Texmaker: Free Cross-Platform LaTeX Editor Review
Date Published
Texmaker: A Complete LaTeX Editor
Texmaker is a free, cross-platform LaTeX editor with a modern interface.
What is Texmaker?
Texmaker is a LaTeX IDE that provides:
- Code editor with syntax highlighting - Built-in PDF viewer - One-click compilation - Autocomplete and snippets - Cross-platform support
Key Features
Integrated PDF Viewer
- Side-by-side editing - Click-to-jump (SyncTeX) - Zoom and navigate - Search within PDF
Code Completion
- LaTeX commands - Environment completion - BibTeX entries - Custom snippets
Wizard Dialogs
Quick insertion of:
- Tables - Arrays - Tabular data - Mathematical formulas
Multi-Platform
Works on:
- Windows - macOS - Linux
Installing Texmaker
Windows
Download installer from xm1math.net/texmaker
macOS
Download .dmg file and drag to Applications
Linux
sudo apt install texmaker (Debian/Ubuntu)
sudo dnf install texmaker (Fedora)
Note: You also need a LaTeX distribution (TeX Live or MiKTeX).
Interface Overview
Main Window
- Editor pane (left) - PDF viewer (right) - Structure panel (optional) - Log/Messages (bottom)
Toolbar
Quick access to:
- Compile buttons - Common commands - Wizard tools - View options
Configuring Texmaker
Set LaTeX Path
Options → Configure Texmaker → Commands
Usually auto-detected if TeX Live/MiKTeX installed.
PDF Viewer
Options → Configure Texmaker → PDF Viewer
Choose internal or external viewer.
Shortcuts
Options → Configure Texmaker → Shortcuts
Customize keyboard shortcuts.
Compiling Documents
Quick Build
Press F1 or click the arrow button.
Default: PdfLaTeX + View PDF
Custom Build
Configure your own sequence:
- LaTeX → BibTeX → LaTeX → LaTeX - XeLaTeX - LuaLaTeX
View Output
Automatic after successful compile.
Useful Features
Structure View
See document outline:
- Sections - Subsections - Labels - Figures
Find and Replace
Ctrl+F for find, Ctrl+R for replace
Support regular expressions.
Spell Check
Built-in spell checking with multiple language support.
Master Document
For large projects:
Options → Define Current Document as Master
Texmaker vs. Other Editors
Tips for Texmaker
1. Use Quick Build (F1) for one-click compile 2. Enable code folding for long documents 3. Set master document for multi-file projects 4. Learn shortcuts for faster editing 5. Customize toolbar for your workflow
Limitations
- Interface feels dated - Fewer extensions than VS Code - Limited customization - No built-in Git
Consider Octree
For a modern experience:
- Cloud-based (no installation) - AI-assisted writing - Real-time preview - Collaboration features - Works everywhere
Try it at https://useoctree.com