers templates, citations, long-form writing and presentations.
At a glance
| Scribus | Typst | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $7.99 per month, billed monthly ($79.99 billed yearly) |
| Free plan | None | Free web app plan: create, share and co-edit projects, community packages and templates, and file conversion, with 200 MB of storage and up to 100 files per project. The compiler itself is free. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | The Scribus Team | Typst GmbH |
| Price read from | scribus.net | typst.app |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Scribus
- It is a layout tool, not a word processor, so long text is usually written elsewhere and placed in frames.
- The downloads page lists source archives and installers; check it for the build for your system.
Typst
- The Free plan is limited to 200 MB of storage and 100 files per project, and leaves out comments, folders and reference-manager sync.
- Only the compiler is open source; the web app is closed source, and hosting it yourself needs the custom-priced On-Premises plan.
- Documents use Typst's own markup language. The web app converts files from LaTeX, Word and Markdown.
- GitHub and GitLab sync and private packages are labeled experimental on the pricing page.
Key features
Scribus
- Print-ready PDF export
- Exports PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3 and PDF/X-4 for commercial printing, plus PDFs for screen use and forms.
- Color management
- Handles RGB, CMYK, LAB, spectral and spot colors, ships with about 200 palettes and can simulate color blindness.
- Open XML file format
- Documents are stored as readable XML, so a damaged file can be inspected and repaired in a text editor.
- Python scripting
- A scripting engine based on Python automates layout tasks; PDF forms can also use JavaScript.
- Vector drawing and import
- Includes vector drawing tools and many import and export filters for graphics and document types.
Typst
- Markup with automatic formatting
- Documents are written as structured markup and laid out automatically, then exported as a PDF, an image or, in preview, a website.
- Collaborative web app
- The browser editor adds shared editing, autocomplete and a live preview. Sharing and collaboration are part of the Free plan; comment threads need Pro.
- Templates and packages
- Projects can start from community templates and import community packages. Pro adds private packages and templates limited to a workspace.
- Math, tables and bibliographies
- Equations are built into the markup, tables can be filled from CSV or JSON, and citations are formatted automatically, with Zotero and Mendeley sync on Pro.
- Scripting and data loading
- Conditionals, loops and functions are embedded in the language, so a document or a batch of invoices can be generated from a JSON file.
- Open-source compiler
- The command-line compiler is a free download for Windows, macOS and Linux, can run on a server, and can be embedded in other apps as a library.
Plans
Scribus
Scribus$0
Free and open source; the stable release is 1.6.7 and a development line is also offered.
Typst
Free$0
Create, share and collaborate on projects with community packages and templates, 200 MB of storage and up to 100 files per project.
Pro$7.99
per month, billed monthly; $79.99 per year billed yearly
Adds comments, private packages and templates, GitHub and GitLab sync, Zotero and Mendeley sync, slide presenting, folders and 2 GB of storage.
On-PremisesCustom
The web app run in your own data center with LDAP access control and priority support. Starts at 5 organization members.
Ways to pay less
Scribus
No public discounts listed.
Typst
- Annual discount
Lower price with yearly payment
The pricing page marks yearly payment as 14% off. In US dollars Pro is $79.99 for a year against $7.99 a month, which is $95.88 over twelve months.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Scribus or Typst?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Scribus is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $7.99 a month for Typst. Scribus is free, and Typst starts at $7.99 per month, billed monthly ($79.99 billed yearly).
Which has a free plan, Scribus or Typst?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Scribus and Typst have a free plan.
Which platforms do Scribus and Typst run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Typst lists a web app. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.