# Texmaker review (2026): is it any good? > Free LaTeX editor for Windows, macOS and Linux Checked Nov 12, 2026 ยท graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA. Texmaker is a desktop editor for writing LaTeX documents. It puts a code editor, a built-in PDF viewer, a structure view and one-click compilation in a single window. It is released under the GPL license and costs nothing. - **Category:** Writing Tools - **Made by:** Pascal Brachet (since 2003) - **Website:** https://www.xm1math.net/texmaker/ - **Runs on:** Windows, macOS, Linux - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you want to write with others live, as no collaboration is listed. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 12, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 12, 2026, Texmaker is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** The whole editor is free to download and use under the GPL license, with no account or subscription. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Free | $0 | The complete editor for Windows, macOS and Linux. You also install a separate LaTeX distribution. | Read from https://www.xm1math.net/texmaker/download.html on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Texmaker before buying. ## Key features - **Integrated PDF viewer:** A built-in viewer with continuous scrolling and SyncTeX support jumps between the source and the compiled page. - **One-click compilation:** Predefined Quick build commands compile the document, and errors and warnings from the log file link back to the matching lines. - **Code completion and folding:** Common LaTeX commands are inserted while typing, and parts, chapters, sections and environments can be collapsed. - **Structure view and master mode:** The structure view updates as you type, and master mode lets a document split across several files be built from one. - **Symbols, wizards and snippets:** 370 mathematical symbols insert in one click, wizards generate quick documents, Beamer presentations and tables, and snippets can use keyboard triggers. - **Search tools:** Regular-expression search and replace, and a find-in-folders search across all LaTeX files in a directory and its subfolders. ## Good for - Writers of theses, papers and reports who already use LaTeX - People who want a local editor with no account or subscription - Users who work on Windows, macOS and Linux and want the same editor on each ## Worth knowing - It is only an editor: a LaTeX distribution (TeX Live or MiKTeX on Windows, TeX Live on Linux, MacTeX on Mac) has to be installed separately. - The macOS build is for Apple silicon on macOS 11 or later; Intel Macs are offered only an older 5.1.4 package. - The download page tells Mac users who see a damaged-app warning to run a terminal command to clear the quarantine flag. - The site lists no real-time collaboration or cloud storage. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.6 out of 4**, graded Nov 12, 2026. Texmaker is a free LaTeX editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with a built-in PDF viewer and one-click compiling. It's only the editor, so you install a LaTeX distribution yourself. It lists no collaboration or cloud storage, and Intel Macs get an older build. - **Value for money: A.** Free under the GPL, with no account. A program anyone can download and run. - **Free plan and trial: A.** The whole editor is free, with no account and no caps. - **Features: C.** Editor, PDF viewer, completion, structure view and wizards. The listing says no collaboration and no cloud storage. - **Ease of use: D.** Needs a separate LaTeX distribution, and Mac users who see a damaged-app warning are told to run a terminal command. No store rating on record. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** Windows, Mac and Linux only, no web or phone versions. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Texmaker's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among writing tools - Texmaker's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 52 of the 100 other writing tools we grade, and level with 14. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 81 of 100) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0). - Texmaker has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/writing ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** Texmaker is free, so making your own would save you nothing. - You could make: Documents: an app builder makes this well. - You could not: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** Open source, Works offline, Documents ## Alternatives - [TeXstudio](https://toolgpa.com/tools/texstudio): Open-source LaTeX editor with an integrated PDF viewer. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/texmaker-vs-texstudio) - [LyX](https://toolgpa.com/tools/lyx): Structure-based document processor built on LaTeX. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/lyx-vs-texmaker) - [Overleaf](https://toolgpa.com/tools/overleaf): Collaborative online LaTeX editor for papers and theses. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/overleaf-vs-texmaker) - [Typst](https://toolgpa.com/tools/typst): Markup-based typesetting system with a collaborative web app. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/texmaker-vs-typst) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026: - https://www.xm1math.net/texmaker/ - https://www.xm1math.net/texmaker/download.html Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/texmaker Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).