Comparison

TeX Go vs NativeLab

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

TeX Go

Features
Read full description

Pick up your Overleaf project on the train. Version 3.0 imports your Overleaf projects, lets you edit them, and keeps them in sync, as long as the project owner has a paid Overleaf plan. TeX Go is an editor for writing LaTeX, Japanese included, on iPhone and iPad. 【Sync with Overleaf】 Save a Git authentication token once in TeX Go’s Settings, paste a project URL, and the import begins. The project arrives as a folder on your device. While the project is open, your edits are sent to Overleaf automatically, and changes made on Overleaf are pulled in at the interval you choose: 1, 5, or 15 minutes. In a hurry? Tap Sync Now. Imported folders are also visible in the Files app. If the same file changes on both your device and Overleaf, both versions are kept and you choose which one to keep. Your edit stays in the original file; Overleaf’s version is saved as a copy whose name is marked “(Overleaf)”. Compiling happens on your device by default. For supported documents, you get a PDF even where there is no signal. 【What sync needs: a paid plan and a Git token】 Projects whose owner is on a free plan can’t be synced. TeX Go on its own still edits and compiles as it always has. You create the Git authentication token in your Overleaf account settings. TeX Go keeps it in this device’s Keychain and uses it only to sync with Overleaf. Step-by-step instructions are in TeX Go’s Settings, under “Overleaf Setup Guide”. 【No Overleaf? Still a complete LaTeX editor】 • A LaTeX editing environment with Japanese document support • On-device compilation, even offline • Compile-error suggestions from Apple Intelligence (iOS 26 or later, on supported devices with Apple Intelligence turned on; processed on device) • Add packages from .zip files containing .sty or .cls files • Command completion • Create documents from templates • Edit files on your iPhone or iPad and in cloud storage Overleaf is a trademark of its owner. TeX Go is not affiliated with Overleaf and is not endorsed or sponsored by it.

About

NativeLab

This app provides a native mobile interface for managing GitLab projects, issues, and merge requests. It offers features like project browsing, issue triage, and merge request reviews with a clean, fast design. Users can customize themes, text sizes, and languages for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Browse GitLab projects with search
  • Triage issues with filters
  • Review merge requests with diff viewer
  • Customizable themes and text sizes
  • Supports gitlab.com and self-hosted instances
  • Secure OAuth authentication
  • Built-in demo mode
Features
Read full description

NativeLab is a native GitLab client for iPhone. Review merge requests, follow pipelines, triage issues and clear your to-dos without fighting the mobile website. MERGE REQUESTS • Read the full diff with line numbers • Comment on any line, reply to threads and resolve them • Approve or unapprove, and merge (or merge when the pipeline succeeds) • Pipeline status, reviewers, approvals and merge blockers at a glance PIPELINES • Pipeline list per project with filters • Jobs grouped by stage: retry, cancel and play manual jobs • Live job logs with collapsible sections INBOX • Your GitLab to-do list: review requests, mentions, assignments, failed pipelines • Swipe to mark done • Optional background alerts and an app badge ISSUES • Filter by state and label • Markdown descriptions, task lists and images • Read and post comments MADE FOR YOUR PHONE • Opens instantly: data is cached on your device and refreshed in the background • Home Screen widget for review requests and failed pipelines • Face ID lock • Light and dark mode, three text sizes, six languages ANY GITLAB • gitlab.com with one-tap sign in • Self-hosted GitLab with a personal access token • Multiple accounts and instances • Try everything first in demo mode, no account needed PRIVATE BY DESIGN NativeLab talks directly to your GitLab. Tokens stay in the iOS Keychain on your device. No analytics, no NativeLab account. Free during launch.

Screenshots

TeX Go4 screens
NativeLab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: NativeLab at Free against TeX Go's $5.99. NativeLab also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.6). TeX Go's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months). On ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

NativeLab is free to download; TeX Go costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TeX Go ships an update every 4 days, NativeLab every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
TeX Go versus NativeLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTeX GoNativeLab
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating—4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size191 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHikaru MatsudaAltug Sogutoglu

In-app purchases

None

TeX Go

No in-app purchases

None

NativeLab

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TeX Go free?
TeX Go costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is NativeLab free?
NativeLab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do TeX Go or NativeLab have ads?
Neither TeX Go nor NativeLab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TeX Go or NativeLab?
TeX Go ships an update every 4 days, and NativeLab every 4 months. Most recently, TeX Go was updated on October 31, 2026 and NativeLab on October 31, 2026.

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