Octree vs Crixet
Author
Basil Yusuf
Date Published

Crixet vs Octree: The Real Differences Explained (2025)
The AI-powered LaTeX editor space is growing fast, with both Crixet and Octree becoming popular choices for students, researchers, and engineers. Both platforms offer modern LaTeX editing with AI assistance β but they differ in a few important, concrete ways.
Below is a clear, honest breakdown of where Octree is actually ahead today.
1. Octree's Key Advantages Over Crixet
There are four specific areas where Octree currently stands out.
1. Open Source
Octree is fully open source under the Octree-Labs GitHub organization.
This provides:
- transparency
- auditability
- trust for universities
- open contributions
- self-hosting options
Crixet is closed-source, making this a meaningful difference for academics and privacy-minded users.
2. True In-Line AI Edits
Octree supports direct in-line edits inside the code editor:
- edits appear directly within your LaTeX file
- diffs are highlighted
- change acceptance is intuitive
- no copy-paste required
- feels like using Copilot but for LaTeX
Crixet uses a sidebar generation flow, which is less integrated.
3. Built-in TikZ Diagram Generator
Octree includes an AI TikZ diagram generator that converts natural language prompts into TikZ code.
This is extremely useful for:
- math
- CS
- physics
- engineering diagrams
- problem sets
Crixet does not currently offer a TikZ generator.
4. Supports pdflatex, xelatex, and lualatex
Octree offers three compilers:
- pdflatex
- xelatex
- lualatex
This provides compatibility with:
- multilingual documents
- custom fonts
- modern templates
- advanced packages
Crixet's engine support is more limited.
2. Where Crixet Is Strong
To keep this comparison balanced:
- Very simple interface
- Good for small, single-file projects
- Clean UI with low cognitive load
- Fast for short documents
3. Real Feature Comparison
Feature | Octree | Crixet |
|---|---|---|
Open Source | Yes | No |
In-Line Edits | Yes | No |
TikZ Diagram Generator | Yes | No |
pdflatex / xelatex / lualatex | All supported | Limited |
AI Chat | Yes | Yes |
Templates | Similar | Similar |
Multi-file Support | Similar | Similar |
4. Verdict
Both platforms are useful β but Octree has four real, product-level advantages:
- Fully open source
- In-line LaTeX editing
- TikZ generation
- Multiple LaTeX compilers
For students, researchers, engineers, and anyone writing technical documents, these features make Octree the more capable choice.
Try Octree β A Modern, Open-Source AI LaTeX Editor
Octree is designed for students and researchers who want a fast, AI-enhanced, and open LaTeX editing experience β without limitations.
π Start using Octree for free: https://useoctree.com π Explore the open-source code: https://github.com/octree-labs
If you write LaTeX regularly, Octree can cut your writing time in half while keeping full control and transparency.
Try it at useoctree.com

Discover how Octree compares to Overleaf β from AI-assisted LaTeX writing and TikZ/BibTeX automation to open-source flexibility and offline editing for researchers.

Effortlessly transform handwritten notes and equations into clean, editable LaTeX with Octreeβs AI-powered handwriting recognition.

Learn LaTeX in 2025 with modern AI-powered tools. From setup to advanced tips, this guide helps you write papers, resumes, and documents like a pro.