Best LaTeX Editors for Mac (2025): Complete Comparison
Date Published
Best LaTeX Editors for Mac
Choose the right LaTeX editor for your macOS workflow.
Top LaTeX Editors for Mac
1. TeXShop (Best Native Mac App)
The classic Mac LaTeX editor:
Pros: - Native macOS application - Lightweight and fast - Integrated with MacTeX - PDF sync (click to jump) - Free and open source
Cons: - Basic interface - Limited autocomplete - No collaboration features
Best for: Mac purists who want simplicity
2. Texmaker (Best Cross-Platform)
Popular cross-platform editor:
Pros: - Modern interface - Built-in PDF viewer - Code completion - Unicode support - Free and open source
Cons: - Not Mac-native feel - Can be slow with large files
Best for: Users who work across Mac, Windows, Linux
3. VS Code + LaTeX Workshop (Best for Developers)
The developer's choice:
Pros: - Powerful code editing - Excellent extensions - Git integration - Highly customizable - Free
Cons: - Requires setup - Not LaTeX-specific - Learning curve
Best for: Developers, programmers, power users
4. Overleaf (Best Online)
Browser-based editing:
Pros: - No installation needed - Real-time collaboration - Works on any Mac - Always up to date
Cons: - Requires internet - Free tier limits - Can be slow
Best for: Collaboration, shared projects
5. Octree (Best AI-Powered)
Modern AI-enhanced editor:
Pros: - AI writing assistance - Fast compilation - Clean interface - Smart suggestions
Cons: - Newer platform
Best for: Researchers wanting AI help
6. LyX (Best for Non-Programmers)
WYSIWYM (What You See Is What You Mean):
Pros: - Visual interface - Less LaTeX syntax needed - Good for beginners - Free
Cons: - Not pure LaTeX - Less control - Learning curve
Best for: Users who dislike raw code
Comparison Table
Setting Up LaTeX on Mac
Install MacTeX
The complete LaTeX distribution:
1. Download from tug.org/mactex 2. Install the package (~4GB) 3. Includes TeXShop, BibDesk, etc.
Lighter Alternative: BasicTeX
Smaller installation (~100MB):
brew install basictex
Then install packages as needed with tlmgr.
My Recommendation
For beginners: Start with TeXShop (comes with MacTeX)
For developers: VS Code with LaTeX Workshop
For collaboration: Overleaf or Octree
For AI assistance: Octree
Editor Features Checklist
Look for:
- Syntax highlighting - PDF preview (side-by-side) - SyncTeX (click to jump) - Autocomplete - Snippet support - Spell checking - BibTeX support
Try Octree for Mac
Octree combines the best features:
- Works in browser on any Mac - AI-powered editing - Fast compilation - Modern interface - Real-time preview
Try it at https://useoctree.com