What is Typst used for?

Typst is a markup-based typesetting system with built-in scripting, math and bibliography support, designed to be as capable as LaTeX but easier to learn. It is a good fit for writing papers and theses, typesetting reports and handouts, and replacing LaTeX with simpler markup.

Is Typst open source?

Yes. Typst is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at typst/typst and is written mainly in Rust.

Yes. Typst is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available, with paid plans from $7.99 per month.

What are some alternatives to Typst?

Similar open-source tools in the Docs & Wikis category include Quarkdown, Etherpad and La Suite Docs. SaaS products in the same category include Apple Pages, Bit.ai and Dropbox Paper.

Is Typst actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to Typst was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v0.15.1, published on 17 July 2026. The project has 56k stars on GitHub.

Typst: open-source docs & wikis

About Typst

Typst is a markup-based typesetting system aimed at matching the capabilities of LaTeX with a much gentler learning curve. The repository holds the Typst compiler and CLI, which is enough to compile documents on your own computer. It is written in Rust and released under the Apache-2.0 license.

The language offers ready-made markup for everyday formatting, functions for anything more elaborate, and scripting that is integrated into the language itself. Math typesetting and bibliography management are included, compilation is quick thanks to incremental compilation, and error messages are written to be friendly. Set rules configure element properties, while show rules let you redefine how an element looks.

Headings use a lightweight equals-sign syntax and equations are enclosed in dollar signs, which avoids many of the backslashes familiar from LaTeX. A collaborative online editor is also available to sign up for free. Typst suits students, researchers and writers producing papers, reports and other typeset documents.

Key features

Built-in markup for common formatting
Integrated scripting system
Math typesetting and bibliography management
Incremental compilation for fast rebuilds
Friendly error messages
Local compiler and command-line interface

Good fit for

→Writing papers and theses
→Typesetting reports and handouts
→Replacing LaTeX with simpler markup

Built with: Rust
Tags: typesetting; latex-alternative; markup; rust; documents; math; bibliography; compiler

Typst: questions and answers

What is Typst used for?: Typst is a markup-based typesetting system with built-in scripting, math and bibliography support, designed to be as capable as LaTeX but easier to learn. It is a good fit for writing papers and theses, typesetting reports and handouts, and replacing LaTeX with simpler markup.
Is Typst open source?: Yes. Typst is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at typst/typst and is written mainly in Rust.
Is Typst free?: Yes. Typst is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available, with paid plans from $7.99 per month.
What are some alternatives to Typst?: Similar open-source tools in the Docs & Wikis category include Quarkdown, Etherpad and La Suite Docs. SaaS products in the same category include Apple Pages, Bit.ai and Dropbox Paper.
Is Typst actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to Typst was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v0.15.1, published on 17 July 2026. The project has 56k stars on GitHub.