Side by side
Authorea vs Overleaf
Both stand on collaborative research writing tools software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Web
Choose Authorea if you want a free online workspace for collaborative research writing and preprint hosting with DOI assignment. Its journal templates and export options support manuscript preparation. Check the upload caps if your documents or individual files are large.
Visit Authorea
Free plan Open source APIExtensionLinux+4
Choose Overleaf if you need to write and compile LaTeX documents with collaborators, or want templates for academic and technical writing. Look elsewhere if direct Google Drive synchronization or extensive version history is essential.
Visit OverleafThe facts
| Authorea | Overleaf | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | Web | API, Extension, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | See the plans |
| Plans published | 1 | 5 |
| Maker | Not published | Overleaf |
| Website | authorea.com | overleaf.com |
| On collaborative research writing tools software | #3 of 15 | #1 of 15 |
Authorea: what it does well
- Coauthors can edit documents in real time.
- Supports LaTeX and Markdown writing.
- Preprints receive a DOI when posted.
- More than 8,000 journal templates are available.
- Documents export to PDF, Word, LaTeX when applicable, or ZIP.
What to know first
- Uploads are limited to 25 MB per file.
- Each document is limited to 1 GB.
- The listed platform is web.
Overleaf: what it does well
- Switch between Visual Editor and Code Editor.
- Collaborate through simultaneous editing, comments, and in-document chat.
- Start from free templates for articles, theses, and CVs.
- Integrations include Git, GitHub, Dropbox, Zotero, and Grammarly.
- Unlimited projects are included on the Free plan.
What to know first
- The Free plan allows one collaborator per project.
- Version history is limited.
- Google Drive content can be imported, but does not sync directly.
- The seven-day trial charges the card afterward unless canceled.
Alternatives to Authorea Alternatives to Overleaf The whole list