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MathJax-LaTeX

By knowledgeblog

Content Management / Blog & Article Publishing

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

MathJax-LaTeX Review - In-Depth Analysis

This plugin enables MathJax functionality for WordPress, allowing for the rendering of LaTeX and MathML. It loads MathJax on-demand to optimize performance.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.96/10

User Rating

4.4/5 (based on 11+ reviews)

Active Installations

10,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

MathJax enables rendering of embedded LaTeX or MathML in HTML pages. This plugin adds this functionality to WordPress. The MathJax JavaScript is injected on-demand only to those pages which require it. This ensures that MathJax is not loaded for all pages, which will otherwise slow loading down.

The MathJax JavaScript can be delivered from your own server, or you can use the Cloudflare Content Distribution Network (CDN), which is the preferred mechanism as it offers increased speed and stability over hosting the JavaScript and configuring the library yourself.

You may embed latex using a variety of different syntaxes. The shortcode syntax is preferred. So [latex]E=mc^2[/latex] will work out of the box. This also forces loading of MathJax.

Additionally, you can use native MathJax syntax - $$E=mc^2$$ or $E=mc^2$. However, if this is the only syntax used, the plugin must be explicitly told to load MathJax for the current page. This can be achieved by adding a [mathjax] shortcode anywhere in the post. For posts with both [latex]x[/latex] and $$x$$ syntaxes this is unnecessary.

You can use wp-latex syntax, $latex E=mc^2$. Parameters can be specified as with wp-latex but will be ignored. This means that MathJax-LaTeX should be a drop-in replacement for wp-latex. Because this conflicts with wp-latex, this behaviour is blocked when wp-latex is present, and must be explicitly enabled in the settings.

You can also specify [nomathjax] - this will block MathJax on the current page, regardless of other tags.

MathJax-LaTeX is developed on GitHub.

This plugin is copyright Phillip Lord, Newcastle University and is licensed under GPLv2.

Comparing to Alternatives

MathJax-LaTeX is a specialized plugin for rendering LaTeX equations using MathJax, with several alternatives available that offer similar functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Injects code only when needed, optimizing performance
Supports complex LaTeX equations better than some alternatives
Easy to use with minimal setup required
Active handling of inline and block math configurations
Good compatibility with recent WordPress versions

Weaknesses

Some LaTeX expressions may not render correctly in complex cases
No official pro version with extended features
Minor bugs reported with certain equation formats
Limited inline math configuration without manual code insertion

User Sentiment Analysis

With a strong majority of 5-star ratings and a small fraction of low ratings, users generally appreciate the plugin's functionality but some report issues with equation rendering.

Positive highlights

Great plugin that injects code only when needed (liuyiwp)
Easy to use and appreciated by physics enthusiasts (Find Hao, Ethan2013)
Works well with simple LaTeX syntax and saves time (zulqadar)
Enables LaTeX usage effectively in WordPress (samenezes)

Common complaints

Equations sometimes do not display at all (yecarri)

Weaknesses

Inconsistent rendering of complex LaTeX expressions
Lack of inline math configuration without manual edits
No official support or updates for pro features
Some users experience complete failure to render equations

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who want a lightweight and mostly reliable LaTeX rendering plugin integrated with MathJax, especially those comfortable with minor manual configuration.

Not ideal for

Users needing guaranteed flawless rendering of very complex equations or those who prefer a plugin with official pro support and frequent updates.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides core MathJax-LaTeX rendering capabilities sufficient for most users without additional cost.

Final Verdict

MathJax-LaTeX is a solid choice for WordPress users seeking to display LaTeX equations with minimal overhead and good overall compatibility. Its high user ratings reflect satisfaction with its ease of use and effectiveness for typical use cases.

However, occasional rendering issues with complex equations and the absence of a pro version may limit its appeal for advanced users. Considering available alternatives might be beneficial for those needing more robust or feature-rich solutions.