Write research papers
10x faster, all in one free app.
research papers
A free, local-first workspace for serious research writing. Draft, compile, cite, and review in LaTeX, Typst, or Markdown. Use AI that can edit your project, compile it, and check the result. Your files stay on your disk, with every version tracked in Git.
A powerful research harness
From first citation to final PDF.
Draft, compile, proofread, search, cite, review, and publish without stitching together separate tools. Oleafly keeps your source, preview, references, AI, and Git history in one workspace you control.
Import what you have
Reconstruct many text-based PDFs into editable LaTeX locally, convert DOCX through a managed Pandoc, or let a vision model transcribe a photo of a page. Optional AI refinement after.
Export where you're going
Export PDF, DOCX, HTML, Markdown, and more from contextual menus. You can also download the whole project as a source ZIP.
Make it yours
Vim mode, light and dark themes, accent colors, seven layout presets, and editable keyboard shortcuts. An editor should fit your hands.
Write in Code or Visual
Flip any LaTeX or Markdown document into a visual editor: headings, lists, bold, links, edited directly, with coordinated undo across both modes. Unsupported commands stay visible as raw blocks instead of being silently dropped, so the round-trip back to source is non-destructive.
SyncTeX, word-level
⌘-click a word in the PDF and land on that exact word in the source. Jump back with ⌘⇧J.
Code intelligence
Go to definition, find references, and rename a label, citation key, or macro across every file.
Slash commands
Type / for a Notion-style insert menu: /figure, /table, /section, /cite, /math.
Citations by DOI
Paste a DOI, arXiv id, or URL. Oleafly fetches the BibTeX, dedupes it, and inserts the \cite.
Bring your whole library
Batch-import BibTeX, RIS, EndNote XML, and Zotero RDF. Everything is deduped against your project before a single entry lands in the .bib.
Command palette
⌘K fuzzy-searches every action in the app: projects, files, settings, the lot.
Model-agnostic AI
Use the model that fits the paper. Connect hosted providers, custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints, or local Ollama. Every file change uses the same approval controls, and MCP clients such as Claude Code and Cursor can connect too. You can also leave AI off.
Research on tap
The agent searches alphaXiv and OpenAlex, pulls paper content, and verifies citations against Crossref before they enter your bibliography.
Built-in proofreading
Proofread spelling and grammar locally with Hunspell and Harper. Oleafly ignores LaTeX commands and math so the checks stay focused on your prose.
An agent that remembers
Durable per-project memory notes and a visible plan checklist survive across chats, so the AI picks up where it left off.
From one page to six hundred
The editor and virtualized PDF viewer stay smooth whether it's a one-page resume or a book-length thesis.
A PDF viewer for real reading
Detach the preview to a second monitor, read two-page spreads, invert colors for late nights, or go fullscreen to present.
Diagram Composer
Describe a diagram and the AI writes the TikZ, compiles the figure in isolation, and fixes overlaps by looking at the render. Or draw it yourself: shapes, edges, and an inspector on a real canvas that round-trips with the generated TikZ. Export transparent high-res PNGs, fully offline.
Three engines, one workspace
LaTeX, Typst, and Markdown projects side by side in the same library, with the same Git history, preview, search, and AI workflow.
The LaTeX editor
Write in LaTeX, Typst, or Markdown with a live PDF preview and word-level SyncTeX. Compilers are included, so there is no TeX setup or build queue.
The AI assistant
Ask the agent to edit your source, compile the project, and read the resulting PDF. Oleafly is model-agnostic, so you can use a hosted provider, local Ollama, your own endpoint, or no AI at all.
The reference manager
Import BibTeX, RIS, EndNote, or Zotero with automatic deduplication. Paste a DOI or arXiv ID to create a reference verified against Crossref.
The resume builder
Start with an ATS-focused resume template, check the extracted text, and fork a tailored copy for each application without losing earlier versions.
The version control
Automatic Git checkpoints preserve every meaningful state. Compare changes, restore an earlier version, and push to GitHub from the same workspace.
The PDF toolkit
Read long PDFs, reconstruct many text-based PDFs into LaTeX, and export PDF, DOCX, HTML, or a source archive for submission.
The research loop
Research, write, verify, publish.
Move from literature search to submission without losing context. Oleafly keeps your sources, references, figures, compiler output, and history together in one inspectable workflow.
- 1
Research
Search open research sources, turn DOIs and arXiv IDs into BibTeX, and verify citations before they enter your bibliography.
- 2
Write
Write in LaTeX, Typst, or Markdown with templates, project-wide code intelligence, and an optional AI agent whose edits you approve.
- 3
Verify
Compile locally, read clear errors, and jump between the source and PDF. Preflight shows what parsers and screen readers will extract.
- 4
Publish
Export PDF, DOCX, or HTML, package the source for submission, and push to GitHub from the same folder where the work began.
How it compares
The one research workspace built to replace the rest.
Write, compile, proofread, search literature, manage citations, review PDFs, automate edits, and ship your paper from one place. Oleafly brings the entire research stack into one free, open-source app. See how the alternatives fall short below. Docs.
| Oleafly | OpenAI Prism | Overleaf | Typst Web App | Curvenote | LyX | TeXstudio | Texifier | VS Code + LaTeX | Paperpal | Writefull | Resume builders | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership and access | Price | Free and open source. No Oleafly subscription | Free with a ChatGPT account | Free tier. Paid plans add features | Free tier. Pro costs extra | Free tier. Paid plans add private projects | Free and open source | Free, GPL | Paid. Free demo | Free. AI has limits or paid plans | Free tier. Prime costs extra | Free tier. Premium costs extra | Varies. Most use a subscription |
| No account required | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Varies | |
| Works offline | Write, proofread, preview, and compile offline | No, cloud workspace | No, cloud service | No. The web app needs a connection | No. The editor is a cloud service | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Rarely | |
| Files stay on your disk | Local folders you own. Self-hosted cloud sync | Cloud storage | Cloud storage | Cloud storage. The compiler can run locally | Cloud storage | Yes | Yes | Local files and file providers | Yes | Cloud service and editor integrations | Files stay in Word or Overleaf | Usually cloud storage | |
| Version history | Automatic Git checkpoints with diff and restore | Cloud revisions | Full history on paid plans | Git sync on Pro | Built-in version history | Git and other version control | Manual or SVN | Uses file providers or Git tools | Built-in Git that you configure | Not documented | Uses the host app history | Varies | |
| Real-time collaboration | Coming soon. Unlimited collaboration. Self-hosted | Unlimited collaborators | Built in. Limits depend on the plan | Built in | Real-time editing and comments | No live co-editing | No live co-editing | No live co-editing | Via Live Share | Uses Word, Google Docs, or Overleaf | Uses Word or Overleaf | Varies | |
| Cloud sync | Coming soon. Browser access while files stay on your machine | Cloud workspace | Cloud workspace plus paid Git and Dropbox sync | Cloud workspace plus Pro Git sync | Cloud projects and connected publishing | Use Git or your own sync service | Use Git or your own sync service | Texifier Connect live sync | Use Git or your own sync service | Cloud workspace | Works inside Word or Overleaf | Usually cloud storage | |
| Team spaces | Coming soon. Shared templates, libraries, and review flows | Shared projects with unlimited collaborators | Group and institutional plans | Shared projects plus on-premises for organizations | Team workspaces and access controls | No built-in team space | No built-in team space | Shared projects through Texifier Connect | GitHub organizations and Live Share | Institutional dashboards and license management | Institutional access | Varies | |
| Writing and publishing | Document engines | LaTeX, Typst, and Markdown in one workspace | LaTeX only | LaTeX only | Typst only | MyST Markdown and Jupyter | LaTeX and DocBook | LaTeX only | LaTeX and Markdown | Via extensions | Word, Google Docs, web, and Overleaf | Word and Overleaf LaTeX | Resume formats only |
| TeX setup | Bundled Tectonic and Typst. No TeX install | No install. Compiles in the cloud | No install. Compiles in the cloud | No TeX install | No TeX install | Install a TeX distribution | Install a TeX distribution | Built-in typesetter and package manager | Install extensions and TeX | Uses Overleaf for LaTeX | Uses Overleaf for LaTeX | No TeX setup | |
| Code + visual editing | Source plus visual editing with lossless round trips | Source and preview | Source and rich text mode | Source and live preview | Visual editor with LaTeX math | Structured visual editor | Source only | Source and PDF preview | Source only | Visual writing assistant | Inline writing suggestions | Visual only | |
| Project-wide code intelligence | Autocomplete plus definitions, references, and project-wide rename | Editor and AI assistance | Autocomplete and reference search | Errors, completion, and Assists | Structured references and equations | Labels, references, outline, and completion | Structure and reference checker | Completion, outline, references, and search | LaTeX Workshop IntelliSense | No LaTeX code tools | TeXGPT for LaTeX code | No | |
| Source and PDF sync | Source and PDF sync at word level, both directions | Instant PDF preview | Source and PDF sync | Live preview | No source and PDF sync | Source and output preview | Almost word-level | Source and PDF sync | Direct and reverse SyncTeX | No | Uses the Overleaf preview | No | |
| PDF reading modes | Built-in viewer plus detach, spreads, dark, and reader modes | Built-in preview | Built-in preview | Built-in preview | Document preview | Uses a PDF viewer | Integrated viewer | Integrated PDF viewer | Extension viewer with invert mode | Chat with PDF | No PDF reader | Document preview | |
| Document templates | 100+ starters plus reusable custom templates | Not documented | Large publisher template gallery | Typst Universe and private Pro templates | Professional templates on paid plans | Built-in document classes | Built-in and user templates | Not documented | Snippets and community templates | Not documented | No | Core feature | |
| Project and document import | Files and ZIPs plus PDF, DOCX, Markdown, images, and folders | Folder, ZIP, or drag and drop | Files, ZIP, and paid integrations | Converts LaTeX, Word, and Markdown | Jupyter content and reference imports | LaTeX and other text formats | Open local source files | Local folders and cloud files | Open local source files | PDF and document uploads | Word and Overleaf documents | Usually PDF or DOCX | |
| Export formats | PDF and source ZIP plus DOCX, HTML, and Markdown | PDF and project files | PDF and source ZIP | PDF, PNG, and SVG | PDF, Word, LaTeX, Typst, and MyST | PDF, HTML, Word, RTF, ePub, and more | PDF and source files | PDF and source files | Depends on local tools | Word workflows | Tracked Word changes | Usually PDF and DOCX | |
| Research and AI | AI model choice | Model agnostic. Hosted providers, custom endpoints, or local Ollama | OpenAI models built in | Built-in research AI. Daily allowance varies by plan | Compiler Assists | Not documented | None | None | None | Copilot, BYOK, or extensions | Paperpal AI | Writefull models and GPT | Built in. Model choice varies |
| Local AI | Local Ollama. No hosted provider required | No | No | No | No | No | No built-in AI | No | BYOK or extensions | No | No | No | |
| Review AI edits before applying | Reviewable diffs plus per-edit approval controls | Keep or Undo | Review AI suggestions | Review each Assist | Not documented | No built-in AI | No built-in AI | No built-in AI | Review changes | Review writing suggestions | Track Changes | Varies | |
| AI checks the rendered result | Edits source, compiles, then checks the rendered PDF | You recompile to confirm | You recompile to confirm | Compile preview | No | No built-in AI | No built-in AI | No built-in AI | Build checks without PDF review | No rendered PDF review | No rendered PDF review | No | |
| Literature and citation search | Literature search across alphaXiv and OpenAlex with Crossref verification | Built-in literature search | Reference search plus AI citation suggestions | No built-in search | DOI citation lookup | No built-in search | No | No built-in search | Via AI or extensions | Search across 250M+ articles | Writefull Cite finds missing citations | No | |
| Autonomous research agents | Coming soon. Agents search literature, verify citations, draft, and hand you the diff | Not documented | Not documented | No | Not documented | No | No | No | Via AI extensions | No | No | No | |
| Reference library import | BibTeX, RIS, EndNote, and Zotero with pre-import deduplication | Zotero sync | Reference integrations on paid plans | Zotero and Mendeley sync on Pro | Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote | BibTeX files | Works with BibTeX files | BibTeX files | Via extensions | Citation generator | No library import | No | |
| MCP for external AI agents | Built-in MCP server for Claude Code, Cursor, and other agents | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | |
| Spell and grammar checks | Private offline spelling and grammar with LaTeX-aware prose checks | AI proofreading | Built-in spellcheck plus research-tailored AI feedback | Not documented | Not documented | Hunspell, Aspell, and thesaurus | Interactive spell and grammar checks | Spellcheck | Via extensions or AI | Academic grammar and style | Academic language feedback | Basic checks vary | |
| Visual and AI diagram tools | Visual canvas plus AI-generated TikZ with render checks | Image and voice to code | Manual TikZ and AI tools | Typst packages and native drawing | Interactive charts and figures | Visual tables and image tools | Manual TikZ with editor helpers | Manual TikZ | Manual or extensions | No | AI tables, equations, and figures | No | |
| Quality and submission | Submission preflight | Compile checks plus venue, ATS, accessibility, references, and privacy | AI review without a submission suite | Compile checks | Compiler errors and Assists | SCMS compliance tools | Compiler logs and optional ChkTeX | Errors and warnings | Clear compiler errors | Linting via extensions | 30+ submission checks | Language quality review | Resume checks only |
| ATS resume checks | Scored ATS checks plus extracted-text preview | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No built-in check | No | No | Varies. Scoring is often unclear | |
| Accessibility preflight | Accessibility checks plus tagged-export preparation | No | No | Not documented | Structured web publishing | Structured documents. No preflight | No | Not documented | No built-in check | No | No | Varies |
Privacy, precisely
Local by default. Network by choice.
Your projects stay on your machine. Oleafly uses the network only for features you choose, and shows crash reports before sending them. No Oleafly account. No telemetry. Privacy.
Always local
- Project files, drafts, and automatic Git history
- Writing, compiling, PDF review, and preflight checks
- Offline spellcheck, grammar, diagrams, and optional Ollama
Network, only when you act
- Hosted AI receives only the context you choose to send
- GitHub sync and research searches run when you request them
- Packages, templates, fonts, and app updates download as needed
Philosophy
Your research should outlive the tools used to create it.

Open source, seriously built
Independent by design. Built for real work.
Oleafly is built in the open. Reliability is part of the product, from cancellable compiles and safe file paths to Git recovery, PDF fallback, and tests across macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Inspect the code, report an issue, contribute a fix, or star Oleafly on GitHub.
FAQ
What to know before you switch.
What is Oleafly?
Oleafly is a local-first workspace for writing and shipping research. Draft in LaTeX, Typst, or Markdown, compile with bundled engines, proofread spelling and grammar locally, preview PDFs, manage citations, review AI edits, track versions in Git, and check resumes for ATS readability without moving between apps.
Is it really free?
Yes. Oleafly is free and open source. The desktop app does not add a subscription. If you connect a paid AI provider, that provider may charge for usage. Local models through Ollama do not require a paid API.
Which AI models does it work with?
Oleafly is model-agnostic. Use models from hosted providers, run local models through Ollama, or connect a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint. You choose the model and supply credentials only when the provider requires them.
Do I need an account?
No. The desktop app has no Oleafly account or login. Your projects stay in ordinary local folders. Connected AI and Git hosting services may require their own credentials.
Which tools can it replace?
For many workflows, Oleafly can replace separate writing, proofreading, compilation, citation, PDF, resume, AI, and Git clients. It still works with ordinary files and GitHub, so you can adopt it without locking your work into a proprietary format.
Can I import an existing paper or resume?
Yes. Open an existing folder or import a ZIP, including exports from online LaTeX editors. Oleafly detects the main document. It can convert text-based PDFs to LaTeX locally, route DOCX through Pandoc, and use a vision model to transcribe scans or photos.
Is the PDF output ATS-friendly?
ATS readiness depends on the template and content, so Oleafly does not promise a score. Its resume templates use selectable Unicode text, embedded fonts, single-column layouts, and linear reading order. Preflight shows what a parser actually extracts before you send the PDF.
What about collaboration and sync?
Today, collaboration uses Git. Publish to GitHub, then push and pull from inside Oleafly. Real-time co-editing, comments, and managed sync are planned, but they are not in the app yet.
Built-in proofreading
Proofread spelling and grammar locally with Hunspell and Harper. Oleafly ignores LaTeX commands and math so the checks stay focused on your prose.
Download
Free. Open source. Yours.
Grab a prebuilt installer from the latest release, or build from source. No account, no telemetry.
Some builds may trigger an operating-system warning on first launch. The install guide explains what to check and how to continue.