Vim vs VerbTeX LaTeX Editor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Vim
A highly configurable text editor with a long history, designed for efficient editing from both command lines and graphical interfaces. It offers extensive customization options for programmers and writers alike.
- Text editing
- Command-line interface support
- Graphical user interface support
- Highly configurable
- Free and open source
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Vim is a text editor first released publicly in 1991. Based on the vi editor common to Unix-like systems, Vim is designed for use both from a command line interface and as a standalone application in a graphical user interface. Vim is free and open source software and is released under a license which includes some charityware clauses, encouraging users who enjoy the software to consider donating to children in Uganda. https://vim.sourceforge.io/about.php
VerbTeX LaTeX Editor
Create and manage LaTeX projects on your iOS device. Generate PDFs offline or online with support for various compilers and bibliography tools. Features include cloud synchronization, Git integration, and custom font support.
- Offline PDF compilation
- Multiple LaTeX compilers (PdfLaTeX, XeLaTeX, LuaLaTeX)
- BibTeX/Biber support
- Cloud synchronization (Verbosus)
- Dropbox/Box synchronization
- Git integration
- iCloud integration
- Zotero/Mendeley integration
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VerbTeX Pro is the secure LaTeX Editor for your iOS device. It allows you to create and manage LaTeX projects directly on your iOS device and generate a PDF offline (Verbnox) or online (Verbosus). This software is provided "as is" without warranties or conditions of any kind, either expressed or implied. Features: * 2 Modes: Local (stores .tex documents on your device) and Cloud (synchronizes your projects with Verbosus) * Offline compilation (Local Mode, enable in Settings) * Use PdfLaTeX, XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX to generate a PDF * Use BibTeX or Biber for bibliographies * Automatic Dropbox synchronization (Local Mode) * Automatic Box synchronization (Local Mode) * Git integration (Local Mode) * iCloud integration (Local Mode) * Zotero integration (Local Mode) * Mendeley integration (Local Mode) * AI assistant (available in supported regions) * Custom keyboard shortcuts * Inverse search (jump from PDF to .tex file) * Syntax highlighting * Line numbers * Autosave * Hotkeys (see below) * File upload incl. subfolders (Local Mode) * Web-Interface (Cloud Mode) * Two factor authentication (Cloud Mode, in combination with Copiosus) * No ads Additional features in VerbTeX Pro: * Code completion (commands) * Unlimited number of projects (Local Mode) * Unlimited number of documents per project (Local Mode) * Unlimited number of file uploads per project (Local Mode) * Unlimited number of projects (Cloud Mode) * Unlimited number of documents per project (Cloud Mode) * Support development of free iOS apps If you experience any performance issues when loading a project or while using the editor please try * to disable syntax highlighting and line numbers by choosing Settings -> Syntax Highlighting * to split up your project into multiple .tex files by using the include{...} command of LaTeX Import or export existing projects (Local Mode): * Git integration lets you create a new or clone an existing repository. * Automatic Dropbox or Box synchronization (Settings -> Link to Dropbox or Box). Synchronization is done once a minute. Use any .ttf/.otf font (Local Mode): If you want to use a custom font or a font that is not installed you can import it via Git integration, via Dropbox, via Box or manually via Finder. In your project you can use the font like this: \documentclass{article} \usepackage{fontspec} \setmainfont{fontname.otf} \begin{document} \section{Main Heading} Это тест \end{document} You can write chinese in PdfTeX using the CJKutf8 package as shown in the following example: \documentclass{article} \usepackage{CJKutf8} \begin{document} \begin{CJK}{UTF8}{gbsn} 这是一个测试 \end{CJK} \end{document} You can write chinese in XeTeX using the xeCJK package as shown in the following example: \documentclass{article} \usepackage{xeCJK} \begin{document} 这是一个测试 \end{document} Hotkeys in editor (can be changed in editor - settings - keyboard shortcuts): ctrl+,: Settings ctrl+s: Save ctrl+g: Generate result ctrl+f: Search ctrl+p: Preview ctrl+n: New document ctrl+d: Delete document ctrl+.: Next document Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: VerbTeX LaTeX Editor at 4.5 against Vim's 2.9. VerbTeX LaTeX Editor also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (71% vs 46%). Vim's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. VerbTeX LaTeX Editor sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Vim asks for nothing beyond the download.
VerbTeX LaTeX Editor holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VerbTeX LaTeX Editor has 168 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Vim's written reviews are positive against 71% of VerbTeX LaTeX Editor's.
Vim ships an update every 9 months, VerbTeX LaTeX Editor fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Vim | VerbTeX LaTeX Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.9 (21 ratings) | 4.5 (168 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | 71.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 21 | 168 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Applidium | Verbosus.com |
Customer experience
Vim
VerbTeX LaTeX Editor
User reviews
Vim
From 21 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ✅ True Vim implementation with authentic commands and features
- ⌨️ Works well with external Bluetooth keyboards
- 🆓 Free application with no cost barrier
- 🔒 Includes encryption functionality for secure editing
- 📝 Supports .vimrc configuration files
Room to improve
- 🐛 Escape key mapping to backslash is cumbersome and unintuitive
- 🐛 Space bar and other keys don't work with external keyboards
- 🐛 Font rendering is illegible on Retina displays and newer devices
- 🐛 Severe input lag and keystroke delay issues
- 🐛 Window focus problems in multitasking environments
VerbTeX LaTeX Editor
From 168 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and efficient LaTeX editing
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- ✅ Compiles LaTeX to PDF well
- 💡 Good for on-the-go writing
- 🌟 Free and functional
Room to improve
- ⚠️ Requires internet connection for compilation
- 🚫 Limited offline compilation capabilities
- 📂 Poor file management and organization
- 🗂️ Lacks iCloud Drive and Files app integration
- 🖼️ Difficulty inserting images
Bugs and requests
Vim
Reported bugs
13 issues- Escape key not recognized on external keyboards
- Space bar non-functional with external keyboards
- Font illegible on Retina and newer displays
- Significant input lag between keystrokes and display
- Window focus not maintained in multitasking
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Keyboard recognition delays
- Graphics scrambled on iPhone 6 and newer
- Character rendering issues (missing 'f' character)
- Command line errors with certain commands (:ls, :echo)
- Syntax highlighting broken
- App crashes on older iOS versions
- 32-bit app incompatibility with iOS 11+
- Slow response to Bluetooth keyboard input
Requested features
15 requests- Custom keyboard row with Esc, Tab, Ctrl, and common symbols
- Dropbox and cloud service integration
- iOS copy/paste and clipboard integration
- File browser and file management system
- Better font rendering and scaling options
Show 10 moreShow fewer
- Swipe gestures for common operations (Esc, Tab)
- Plugin support
- SSH/FTP connectivity
- Customizable color schemes and themes
- Better Bluetooth keyboard support and detection
- MacVim-style tabs
- iCloud synchronization
- Open source project status
- Support for external shell integration
- Email attachment opening support
VerbTeX LaTeX Editor
Reported bugs
83 issues- Cannot clone git
- Does not work with subfiles package
- New version does not support adding files
- PDF generation fails with BibTeX log
- Cannot insert images
Show 78 moreShow fewer
- App closes unexpectedly without saving
- Dropbox sync issues
- Cannot open or save to iCloud files
- File folder location is hard to set
- App freezes on project page (cloud feature)
- Crashes when trying to access preferences
- Cannot open Dropbox files with non-UTF-8 encoding
- Compilation issues with older versions
- Cannot edit tex files in local mode
- Display bugs when switching between US and JPN input
- PDF conversion fails with Japanese input
- Cannot open existing tex files
- Shows only folders, not files, in Dropbox
- Error when trying to use \includegraphics
- Problems with Cyrillic fonts display
- Umlaute not displaying correctly
- Plotting functions not displayed realistically
- Cannot compile plain documents quickly
- File organization is unclear
- Cannot edit .tex files created in local mode
- Cannot use script to transfer or continue editing on computer without cloud account
- PDF generation fails with BibTeX log
- Cannot open or save to iCloud files
- App freezes on project page (cloud feature)
- Crashes when trying to access preferences
- Cannot open Dropbox files with non-UTF-8 encoding
- Compilation issues with older versions
- Cannot edit tex files in local mode
- Display bugs when switching between US and JPN input
- PDF conversion fails with Japanese input
- Cannot open existing tex files
- Shows only folders, not files, in Dropbox
- Error when trying to use \includegraphics
- Problems with Cyrillic fonts display
- Umlaute not displaying correctly
- Plotting functions not displayed realistically
- Cannot compile plain documents quickly
- File organization is unclear
- Cannot edit .tex files created in local mode
- Cannot use script to transfer or continue editing on computer without cloud account
- PDF generation fails with BibTeX log
- Cannot open or save to iCloud files
- App freezes on project page (cloud feature)
- Crashes when trying to access preferences
- Cannot open Dropbox files with non-UTF-8 encoding
- Compilation issues with older versions
- Cannot edit tex files in local mode
- Display bugs when switching between US and JPN input
- PDF conversion fails with Japanese input
- Cannot open existing tex files
- Shows only folders, not files, in Dropbox
- Error when trying to use \includegraphics
- Problems with Cyrillic fonts display
- Umlaute not displaying correctly
- Plotting functions not displayed realistically
- Cannot compile plain documents quickly
- File organization is unclear
- Cannot edit .tex files created in local mode
- Cannot use script to transfer or continue editing on computer without cloud account
- PDF generation fails with BibTeX log
- Cannot open or save to iCloud files
- App freezes on project page (cloud feature)
- Crashes when trying to access preferences
- Cannot open Dropbox files with non-UTF-8 encoding
- Compilation issues with older versions
- Cannot edit tex files in local mode
- Display bugs when switching between US and JPN input
- PDF conversion fails with Japanese input
- Cannot open existing tex files
- Shows only folders, not files, in Dropbox
- Error when trying to use \includegraphics
- Problems with Cyrillic fonts display
- Umlaute not displaying correctly
- Plotting functions not displayed realistically
- Cannot compile plain documents quickly
- File organization is unclear
- Cannot edit .tex files created in local mode
- Cannot use script to transfer or continue editing on computer without cloud account
Requested features
32 requests- Autosave functionality
- Better external keyboard support (e.g., Command+G for search)
- Search and replace functionality
- PDF preview with jump-to-editor feature
- Display last edited passage in PDF preview
Show 27 moreShow fewer
- iCloud Drive integration
- Access to 'On My iPad' and Apple's Files app
- Import existing LaTeX projects and documents
- Command suggestions/autofill for commands
- Ability to edit .sty/.cls files
- Dark mode support
- Highlighting brackets
- Shortcuts for common math symbols
- Specify areas for math and text display
- View PDF and source simultaneously
- Work on source files saved in other apps' shared file systems
- Zooming PDF display
- Line number references
- Syntax highlighting color customization
- Support for Japanese articles (jarticle class)
- Support for Cyrillic fonts and UTF-8 encoding
- Improved file sharing and PC transfer methods
- Auto-save on PDF preview
- Export .tex files easily
- Add shortcuts for common functions and equations
- Built-in documentation for supported packages
- More intuitive interface for file management
- Support for additional cloud storage like OneDrive
- Ability to zoom PDF display
- Support for Xelatex and pdftex
- Ability to manage project files (folders, images)
- Support for TikZ
In-app purchases
Vim
No in-app purchases
VerbTeX LaTeX Editor
- Upgrade: Subscription$3.991 Month
- Upgrade: Forever$8.99









