Kile vs Texpile

Kile is a free, open-source desktop editor for TeX and LaTeX on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It can compile, convert, and view a document with one click, and provides completion for (La)TeX commands alongside advanced editing commands. Templates and wizards help start documents. Projects group related files and support inserting citations and references. Forward and inverse search connect the editor with a DVI viewer, while QuickPreview shows a selected document section. The maker describes Kile’s build system as flexible and smart for compiling LaTeX documents. The download page provides source code and lists 64-bit Windows binaries for version 3.0 beta 3; it also displays a SHA-256 hash for the 3.0 beta 4 source archive. For Linux, the maker recommends installing a matching distribution package through the package manager when available. Technical questions can be sent to the kile-devel mailing list, and problems can be reported through KDE’s bug tracking system.

Texpile is a free, open-source desktop editor for LaTeX, Typst, and Markdown on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It combines visual and source editing in the same file, with live previews for LaTeX and Typst as users type. Editing works offline and does not require a compiler. LaTeX compilation requires the user's own TeX distribution, while Typst compiling and preview use tinymist. A built-in shell can run latexmk or another compile command. The editor can save project versions, show changes, and restore earlier versions. For collaboration, users can share a folder for real-time editing, and guests can join by code without an account. Shared sessions are end-to-end encrypted; the documentation identifies them as the feature that uses the network. Texpile can search a Zotero library and insert citations when Zotero is running with Better BibTeX installed. An optional local MCP server lets Claude Code or Codex read editor state and control app actions. The software is licensed under AGPL-3.0.