Best Alternatives to Overleaf for Engineering Students
Date Published
What Engineering Students Need
Engineering coursework and projects require:
• Unit handling (SI units, conversions)
• Circuit diagrams
• Technical drawings
• Equation-heavy reports
• Lab report templates
• Affordable pricing (student budget!)
Here are the best Overleaf alternatives for engineering students.
#1: Octree — Best Value for Students
Why it works for engineering:
• Free tier for basic use
• AI helps with complex equations
• siunitx support for proper unit formatting
• Fast compilation for iterative lab reports
Standout feature: Image-to-LaTeX for converting handwritten equations from lab notes.
Pricing: Free tier available, Pro at $20/month
Best for: Engineering students who want AI assistance without breaking the bank.
#2: TeXstudio — Best Free Option
Why it works for engineering:
• Completely free
• Works offline (great for lab computers)
• Good math and symbol support
Drawback: No cloud sync, setup required.
Best for: Students who need free and don't mind local setup.
#3: Overleaf Free Tier — Best for Collaboration
Why it works for engineering:
• Group projects with classmates
• Many engineering templates
• Familiar to most users
Drawback: Slow compilation, limited features on free tier.
Best for: Group projects where everyone already uses Overleaf.
#4: LyX — Best for Visual Learners
Why it works for engineering:
• Easier learning curve than raw LaTeX
• Good for students new to typesetting
• Still produces professional output
Drawback: Less flexible than pure LaTeX.
Best for: Students who struggle with LaTeX syntax.
Engineering-Specific Features
| Feature | Octree | Overleaf Free | TeXstudio | LyX |
|---------|--------|---------------|-----------|-----|
| Cost | Free tier | Free | Free | Free |
| siunitx | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| circuitikz | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Plugin |
| AI help | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Offline | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Collab | Coming | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Common Engineering Student Pain Points
Pain: SI unit formatting
Octree solution: "Format all quantities with proper SI units" → AI applies siunitx.
Pain: Importing circuit diagrams
Octree solution: circuitikz support with AI assistance. Describe your circuit, get the code.
Pain: Converting handwritten equations
Octree solution: Take a photo, upload to Octree, AI converts to LaTeX.
Pain: Lab report formatting
Octree solution: Engineering lab report template with pre-configured sections.
Student Budget Considerations
| Tool | Cost | What You Get |
|------|------|--------------|
| Octree Free | $0 | Basic editing, limited AI |
| Octree Pro | $20/mo | Full AI, unlimited compiles |
| Overleaf Free | $0 | Basic editing, slow compile |
| Overleaf Student | ~$10/mo | Faster compile, git sync |
| TeXstudio | $0 | Everything (local only) |
Best value: Octree's free tier for coursework, upgrade to Pro for thesis/capstone.
Getting Started for Engineering
1. Sign up for Octree (free) 2. Choose "Engineering Report" template 3. Configure siunitx in preamble 4. Start writing with AI assistance
Our Recommendation
Octree offers the best combination of features and value for engineering students. The free tier handles coursework, and Pro is worth it for capstone projects and thesis writing.
Start your engineering reports right. Try Octree free — designed for students, priced for students.