\documentclass{alternative}
Everything Overleaf gives you — plus the REST API, webhooks, and AI that it doesn't.
TL;DR — FormaTeX vs Overleaf
\section{Feature Comparison}
A feature-by-feature breakdown to help you decide which tool fits your workflow.
| Feature | FormaTeX | Overleaf |
|---|---|---|
| Browser LaTeX editor | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes | Yes |
| All 4 LaTeX engines | Yes | Yes |
| REST API for compilation | Yes | No |
| Webhooks | Yes | No |
| MCP server integration | Yes | No |
| AI assistant | Yes | Basic autocomplete |
| Free tier | 15 API compilations/mo | 1 collaborator limit |
| GitHub sync | Yes | Pro only |
| API key management | Yes | No |
| One-click Overleaf zip import | Yes | No |
| Arabic & RTL support (bidi/polyglossia) | Yes | Yes |
\section{Who Should Switch}
You need to generate PDFs programmatically — invoices, reports, certificates. The REST API lets you POST LaTeX source and receive a PDF response, no browser required.
You're building agents that need to produce documents. The MCP server integration means Claude, Cursor, and other tools can compile LaTeX directly without custom glue code.
You write papers in the browser like Overleaf — but you also need to automate batch compilation for your lab's pipeline or integrate with a CI system.
\section{Honest Assessment}
We believe in honest comparisons. There are cases where Overleaf is genuinely the better choice.
If your team has years of projects, shared templates, and established workflows in Overleaf, the switching cost may outweigh the benefits unless you specifically need API access.
Some journals and institutions have direct Overleaf integrations (submission portals, institutional SSO). If your workflow depends on these, check whether FormaTeX supports them first.
If you occasionally write papers and have no need for API access, automation, or AI features, Overleaf's free tier may be sufficient for your needs.
\section{Pricing}
FormaTeX Pro
$4.99
per month
Overleaf Professional
$21
per month
\section{Migration Guide}
Your existing Overleaf projects move over without any changes to your LaTeX source.
Open your Overleaf project. Go to Menu → Download → Source. This gives you a .zip of your project files.
Go to your Projects dashboard and click "Import from Overleaf". Drop the zip — your full file tree, images, .bib files, and folder structure are preserved automatically.
Go to Settings → API Keys and create a key. Use it to start integrating programmatic compilation into your workflow.
Pro features are available immediately on sign-up. No credit card required to explore the full feature set during the trial.
\end{alternative}
Sign up free — no credit card required. Import your Overleaf projects and start compiling in minutes.
One quick thing
We track anonymous usage — page views, feature usage, compilation events — to understand what works and what doesn't. No ads, no personal data, no third-party sharing.