Is LetX a free Overleaf alternative?

LetX offers a free tier you can start writing on immediately in the browser with no install, including real-time collaboration and instant compile. The core difference from Overleaf's free plan is the collaboration model: LetX is built around live, multi-cursor co-editing rather than gating collaborators behind a paid tier. Check letx.app for the current plan details, since SaaS pricing changes; the point is that you can write a full paper for free today.

Can I import my existing Overleaf project into LetX?

Yes. Because both tools use standard LaTeX, you export your Overleaf project as a ZIP and upload it to LetX, or paste your .tex and .bib files directly. There is no proprietary format to convert — a LaTeX project is just text files plus assets. This portability is the safety net of choosing any LaTeX editor: your source is never locked in, so you can move between Overleaf, LetX, and a local install freely.

What does real-time collaboration actually add over Overleaf?

Real-time collaboration means multiple authors edit the same document with live cursors and instant sync, the way Google Docs works, instead of waiting for a save-and-refresh cycle. For a paper with a looming deadline, co-authors can write different sections simultaneously and see compiled output update together. This removes the email-the-.tex-file merge conflicts that plague distributed writing teams.

LetX vs Overleaf: Real-Time Collaborative LaTeX

LetX is a real-time collaborative LaTeX editor and Overleaf alternative built around instant compile and live, multi-cursor co-editing. Both run full LaTeX in the browser with zero install, so the real decision is about collaboration speed, compile feel, and pricing. Here is an honest, claims-only comparison to help you choose.

1. What they share

Both LetX and Overleaf are online LaTeX editors that:

Run a full TeX Live distribution in the browser — no local install.
Compile to PDF and show a live preview.
Support BibLaTeX/BibTeX, custom classes (IEEEtran, acmart, sn-jnl), and templates.
Let you import/export standard .tex projects, so your source is portable.

Because a LaTeX project is just text files, you are never locked in — you can move between either tool and a local install freely.

2. Feature comparison

| Capability | LetX | Overleaf | |---|---|---| | Browser-based, no install | Yes | Yes | | Real-time multi-cursor editing | Core feature | Available | | Instant compile preview | Yes | Yes | | Standard LaTeX import/export | Yes | Yes | | Templates gallery | Yes | Yes | | Free tier to write a full paper | Yes | Yes (with limits) |

Feature parity on standard LaTeX is the baseline; the differentiator is the live collaboration model and compile responsiveness.

3. Where LetX focuses

LetX is engineered for live co-authoring: multiple researchers write different sections at once with shared cursors and synchronized compiled output, removing the merge-conflict pain of emailing .tex files. See Real-Time Collaboration in LaTeX for how live editing works under the hood, and Track Changes & Comments for review workflows.

4. Migrating from Overleaf

Switching is low-risk because there is no proprietary format:

In Overleaf, Menu → Download → Source to get a ZIP.
Upload the ZIP to LetX, or paste your .tex and .bib files.
Pick the matching document class and compile.

Your bibliography, figures, and custom commands carry over unchanged.

5. Which should you pick?

Choose by your bottleneck: if you write solo, both work well; if you co-author with a team against deadlines, prioritize the live-editing experience. For the full landscape, see Best Overleaf Alternatives in 2026 and Why Researchers Are Leaving Overleaf.

→ Try real-time collaborative LaTeX free at LetX.

Written by Shihab Shahriar Antor — AI Engineer & Founder of Shahriar Labs, maker of LetX.