Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Overleaf VS Draft.js

Compare Overleaf VS Draft.js and see what are their differences

Overleaf logo Overleaf

The online platform for scientific writing. Overleaf is free: start writing now with one click. No sign-up required. Great on your iPad.

Draft.js logo Draft.js

Rich Text Editor Framework for React
  • Overleaf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-16
  • Draft.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-29

Overleaf features and specs

  • Collaborative Editing
    Overleaf allows multiple users to edit a document simultaneously, which is ideal for teamwork and co-authorship.
  • Real-time Preview
    Users can see real-time previews of their compiled LaTeX code, helping to quickly catch and fix errors.
  • Rich Template Library
    Overleaf offers a wide range of templates for various document types, making it easier for users to get started.
  • Cloud Storage
    Documents are stored in the cloud, providing easy access from any device with an internet connection.
  • Version Control
    Overleaf includes version control features, allowing users to revert to previous versions of their document.

Possible disadvantages of Overleaf

  • Internet Dependency
    An active internet connection is required to use Overleaf, which can be problematic in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited Free Plan
    The free plan includes limited features and storage, which might not be sufficient for intensive or long-term projects.
  • Performance Issues with Large Documents
    Overleaf can experience performance lags when working with very large documents or complex LaTeX code.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find it challenging to learn LaTeX syntax and Overleaf's interface, especially if they are more familiar with WYSIWYG editors.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Documents stored in the cloud may raise privacy and security concerns for users handling sensitive information.

Draft.js features and specs

  • Rich Text Editing
    Draft.js provides a powerful framework for building rich text editors with a high level of customization, allowing developers to implement various formatting and styling options with ease.
  • Immutable.js Integration
    Draft.js uses Immutable.js to manage editor state, which can lead to improved performance and easier state management, as it helps avoid unnecessary re-renders and mutations.
  • Extensibility
    The library offers the ability to create custom blocks, decorations, and plugins, enabling developers to extend and tailor the editor's behavior to their specific needs.
  • Facebook Support
    Draft.js is developed and maintained by Facebook, which suggests a certain level of reliability and indicates a strong backing in terms of updates and community support.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    The library is well-documented, with comprehensive guides and examples that help developers get started quickly and understand the full potential of the framework.

Possible disadvantages of Draft.js

  • Complexity
    Draft.js has a steep learning curve, especially for developers who are not familiar with React or Immutable.js, as it requires understanding its unique architecture and concepts.
  • Bundle Size
    The inclusion of Immutable.js can lead to a larger bundle size for web applications, which might be a concern for developers aiming for minimalistic and fast-loading applications.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    Draft.js provides a basic editor out of the box, which means developers often need to implement or find third-party plugins for advanced features like tables, embedded media, or collaborative editing.
  • Customizability Overhead
    While high customizability is a strength, it also means that basic implementations may involve more boilerplate code and setup compared to other, more out-of-the-box solutions.
  • Sparse Updates
    Draft.js does not receive updates as frequently as some other open-source projects, which can lead to uncertainty around the timeline for bug fixes or new feature implementations.

Analysis of Overleaf

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Overleaf is generally considered to be a good online LaTeX editor.

Why this product is good

  • Overleaf offers real-time collaboration, making it easy for multiple users to work on a document simultaneously.
  • It provides a wide range of templates which are useful for various types of documents, from research papers to resumes.
  • The platform is accessible online, eliminating the need for software installation and ensuring users can access their documents from anywhere.
  • Overleaf integrates with version control systems like Git, which is beneficial for handling complex projects.
  • Its user-friendly interface makes it easier for beginners to start using LaTeX compared to traditional LaTeX editors.

Recommended for

  • Researchers and academics who frequently use LaTeX for writing papers.
  • Students working on assignments or theses requiring LaTeX formatting.
  • Collaborative projects where team members need to work on the same document in real time.
  • Users who prefer an accessible cloud-based solution for LaTeX editing without the need to install local software.

Overleaf videos

An Introduction to Overleaf

More videos:

  • Review - Overleaf Review Mode Quick Intro
  • Review - Comparing Authorea, ShareLaTeX and Overleaf for academic writing

Draft.js videos

Live coding โ€“ย Draft.js copy-paste fix

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Overleaf and Draft.js)
Writing
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Writing Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
62 62%
38% 38

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Overleaf and Draft.js

Overleaf Reviews

14 BEST LaTeX Editor for Mac & Windows in 2022
Overleaf is easy to use cloud-based collaborative LaTeX editor. It is one of the best LaTeX editors which allows you to view the document history. You can insert images, equations, bibliographies, and more.
Source: www.guru99.com
12 Best LaTeX Editors You Should Use
Another great online LaTeX editing tool is Overleaf. Trusted by over 200,000 academia worldwide, Overleaf is a great LaTeX editing tool with all the features that make your document creations easy.
Source: beebom.com
Which LaTeX Editor is Best for Windows?
For example, if youโ€™re a beginner and want a basic editor, you might want to try Overleaf. On the other hand, if youโ€™re a more advanced user, then TeXnicCenter is a good choice. No matter what editor you choose, youโ€™ll be able to get the job done. Itโ€™s just a matter of finding the right tool for the job.
Source: asoftclick.com

Draft.js Reviews

We have no reviews of Draft.js yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Overleaf should be more popular than Draft.js. It has been mentiond 61 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Overleaf mentions (61)

  • I wrote my PhD Thesis in Typst
    Many people use LaTeX via Overleaf (a Website, cf. https://overleaf.com ) rather than installing it locally. That also solves the problem of having to install locally vairous extension packages or fonts - all is already there, and after writing a paper you may submit it directly to some conferences or journals from that Web GUI instead of having to email it or upload to a third site. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Make sure your Resume is ATS compatible
    Yes, this is something which many don't know. Always create your resume in pdf or if its not in pdf format convert it to pdf format and then use it, as PDF is the best format for ATS compatibility. overleaf.com is great place to get Google, Microsoft, etc.. employee's Resume templates ready to use and edit for which are ATS compatible. Source: about 3 years ago
  • [25F] [Java/SpringBoot/Hibernate] Not getting interviews
    23.10 M here, those skills shouldn't be rang birangi dabbe and should use deedys or jake's resume on overleaf.com. Source: about 3 years ago
  • What needs to happen for ChatGPT to start generating visual answers like electrical schematics?
    I asked gpt to "create a complex circuit diagram in LaTex format. I then used https://overleaf.com to render the LaTex document gpt produced. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Please review my resume for entry level software developer roles. I have applied to 400+ positions yet not callbacks..
    A nitpick: the bottom right text "created with resumepuppy.com" looks a little unprofessional. If you want an online resume website (free), there's overleaf.com which I like. Source: over 3 years ago
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Draft.js mentions (28)

  • Rebuilding a web text editor
    Therefore, we wanted to choose a low-level framework that would solve most of the issues related to text input. We settled on Draft.js, which was quite popular at the time (2020). All we had to do was integrate it into our current system, attach it to the data storage, and implement the ability to edit styles with our constructorโ€”done. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Introducing react-rte-light: A Lightweight Rich Text Editor for React
    Are you looking for a lightweight, flexible, and modern rich text editor for your React applications? Look no further! I'm excited to share react-rte-light, a TypeScript-based rich text editor built with Draft.js. Itโ€™s designed to work seamlessly with React 16.8 to 19, offering a minimal-dependency alternative to heavier editors like React Quill. Whether you're building a blog platform, a note-taking app, or a... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Lexical 0.24 with Vanilla JS: Getting started
    Lexical is an open source project and considered the successor of Draft.js. It is primarily developed by Meta, licensed under MIT. It is not restricted to React, but supports Vanilla JS, too. The flexibility enables us to integrate it with other JS libraries such as Svelte and Vue. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Is there a licensable/free version of the "Substack" email editor?
    - https://draftjs.org/ If you're talking about liking the full experience with settings and previews, that I'm afraid is all custom built. I can't imagine an open source reusable one being out there, but I could be wrong! - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Which Rich Text Editor to use ?
    I've always used Quill and always satisfied with it. It can be adapted to React Native as well. Despite the most popular RTE is Draft js it has some limitations on mobile. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Overleaf and Draft.js, you can also consider the following products

TeXstudio - TeXstudio is an integrated environment for writing LaTeX documents.

Quill - Powerful, API-driven rich text editor

TeXworks - The TeXworks project is an effort to build a simple TeX front-end program (working environment)...

Next.js - A small framework for server-rendered universal JavaScript apps

LyX - LyX is a document processor.

ProseMirror - A toolkit for building rich-text editors on the web