Overleaf Slow? Causes, Fixes, and Better Tools
Date Published
Why Is Overleaf So Slow?
You're not imagining it. Overleaf can be painfully slow. Let's understand why and what you can do about it.
Common Causes of Slow Compilation
1. Peak Hours (Most Common)
Overleaf uses shared infrastructure. When thousands of academics hit compile at the same time (hello, deadline season), everyone waits.
Signs: Compile times that vary wildly — sometimes 10 seconds, sometimes 90 seconds.
2. Large Projects
Big documents with many images, chapters, or complex TikZ diagrams take longer to compile.
Signs: Consistent slow times regardless of when you compile.
3. Inefficient LaTeX
Some packages and coding patterns are compilation hogs.
Common culprits:
• \usepackage{tikz-cd} with complex diagrams
• High-resolution images not optimized for PDF
• Recursive macros
• microtype with aggressive settings
4. Free Tier Limitations
Overleaf's free tier has lower priority in the compilation queue.
Quick Fixes for Overleaf Slowness
Use Draft Mode
Add draft to your document class for faster compiles while editing: \documentclass[draft]{article}
Optimize Images
Convert images to PDF format and reduce resolution for drafts.
Split Large Documents
Use \include and \includeonly to compile chapters separately.
Compile Off-Peak
Early morning (your timezone) typically has shorter queues.
The Real Solution: Switch to a Faster Tool
While these fixes help, they're bandaids. Overleaf's shared infrastructure means you're always at the mercy of other users.
Octree's approach:
• Dedicated compilation resources
• Intelligent caching (only recompile what changed)
• Sub-second incremental compiles
• No peak-hour slowdowns
Benchmark: Same Document, Different Tools
We compiled a 100-page thesis with 50 figures:
| Tool | Initial Compile | Incremental |
|------|-----------------|-------------|
| Overleaf (off-peak) | 45s | 12s |
| Overleaf (peak) | 2m 30s | 45s |
| Octree | 4s | 0.3s |
Conclusion
Overleaf's slowness stems from fundamental architecture choices. Quick fixes can help, but they don't solve the core problem. For serious research work, consider tools built for speed from day one.
Tired of slow compiles? Try Octree at https://useoctree.com and experience sub-second LaTeX compilation.