VerbTeX
VerbTeX is a collaborative LaTeX editor with local and cloud project modes.
What VerbTeX is
VerbTeX is a collaborative LaTeX editor with local and cloud project modes. It generates PDFs using PdfLaTeX, XeLaTeX, or LuaLaTeX and supports BibTeX and Biber bibliographies. In Local Mode, documents stay on the device, offline compilation is available, and no account is required. Cloud Mode syncs projects with Verbosus and provides a web interface. Integrations include Dropbox, Box, Git, iCloud, Zotero, and Mendeley; the app also includes an AI assistant using ChatGPT and Claude. The free plan allows two local projects and two cloud projects, with limits on documents and uploads in each. VerbTeX Pro adds code completion and unlimited projects and documents. It costs $3.99 per month or $8.99 once. The app has no ads. The developer reports that the app collects no data. Cloud Mode supports two-factor authentication in combination with Copiosus, and VerbTeX Pro encrypts content transmission using TLS. Platforms include Android, iOS, Mac, web, and Windows.
Good
- Compiles PDFs with three LaTeX engines.
- Supports BibTeX and Biber bibliographies.
- Local Mode works offline without an account.
- Includes Dropbox, Git, Zotero, and other integrations.
- Available on mobile, Mac, web, and Windows.
Watch out
- Free plan limits project, document, and upload counts.
- Code completion requires a paid upgrade.
- Cloud two-factor authentication requires Copiosus.
Who it suits
VerbTeX suits people who want to write and compile LaTeX on mobile devices, with an offline local mode or synced cloud projects. It may also suit users who need bibliography integrations or code completion.
Verdict
VerbTeX offers local editing and cloud synchronization, with a free tier for smaller project sets and paid upgrades for code completion and unlimited projects and documents. Check the free plan limits against your workflow before choosing a plan.
Plans and prices
From VerbTeX's own pricing page, checked 1 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| VerbTeX Free | Free | 2 local projects · 2 documents per local project · 2 file uploads per local project · 2 cloud projects · 2 documents per cloud project |
| VerbTeX Free | Free | 2 local projects · 2 documents per local project · 2 file uploads per local project · 2 cloud projects · 2 documents per cloud project · Free |
| Upgrade: Subscription | $3.99 a month | Code completion · unlimited projects and documents · $3.99 per month |
| Upgrade: Forever | $8.99, paid once | Code completion · unlimited projects and documents · $8.99 one-time purchase |
The facts
Each one read from VerbTeX's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Account requirement
- Local Mode can be used without creating an account.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Ads
- The app has no ads.checked 1 Oct 2001
- AI assistant
- The app lists an AI assistant using ChatGPT and Claude.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Architecture
- The mobile apps use the Verbosus interface to synchronize data and generate PDFs from LaTeX code.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Bibliographies
- BibTeX and Biber are supported for bibliography processing.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Collaboration
- Cloud Mode supports collaboration on projects and the service provides a web interface.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Editor features
- Syntax highlighting, inverse PDF-to-source search, autosave, hotkeys, and a web interface are listed features.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Encryption
- VerbTeX Pro provides TLS-encrypted transmission of content.checked 1 Oct 2001
- iCloud integration
- The iOS listing additionally names iCloud synchronization for Local Mode.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Independent review history
- A 2015 TUGboat review described VerbTeX as having local and cloud modes and limiting free projects to two documents each.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Integrations
- Local projects can synchronize with Dropbox and Box and connect to Git, Zotero, and Mendeley.checked 15 Oct 2001
- LaTeX distribution
- The Android listing says the app includes the full TeXLive distribution.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Licence
- Wikipedia identifies the Verbosus web application licence as freeware rather than an open-source licence.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Limit: documentation
- Chrome Stats reports repeated complaints about sparse help and documentation.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Limit: Dropbox synchronization
- An iOS reviewer said PDF generation and Dropbox folder synchronization needed improvement.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Limit: editing controls
- Chrome Stats reports missing keyboard shortcuts and lack of multi-line commenting as recurring shortcomings.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Limit: file management
- Review summaries cite difficulty editing existing files because of project-space and Android directory restrictions.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Local account requirement
- Local Mode does not require an account.checked 1 Oct 2001
Where it runs
- Android availability
- Google Play shows more than 500,000 installs for the free VerbTeX app.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Limit: iOS file access
- An iOS reviewer complained that local files were not initially exposed through the native Files app and that Dropbox or Box were effectively required for synchronization.checked 15 Oct 2001
The company
- Company ownership
- The registry lists Juraj Bencuľák as the current managing director and a 50% shareholder.checked 15 Oct 2001
- Headquarters
- Rankweil, Austriachecked 28 Sep 2001
- Maker founded
- The registry records Verbosus s.r.o. as established on 10 September 2020.checked 15 Oct 2001
Money
- Limit: free-tier capacity
- The free edition caps projects, documents, and local uploads at two each according to the Android listing.checked 15 Oct 2001
The full review of VerbTeX
Overview
VerbTeX is a LaTeX editor for mobile devices that also supports desktop and web access, with local and synchronized cloud workflows. It suits people who want to edit and compile LaTeX away from a desktop, but its free tier’s small project and document caps make it a poor fit for larger bodies of work.
Key features
PDF output can use PdfLaTeX, XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX, and bibliography support covers BibTeX and Biber. That range makes VerbTeX relevant to varied LaTeX workflows, while the central practical distinction is where projects live: Local Mode stores .tex files on the device, works offline and requires no account; Cloud Mode synchronizes projects with Verbosus and provides a web interface.
Dropbox, Box, Git, iCloud, Zotero and Mendeley integrations connect the editor to file storage, version control and reference tools. An AI assistant uses ChatGPT and Claude. These options broaden the workflow, though code completion is reserved for Pro.
The app has no ads. Cloud Mode supports two-factor authentication in combination with Copiosus, and VerbTeX Pro encrypts content transmission with TLS. Apple's listing says the developer reports that the app collects no data.
Pricing
VerbTeX Free costs nothing. It allows 2 local projects, 2 documents per local project and 2 file uploads per local project, plus 2 cloud projects with 2 documents per cloud project. This is a useful way to keep a small set of work available, but the caps are restrictive for anyone managing several active projects or documents.
Upgrade: Subscription costs $3.99 a month and adds code completion and unlimited projects and documents. Upgrade: Forever costs $8.99, paid once for the same additions. The subscription spreads the cost over time; the one-time option costs more upfront but avoids a recurring monthly charge. Both upgrades are aimed at users who need completion or have outgrown the free project and document limits. Unlimited file uploads are included in the Pro feature description.
Platforms
VerbTeX supports Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac and a web interface. The combination of mobile apps, desktop access and a cloud web interface gives users multiple ways to reach their work; Local Mode’s offline editing and compilation are particularly relevant when connectivity is unavailable.
Who it's for
Choose VerbTeX if you want a LaTeX editor that can travel with you, compile locally offline, and also synchronize projects for browser access. It is best suited to smaller project sets on the free tier, or to users prepared to pay for unlimited projects and documents. If you need more than the free caps but do not want code completion, the paid plans still bundle that feature with the capacity upgrade.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Offline editing and compilation without a Local Mode account support work away from a network or cloud sign-in.
- Pro: Three LaTeX engines, two bibliography systems and integrations with storage, version-control and reference services cover a broad range of document workflows.
- Pro: Free users can choose between a monthly subscription and a one-time Pro purchase.
- Con: The free plan limits both local and cloud projects, and also restricts documents and local file uploads, so growing work quickly runs into caps.
- Con: The upgrades bundle code completion with unlimited projects and documents, so users seeking only one of those benefits cannot choose them separately.
Alternatives
Browse LaTeX Editors for more options. JianTeX is a free choice if you want a desktop app, online version or self-hosted option. Pick Texmaker for a free Linux, macOS or Windows editor if you are prepared to install a LaTeX distribution separately; Texpile is another free offline desktop editor for those systems. TeXstudio is free and open source under GPL v2 for Windows, Linux and macOS, while Kile offers a free downloadable desktop application with source code available. LyX is free software released under the GPL. Oleafly has no desktop-app subscription, though paid AI providers may charge for usage. TeXworks is a free, open-source desktop application.
Verdict
VerbTeX is a strong fit for LaTeX users who need mobile editing, offline local compilation and a path to cloud access across devices. Its main advantage is the choice between account-free local work and synchronized projects; its main drawback is that the free quotas are small and paid plans couple unlimited capacity with code completion. Choose it for that flexible mobile-and-cloud workflow, but look elsewhere if your priority is a free desktop editor without project caps.
Getting started
- Visit https://www.verbosus.com/verbtex.html.
- Choose a platform: Android, iOS, macOS, web, or Windows.
- Start in Local Mode without an account, or use Cloud Mode to synchronize projects with Verbosus.
- Use the free plan, or choose VerbTeX Pro for $3.99 a month or 8.99 USD once.
Limits worth knowing
VerbTeX Free allows two local projects and two cloud projects, with two documents and two file uploads per local project. Pro adds unlimited projects and documents; command code completion is also a Pro feature.
Questions
Is VerbTeX free?
Yes. The VerbTeX Free plan costs nothing and includes two local projects and two cloud projects, with limits on documents and file uploads for local projects.
What do the paid options cost?
Upgrade: Subscription costs $3.99 a month. Upgrade: Forever costs $8.99, paid once.
Which platforms does VerbTeX support?
It is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows.
Can I use VerbTeX offline?
Yes. Local Mode supports offline editing and compilation, and does not require an account.
Which integrations does it offer?
VerbTeX integrates with Dropbox, Box, Git, iCloud, Zotero, and Mendeley.
What does VerbTeX Pro add?
Pro adds command code completion and unlimited projects and documents. It also provides TLS-encrypted transmission of content.
