Track Changes in LaTeX
Free. No signup. Works with Overleaf projects.
LaTeX has no Track Changes button like Word. The usual way is to compare two versions of your document with latexdiff, which marks additions in blue and deletions in red, struck out. This tool runs latexdiff for you: add the old and the new version, and get a marked-up file to compile.
How to see changes between two LaTeX versions
Step 1
Add both versions
Paste the old and new .tex side by side, or upload a .zip of each version of a project with several files.
Step 2
Generate the diff
Every word, heading, citation and equation that changed is marked.
Step 3
Compile it
Use Open in Overleaf for a one-file paper. For a project with figures or a .bib, download diff.tex, put it next to your main file and compile it there.
The settings and limits are explained on LaTeXdiff Online.
Four ways to track changes in LaTeX
| Method | How it works | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| latexdiff (this tool) | Compares two finished versions and writes a marked-up copy | Showing changes to co-authors, a supervisor or a journal | Free |
The changes package | You mark each edit in the source as you make it, with a colour per author | A co-author proposing edits inside the .tex | Free |
| Overleaf track changes | Records every edit as collaborators type; accept or reject each one | Live co-editing in one Overleaf project | Overleaf paid plans |
| Git with latexdiff-vc | Compares the current file with any earlier commit | Projects already kept in Git | Free, needs a local LaTeX install |
Most people need the first one: they have the version they sent and the version they have now, and want a PDF that shows the difference.
Track changes in LaTeX vs Word
| In Word | In LaTeX |
|---|---|
| Insertions and deletions in colour | latexdiff marks them in blue and red automatically |
| A colour for each reviewer | The changes package, or Overleaf track changes |
| Accept or reject a change | Overleaf track changes. With latexdiff, keep editing the new version: it already contains the changes you accept |
| Comments in the margin | \todo{} from the todonotes package, \comment{} from changes, or Overleaf comments |
| Compare two documents | latexdiff (this tool) |
Marking edits by hand with the changes package
If a co-author wants to suggest edits inside the source, the changes package gives each person a colour:
\usepackage{changes}
\definechangesauthor[name={Anna}, color=orange]{AK}
This method is \added[id=AK]{about twice as} fast.
The results were \deleted[id=AK]{very} clear.
We used \replaced[id=AK]{five}{four} datasets.
\listofchanges prints a list of every change. When the text is final, load the package with \usepackage[final]{changes} and the marks disappear from the PDF.
Keep the versions you will want to compare
latexdiff needs both versions, so save a copy each time you send the document out:
- Files on your computer: keep a copy with the date in the name, such as
paper-2026-03-submitted.tex. - Overleaf: in History, use Label this version. On the free plan, History keeps only the last 24 hours plus labeled versions, so the label is what lets you download that version later.
- Git: commit or tag the version you sent.
Frequently asked questions
Not built in. LaTeX turns source into a PDF and has no editing history. The usual way is latexdiff, which compares two versions and marks what changed; this page runs it for you.
Not in a latexdiff file: it is a snapshot that shows the changes. The new version already has every change in it, so to reject one, edit the new version back and run the diff again. To accept or reject individual edits, use Overleaf track changes.
No. Overleaf track changes records edits as people type in one project, and is part of Overleaf's paid plans. This tool compares any two versions after the fact, including versions you downloaded from Overleaf, and is free.
Not with latexdiff, which marks all additions in one colour. Use the changes package with an author ID for each person, or Overleaf track changes.
Yes. Zip the old and new versions of the project, chapters included, and upload both. The main file is found automatically, and files pulled in with \input or \include are compared too.
It is free and needs no signup. Your files are processed to make the diff and discarded straight after.
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