LaTeX AlternativesTypesetting Systems & Markup Languages like LaTeX

LaTeX is described as 'High-quality typesetting system; it includes features designed for the production of technical and scientific documentation' and is a very popular typesetting system in the development category. There are more than 10 alternatives to LaTeX for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, Web-based and Self-Hosted apps. The best LaTeX alternative is Markdown, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like LaTeX are Typst, MacTeX, R Markdown and SILE.

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LaTeX alternatives are mainly Markup Languages but may also be Typesetting Systems or Word Processors.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of LaTeX.
LaTeX iconLaTeX
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LaTeX is a high-quality typesetting system; it includes features designed for the production of technical and scientific documentation.

More about LaTeX
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LaTeX alternatives page was last updated Sep 27, 2024
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Alternatives
  1. Markdown icon

    Markdown

     168 likes
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    Markdown is a text-to-HTML conversion tool for web writers. Markdown allows you to write using an easy-to-read, easy-to-write plain text format, then convert it to structurally valid XHTML (or HTML).

    10 Markdown alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Markdown screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    Last update was in Dec 2004. The original app is no longer developed but the Markdown language continues in use and support through many other projects.

    Markdown Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Plain text file
    4.  Text formatting

    Markdown VS LaTeX

     

    • Markdown is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to LaTeX.

    • Markdown is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to LaTeX.

    • Markdown is Free and Open SourceLaTeX is also Free and Open Source
  2. Typst icon

    Typst

     13 likes
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    Typst is a new markup-based typesetting system for the sciences. It has got instant previews, easy-to-learn markup and supercharged templates. Its collaborative web app makes working in a research group or student team a breeze.

    3 Typst alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    The Typst web app with markup on the left side and a preview on the right side.

    Typst Features

    1.  Typesetting
    2.  Text formatting
    3.  Collaborative writing
    4.  Browser integration
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6.  Portable

    Typst VS LaTeX

     
    Comments about Typst as an Alternative to LaTeX
    Mathemagician
    Positive •Jun 7, 2023
    0

    Way easier syntax and still acceptable results

    LaTeX Icon
    Typst icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Typst is a great LaTeX alternative.

    • Typst is the most popular Web-based alternative to LaTeX.

    • Typst is Freemium and Open SourceLaTeX is Free and Open Source
  4. MacTeX icon

    MacTeX

     6 likes
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    MacTeX is a redistribution of TeX Live, a typesetting environment. While TeX Live is designed to be cross-platform (running on Unix, Mac OS X, and Windows), MacTeX includes Mac-specific utilities and front-ends.

    7 MacTeX alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac

    MacTeX Features

    1. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    2.  Tex

    MacTeX VS LaTeX

     
    Comments about MacTeX as an Alternative to LaTeX
    Guest
    Positive •May 2, 2020
    1

    MacTeX is a TeX distribution that includes LaTeX.

    LaTeX Icon
    MacTeX icon
    • MacTeX is Free and Open SourceLaTeX is also Free and Open Source
  5. R Markdown icon

    R Markdown

     4 likes
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    The rmarkdown package helps you create dynamic analysis documents that combine code, rendered output (such as figures), and prose. You bring your data, code, and ideas, and R Markdown renders your content into a polished document that can be used to:

    8 R Markdown alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    The Rstudio IDE with a HTML document result on the right

    R Markdown Features

    1.  Literate programming

    R Markdown VS LaTeX

     
  6. SILE icon

    SILE

     2 likes
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    SILE is a typesetting system inspired by TeX and InDesign, but seeks to be more flexible, extensible and programmable than them.

    6 SILE alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    SILE Features

    1.  Multiple languages
    2.  Grid layout
    3.  Typesetting

    SILE VS LaTeX

     

  7. ConTeXt (Typesetting System)

     2 likes
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    “a system for typesetting documents based on TEX and METAPOST. You can use this system for converting documents coded in TEX format as well as documents coded in XML into high quality PDF” (http://www.pragma-ade.nl/)

    6 ConTeXt (Typesetting System) alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    ConTeXt (Typesetting System) Features

    1.  Tex
    2.  Consistent commands
    3.  Typography

    ConTeXt (Typesetting System) VS LaTeX

     
    Comments about ConTeXt (Typesetting System) as an Alternative to LaTeX
    superluminar
    Positive •Mar 29, 2018
    1

    Uses same underlying typesetting engine (Tex) but enables layout customization in more consistent commands.

    LaTeX Icon
    • ConTeXt (Typesetting System) is Free and Open SourceLaTeX is also Free and Open Source

  9. Tectonic typesetting

     1 like
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    Tectonic is a modernized, complete, self-contained TeX / LaTeX engine, powered by XeTeX and TeX Live .

    5 Tectonic typesetting alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted

    Tectonic typesetting Features

    1. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX

    Tectonic typesetting VS LaTeX

     

    • Tectonic typesetting is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to LaTeX.

    • Tectonic typesetting is Free and Open SourceLaTeX is also Free and Open Source
  10. Groff icon

    Groff

     6 likes
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    The groff (GNU troff) software is a typesetting package which reads plain text mixed with formatting commands and produces formatted output.

    9 Groff alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Groff Features

    1.  Typesetting
    2.  Text formatting
    3.  Tables
    4.  Export to Postscript

    Groff VS LaTeX

     
    Comments about Groff as an Alternative to LaTeX
    RemovedUser
    Positive •Apr 28, 2020
    0

    LaTeX and Groff are both typesetting systems

    LaTeX Icon
    Groff icon
    • Groff is Free and Open SourceLaTeX is also Free and Open Source
  11. CommonMark icon

    CommonMark

     2 likes
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    For short it's the Markdown syntax standard. It replaces the old original Markdown.

    9 CommonMark alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    CommonMark Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown

    CommonMark VS LaTeX

     
  12. LaTeX.to icon

    LaTeX.to

     Like
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    LaTeX to image converter.

    1 LaTeX.to alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    Create formula
    Share image
    Share text

    LaTeX.to Features

    1. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    2.  LaTeX to Text

    LaTeX.to VS LaTeX

     
  13. DocBook icon

    DocBook

     4 likes
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    DocBook is a schema (available in several languages including RELAX NG, SGML and XML DTDs, and W3C XML Schema) maintained by the DocBook Technical Committee of OASIS. It is particularly well suited to books and papers about computer hardware and software (though it is by no...

    6 DocBook alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    DocBook Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Publishing

    DocBook VS LaTeX

     

  14. Pollen

     7 likes
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    Pollen is a publishing system that helps authors create beautiful and functional web-based books. Pollen includes tools for writing, designing, programming, testing, and publishing.

    6 Pollen alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Pollen Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Publishing

    Pollen VS LaTeX

     
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