Why I use LaTeX as my primary text editor in 2026

My journey through text editors

I have to admit, I’ve never been a fan of the Microsoft Office suite. For as long as I can remember, I haven’t had a license to use it, which led me to systematically use alternatives like LibreOffice. However, I never truly adapted to it; the user interface felt clunky, and I never felt I had enough control to make documents look exactly as I wanted. Furthermore, a common issue with both platforms is how formatting often breaks when moving files between different software versions.

Since approximately 2016, I’ve been a frequent user of Google Docs. It’s “free,” easy to use, and has a friendly UI. But again, I never felt in total control of the final output. In recent years, I decided to reduce my dependency on Google and now primarily use tag-based documents like Markdown or LaTeX. For internal documentation, I prioritize Markdown, but for anything I need to share, I use LaTeX. Although there is a clear entry barrier to using LaTeX for non-academic purposes, I feel more satisfied than ever after adapting to it.

The main advantage for me is the total control over formatting. LaTeX is strict; as someone who doesn’t like fiddling with styles to make things look “pretty” while writing, LaTeX allows me to focus purely on content first. Once the content is ready, I simply adjust the tags.

For example, my CV is also built in LaTeX. Beyond facilitating version control, it is 100% ATS Friendly, solving one of the biggest hurdles in today’s job market.

Additionally, in the era of Large Language Models (LLMs), using tag-based languages is a massive advantage. It is much easier for an AI to assist you with formatting and syntax, turning what used to be LaTeX’s biggest downside into a strength.

How I use LaTeX today

In 2026, Overleaf is still the best option, and I use it about 50% of the time due to its native cloud storage, real-time collaboration, and GitHub integration. However, pricing is a major drawback since my institution doesn’t provide a premium account. While I could self-host an Overleaf instance, the initial investment in servers and constant maintenance is something I’d rather avoid.

Recently, OpenAI released a native LLM-based LaTeX editor (Prism). It allows an agent to access the project and suggest improvements, but I prefer maintaining control over my writing and only using LLMs for specific reviews or snippets. Plus, the UI is quite poor.

My preferred stack: VSCode + Git

The most effective setup I’ve found is using VSCode as my primary editor and Git/GitHub for version control. Since VSCode is already part of my daily coding workflow, it feels natural over installing an specific LaTex editor. With some extensions, VSCode can become a powerful LaTeX editor.

To streamline this, I’ve built a LaTeX Template repository. It includes pre-configured settings for VSCode, and some templates in both English and Spanish.