Overleaf has been the default for online LaTeX writing for years, but its per-collaborator pricing, slower compile times, and limited free tier leave many research teams looking for a better fit. Murfy was built from the ground up as a modern Overleaf alternative — keeping everything you love about online LaTeX, and adding the things you wish were there.
On Murfy's free Starter plan you get unlimited co-authors, comments, track changes, and an AI writing assistant tuned for LaTeX and academic writing. Pro and Enterprise plans add full version history, advanced AI, and team management — still without per-seat pricing.
Three reasons researchers move from Overleaf to Murfy
Unlimited collaborators on the free plan
Add every co-author, advisor, and reviewer to your project at no cost. No ‘upgrade to invite more people’ popups — ever.
2× faster compilation
Compile times are a productivity tax. Murfy's compile pipeline is roughly twice as fast as Overleaf for the same project, so you spend less time waiting and more time writing.
AI writing assistance built in
Grammar, phrasing, and academic-style suggestions that understand LaTeX commands, equations, and citations — right inside the editor. No copy-pasting into a separate AI tool.
Murfy vs Overleaf at a glance
Side-by-side comparison of the features that matter most to research teams.
| Feature | Murfy | Overleaf |
|---|---|---|
| Compile speed | 2× faster | Standard |
| Unlimited collaborators | Free | Paid plans only |
| AI writing assistance | Included | Not available |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes | Yes |
| Comments & track changes | Free | Paid plans only |
| Version history | 24h on Free, full on Pro | Paid plans only |
| Template library | Yes | Yes |
| Free tier | Generous | Limited |
Switch from Overleaf in three steps
Bring an existing Overleaf project to Murfy in under five minutes.
Export your Overleaf project as a ZIP
In Overleaf, open your project, click Menu and choose Source. Download the ZIP file containing your .tex sources and assets.
Create a new Murfy project from ZIP
Sign in to Murfy, click New Project → Import from ZIP, and upload the file you just exported. Murfy preserves your folder structure and bibliography.
Invite your co-authors and keep writing
Share the project with anyone — Murfy's free plan includes unlimited collaborators, real-time editing, and comments out of the box.
Frequently asked questions
Is Murfy free like Overleaf?
Yes. Murfy's Starter plan is free forever and includes unlimited projects, unlimited collaborators, AI chat, comments, track changes, and 24-hour version history. You only upgrade if you need full version history, advanced AI, or team management.
How does Murfy compare to Overleaf for collaboration?
Murfy includes real-time collaboration, comments, and track changes on every plan including Free. Overleaf charges per collaborator on paid plans, while Murfy never does.
Can I import my existing Overleaf project?
Yes. Export your Overleaf project as a ZIP and import it into Murfy. Your folder structure, .tex files, .bib, and assets are preserved.
Why is Murfy faster than Overleaf?
Murfy ships a custom compile pipeline tuned for academic LaTeX, with smarter caching across builds. On typical research papers, compile times are roughly half of Overleaf for the same source.
Does Murfy have the templates I use on Overleaf?
Murfy ships a curated library of conference and journal templates (NeurIPS, ICML, IEEE, ACL, and more). You can also bring any custom Overleaf template by importing the ZIP.