Choose PaperDock when
You want ChatGPT, Claude, Codex, Gemini, or another MCP-capable assistant to work with shared LaTeX files while you retain diff review and project-role controls.
PaperDockPaperDock vs Overleaf for AI-assisted LaTeX work.
PaperDock is a collaborative online LaTeX editor built for researchers who want to use their own AI assistant without separating local tools from team writing. It connects ChatGPT, Claude, Codex, Gemini, and other MCP-capable agents to the PaperDock account you authorize, while the same projects remain available to collaborators in the browser. Connected agents can explore project files, read and edit LaTeX source, work with Comments and Chat, and leave text edits in Review changes so you can inspect a diff and keep or revert the result. Codex, Claude Code, and Gemini CLI can work from your local environment, which means local figures, scripts, and research data can remain part of your workflow. PaperDock also provides browser-based PDF compilation, real-time coediting, role-based project access, and project history. The product is an alternative for teams that value bring-your-own AI agents and local-to-web workflows; it is not a drop-in copy of every Overleaf feature. AI agent connections are always free.
Comparison checked against public product documentation on .
Short answer
Is PaperDock an Overleaf alternative?
Yes, when your priority is a shared online LaTeX editor that also lets your own AI agents work with the project through MCP. Overleaf remains a mature choice for its template ecosystem, visual editing, publisher workflows, and established integrations. PaperDock focuses on a different workflow: connect the assistant you already use, work from local tools when useful, and review agent edits alongside your team in the browser.
Price and team access
How do free collaboration and AI access compare?
PaperDock's entire web workspace is $0 during the public beta, while connections to your own AI agents will remain free. Overleaf offers a permanent Free plan and paid plans with higher collaboration limits and additional features.
| Plan detail | PaperDock public beta | Overleaf Free | Overleaf Student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 during the public beta. No card or billing; future paid options may cover added storage or service capacity. | $0 | $8.25/month when billed annually ($98/year, USD). Student verification is required. |
| People you can invite | Up to 7 invited members, for 8 project members total including the owner. | 1 collaborator per project. The project owner is additional. | 10 collaborators per project. The project owner is additional. |
| Bring-your-own AI agent | MCP connection access is always free. PaperDock quotas and your AI provider's own plan or usage costs still apply. | No account-level third-party MCP connection is listed. The plan includes 5 uses per day across available built-in AI tools. | No account-level third-party MCP connection is listed. The plan includes AI Assistant and 5 built-in AI uses per day. |
The collaboration units are not identical. PaperDock's limit counts every Owner, Editor, and Viewer membership, including the owner. Overleaf defines a collaborator as an invited Editor or Reviewer and describes the owner separately.
Pricing and plan details are reviewed quarterly. This table was checked on ; the next review is due .
Feature comparison
How do PaperDock and Overleaf differ?
The products overlap in collaborative LaTeX editing, but their AI and local-workflow models are not identical.
| Workflow | PaperDock | Overleaf |
|---|---|---|
| Local workspace | Connect Codex, Claude Code, or Gemini CLI from your local environment to a shared PaperDock project through MCP. This is an agent workflow, not a Git clone. | Clone, pull, and push a project with Git, or synchronize it with GitHub. Overleaf documents both as premium features. |
| Agent connection method | Connect the AI assistant you already use through an account-level Streamable HTTP MCP server and PaperDock OAuth. | Provides a built-in AI Assistant and academic writing tools. Its public integrations documentation does not list an account-level MCP connection for third-party agents. |
| AI editing review | Agent text edits are recorded for Review changes. Inspect inline diffs, then keep or revert individual changes or the full file. | The built-in AI Assistant presents proposed text in a diff with Reject or Apply. Collaborator Track Changes is a separate plan-dependent feature. |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes. Edit together in the browser, use Comments and Chat, compile PDFs, and keep current Owner, Editor, or Viewer permissions. | Yes. Overleaf supports simultaneous editing, comments, and project chat. Collaborator and Track Changes limits depend on the plan. |
| AI agent access cost | PaperDock does not charge for MCP or bring-your-own agent connections. Your AI provider may still apply its own plan or usage costs. | Eligible users receive a limited daily AI allowance; higher or maximum access depends on the current Overleaf plan or AI offering. |
Moving a project
How do I move an Overleaf project to PaperDock?
You can move the current source state with a standard ZIP export. The transfer does not modify or delete the original Overleaf project, so you can test the imported copy before deciding how your team will continue.
Download the source from Overleaf
Open the project and choose File, then Download as source (.zip). Overleaf's standard export contains the current source files and uploaded assets, but not the compiled PDF or the project's collaboration history.
Upload the ZIP to PaperDock
On the PaperDock Projects page, open the project-creation dialog, choose Upload project, and select the downloaded ZIP. PaperDock reconstructs folders and imports the editable source and binary assets into a new project.
Check the main file and compile
Open the imported project, confirm the intended main document and compiler, then compile the PDF. Invite collaborators after the source builds as expected. Comments, chat, and history begin fresh in PaperDock because they are not part of the source ZIP.
PaperDock accepts a project ZIP up to 25 MiB, with up to 500 files and at least one .tex file. The expanded project must also fit the current storage and file-size limits described on the Pricing page.
Before switching
What should my team check before switching?
A source ZIP makes the file transfer straightforward, but it does not make the two services identical. Check the workflow around the files before treating the imported project as your new source of truth.
- Does version history move with the ZIP?
- No. The import starts a new PaperDock project and new history from the source state in the archive. Keep the Overleaf project available while you still need its older versions, comments, or review record, and download any milestone versions you need to preserve separately.
- Will the PDF compile identically?
- Do not assume it will. Compiler selection, TeX Live packages, generated files, shell-escape requirements, and project settings can affect output. Confirm the main document and compiler, then compare the first PaperDock PDF with the output your team already trusts.
- Can we use both services during a transition?
- Yes, but a downloaded ZIP is a point-in-time copy, not a live sync. Choose which project is authoritative before people resume editing, or changes can diverge. A short test period with one designated source is safer than editing both copies in parallel.
- Does every collaborator need an AI client?
- No. Team members can keep editing, commenting, chatting, and compiling in the PaperDock web app. Only someone who wants to work through MCP needs to connect a compatible assistant, and that connection still follows the person's current project membership and role.
Local-to-web example
What does working with a local AI assistant look like?
After the project is in PaperDock, your team can edit it in the browser while Codex, Claude Code, or Gemini CLI runs from a local workspace containing research data, figures, or scripts. The MCP connection gives the assistant access only to PaperDock projects and actions allowed by your current membership and role.
In the PaperDock project "Safety Analysis," read main.tex and compare the Results section with ./analysis/results.csv in my local workspace. Propose clearer text, leave unresolved questions in Comments, and keep the file edits reviewable before I accept them.
The assistant can use the local file you named as context and work with the shared PaperDock source through MCP. Text changes appear in Review changes so you can inspect and keep or revert them; Comments and Chat remain visible to collaborators in the web app. Connection setup is documented once, by client, in the PaperDock connection docs.
Choosing a workflow
Which LaTeX editor fits your team?
Choose Overleaf when
You depend on its established templates, visual editor, submission workflows, institutional access, or Git-based local synchronization.
Sources
How was this comparison checked?
Overleaf statements above come from its official public product and help documentation. Product availability can change, so confirm a plan before making a purchasing decision.
- Overleaf plans and pricing
- Overleaf Git integration and GitHub synchronization
- Overleaf AI Assistant
- Collaborating in Overleaf
- Downloading an Overleaf project
- Overleaf premium features
Overleaf is a trademark of its respective owner. PaperDock is not affiliated with or endorsed by Overleaf. This page compares publicly documented product workflows, not service quality or research output.
Try the workflow
Bring your AI assistant into a shared LaTeX project.
Start in the browser, then connect an agent through MCP when you are ready.