Etherpad vs Overleaf
Etherpad
etherpad.org
Overleaf
overleaf.comSide by side
| Figure | Etherpad | Overleaf |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $8.20/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 9 |
| Spec score · Document Creation Software | 7.9 (#11) | 9.0 (#2) |
| Spec score · Writing Apps | 8.0 (#63) | 9.5 (#2) |
| Spec score · Document Collaboration Software | 7.8 (#26) | 8.9 (#7) |
| Founded | 2009 | 2011 |
| Integrations | The HTTP API can create and delete pads, manage access, read and set pad content, and embed pads in another website. | Overleaf documentation lists Git and GitHub synchronization, Dropbox, ReadCube, Zotero, Mendeley, R code (knitr), Grammarly, and Google Drive import among its integrations and add-ons. |
| Purpose | Etherpad is a real-time collaborative editor that attributes edits to authors and preserves document history. | Overleaf is an online platform for collaborating in LaTeX, compiling documents, and refining them. |
| Self-hosting | Etherpad runs on a server its users control and is published under the Apache 2.0 license. | Overleaf Community Edition and Server Pro can be deployed on premises with the Overleaf Toolkit and Docker-based services. |
Plans
Overleaf
- FreeFree
- Student$8.25 a month
- Standard$16.75 a month
- Pro$33.25 a month
- FreeFree
- Student$8.20 a month
- Standard$16.60 a month
- Pro$33.25 a month
- OrganizationsPriced on request
In their own words
Etherpad
Etherpad is a real-time collaborative editor that runs on a server its users control. It attributes edits to authors and preserves revisions; its timeslider lets users review changes character by character and reverse them. Editing includes chat and rich-text tools, while plugins can add comments, images, tables, drawing, video chat, math, code highlighting and authentication. Optional AI is available through plugins, and users can choose the model and infrastructure or leave AI disabled. Etherpad is free and open source under Apache 2.0, with an open data format; the maker says it has no telemetry. An HTTP API covers pad content, authors, groups, sessions and chat, and plugin support includes OAuth, LDAP and OpenID authentication. Apps are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, alongside support for modern browsers. Installation instructions require Git and Node.js 24 or later. Deployment documentation includes reverse proxy and HTTPS termination options, as well as Kubernetes. The project dates to 2009 and is maintained by a small volunteer team, with community contact through Discord and email. The site names schools, public institutions, civic projects, newsrooms and teams needing document authorship history among its users.
Overleaf
Overleaf is an online platform for writing, compiling, and revising LaTeX documents with collaborators. Writers can choose a Visual Editor or a Code Editor, while shared documents support simultaneous editing and comments, plus in-document chat. Free templates and example projects cover journal articles, theses, and CVs. Listed connections and add-ons include Git and GitHub synchronization, Dropbox, ReadCube, Zotero, Mendeley, knitr for R code, and Grammarly. Google Drive content can be imported into projects, but Overleaf does not sync directly with Drive. The free plan costs nothing and allows unlimited projects with one collaborator per project. Student and Standard permit 10 collaborators per project, and Pro permits unlimited collaborators; no prices are listed for those tiers. An Organizations plan is described for 20+ users. A seven-day trial gives access to the selected plan, with the card charged afterward unless canceled. Overleaf was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Listed platforms are extension, self-hosted, and web.