TeXShop review (2026): is it any good?
Free Mac editor and previewer for TeX and LaTeX documents
TeXShop report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a free LaTeX editor on a Mac
TeXShop is a free LaTeX editor for macOS. It does not include TeX itself, so you install a TeX distribution next to it, it has no real-time collaboration, and it runs on nothing but a Mac.
Who TeXShop is for
- Fits if you write LaTeX papers on a Mac
- Works for people who already have TeX Live installed
Who TeXShop is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Linux: it runs on macOS only
- Not for you if you want the TeX tools included, because a distribution such as TeX Live is a separate install
- Too light for co-authors: no real-time collaboration
- Watch out: older macOS versions need an older TeXShop release
Why TeXShop gets a 2.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree to download and run, against a category median of $9.75 a month.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright: no paid tier, limit or trial.
- CFeaturesDoes TeX and LaTeX editing fully, with documentation and extras. A smaller job than a full writing tool, and it needs a TeX distribution installed separately.
- CEase of useNo store rating on record. You install TeX first and learn LaTeX.
- DPlatforms and integrationsmacOS only, for Intel and Arm from High Sierra through Tahoe. No other system, web or phone version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from TeXShop's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make TeXShop? Put this grade on your site
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/texshop#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/texshop.svg" alt="TeXShop: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where TeXShop stands among writing tools
TeXShop's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 76 of the 136 other writing tools we grade, and level with 18.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 108 of 136) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
TeXShop 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.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 137 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. TeXShop’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 89 of 136, level with 47
- AFree plan and trialAbove 108 of 136, level with 28
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 136, level with 91
- CEase of useAbove 7 of 136, level with 81
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 136, level with 6
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 107 writing tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep TeXShop, or make your own?
Keep it
TeXShop is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Documents: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. TeXShop’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is TeXShop?
TeXShop is a free Mac application for typesetting TeX and LaTeX documents. It was first released in July 2000 and is distributed under the GPL. The current version, 5.57, runs on both Intel and Apple silicon Macs.
Worth knowing
- It runs on macOS only.
- It needs a TeX distribution such as TeX Live installed separately.
- There is no built-in real-time collaboration.
Key features
- TeX and LaTeX editing
- A Mac editor for TeX documents that works with the TeX Live distribution maintained by TUG and MacTeX.
- Recent macOS support
- Version 5.57, released 10/03/2025, runs on Intel and Arm Macs from High Sierra through Tahoe.
- Older versions
- Versions 4.79 and 4.44 are kept for older macOS releases, and 2.47 for 10.4 to 10.6.
- Documentation and extras
- The site carries documentation, translations, history and an extras section.
TeXShop pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, TeXShop is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| TeXShop | $0 | Free under the GPLv2 license. |
Read from pages.uoregon.edu on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with TeXShop before you buy.
TeXShop alternatives
- TeXShop vs Kile
Free
- TeXShop vs Overleaf
Free plan · from $16.75/mo
- TeXShop vs Typst
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Common questions
Does TeXShop have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. TeXShop is listed for macOS.
Does TeXShop have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. TeXShop is listed for macOS.
Is TeXShop open source?
Yes. TeXShop is open source, according to its own site.
Does TeXShop work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.