GNU TeXmacs

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What GNU TeXmacs is

GNU TeXmacs is a desktop platform for preparing scientific and technical documents in a WYSIWYG editor. Documents can combine structured text with mathematics, graphics, interactive content, and slides. Its rendering engine applies typesetting algorithms intended for professional-looking results, and the welcome page lists support for multiple languages.

The editor can serve as a graphical front end to systems for computer algebra, numerical analysis, and statistics. It saves work in TeXmacs, XML, or Scheme format; prints to PDF or PostScript; and converts documents to or from TeX/LaTeX and HTML/MathML. Users can write styles and extend editor features with Scheme. Plug-ins can connect existing software, add style files, customize shortcuts and menus, and introduce functions or typesetting primitives through Guile/Scheme.

GNU TeXmacs is free, with desktop apps for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It supports offline editing and track changes. The project recommends its texmacs-users mailing list for support, especially for new users. Its tutorials page notes that some instructions may be outdated, including menu entries and keyboard shortcuts.

Who it suits

GNU TeXmacs suits people preparing technical or scientific documents that combine prose, mathematics, graphics, or interactive elements. It may also suit users who want to connect an editor to computer algebra, numerical analysis, or statistics systems, or extend it with Scheme.

What it does well

Free plan costs nothing.
Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows desktop use.
Works offline and supports track changes.
Exports PDF or PostScript and converts several document formats.
Scheme extensions and plug-ins can customize the editor.

What to know first

Some tutorials may describe changed menus or shortcuts.
The project points novice users to a mailing list for support.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
GNU TeXmacs	Free scientific editing platform	Free

As texmacs.org lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the GNU TeXmacs website.
Choose the download that matches your operating system and version.
Install the desktop app and create or open a document.
Use the texmacs-users mailing list for user support if needed.

Verdict

Choose GNU TeXmacs if you need a free desktop editor for technical documents, with offline editing, multiple output formats, and extensibility through Scheme. Its tutorials may need checking against the current menus and shortcuts, and user support is directed to a mailing list.

Questions

How much does GNU TeXmacs cost?

The GNU TeXmacs plan is free. The product has a free plan.

Which platforms does it support?

Desktop apps are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The download page lists version options for different Windows and macOS releases.

Can I use GNU TeXmacs offline?

Yes. Offline editing is listed as a feature.

What formats can it use?

It saves in TeXmacs, XML, or Scheme format, prints to PDF or PostScript, and converts to or from TeX/LaTeX and HTML/MathML.

Is GNU TeXmacs open source?

It is licensed under the GNU General Public License.

Where can I get user support?

The project recommends the texmacs-users mailing list, especially for novice users.

Facts from GNU TeXmacs's own pages

Computer software interfaces: TeXmacs can act as a graphical front end for systems in computer algebra, numerical analysis, and statistics. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
Document types: It supports structured documents containing text, mathematics, graphics, interactive content, and slides. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
Extensibility: Users can write new styles and add editor features using the Scheme extension language. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
Formats: Documents can be saved in TeXmacs, XML, or Scheme format, printed as PDF or PostScript, and converted to or from TeX/LaTeX and HTML/MathML. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · texmacs.org, 22 Sept 2026
Languages: The welcome page lists multiple-language support as a feature. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
License and warranty: The About page identifies the license as the GNU General Public License and states that the included LibAes library is provided without explicit or implied warranties. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
macOS requirements: The download page lists TeXmacs 2.1.5 for macOS 12 and later and macOS 11, and version 2.1.4 for macOS 10.10 and macOS 10.5 through 10.9. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
Platforms: The download page lists GNU/Linux, BSD, MacOS, and Windows, and says users on more exotic systems can compile from source. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
Plug-ins: The plug-in mechanism can interface with existing software, add style files, customize keyboard shortcuts and menus, and add functionality or typesetting primitives in Guile/Scheme. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
Purpose: GNU TeXmacs is a free scientific editing platform for creating technical documents with a WYSIWYG interface. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
Tutorial limitation: The tutorials page warns that its tutorials are somewhat outdated and some menu entries or keyboard shortcuts may have changed. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
Typesetting: Its rendering engine uses high-quality typesetting algorithms for professional-looking documents. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
User support: The project recommends the texmacs-users mailing list for user support, especially for novice users. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026
Windows requirements: The download page offers TeXmacs 2.1.5 for Windows 11 Intel/ARM and Windows 10/11 Intel, and version 2.1.4 for Windows 7/8. · texmacs.org, 9 Oct 2026