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WP-KaTeX

By ascom

Content Management / Blog & Article Publishing

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

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

WP-KaTeX Review - In-Depth Analysis

Integrates the super-fast KaTeX LaTeX equation typesetting engine with WordPress. Create beautiful, yet performant math in your posts and pages.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.7/10

User Rating

4.6/5 (based on 11+ reviews)

Active Installations

700+

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

The KaTeX WordPress plugin integrates the super-fast KaTeX math typesetting engine with your WordPress website. The plugin allows you to put LaTeX in a [latex]...[/latex] shortcode, and beautiful math appears on your post or page.

The plugin also has an option to use the excellent jsDelivr CDN to load the KaTeX scripts, further increasing the performance of the plugin.

Equations in [latex display="true"]...[/latex] will be rendered in display mode (rather than inline mode) and centered on its own line.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP-KaTeX is a specialized plugin for rendering LaTeX math expressions in WordPress, with several alternatives available that offer similar functionality with different approaches.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Renders math expressions without generating images, preserving text clarity.
Easy to use with straightforward shortcode implementation.
Compatible with other LaTeX plugins when shortcode is adjusted.
Highly rated for visual quality and performance.
No known security vulnerabilities reported.

Weaknesses

Limited support for some LaTeX packages like TikZ.
Shortcode conflicts require manual editing for coexistence with similar plugins.
One reported case of incompatibility with WordPress 5.2.2.
No pro version or advanced premium features available.

User Sentiment Analysis

The plugin enjoys overwhelmingly positive reviews with a 4.6 average rating, mostly 5-star, indicating strong user satisfaction. However, a small minority report functionality issues.

Positive highlights

"Its works fine with wordpress" - zulqadar
"fantastic plugin." - jtivazquez
"This plugin is amazing since it doesn't generate images" - giannit
"Very powerful and helpful. Thanks" - Daniel Kielmann
"It works perfectly! Fantastic work!" - walterzelhofer

Common complaints

Plugin does not work at all on WordPress 5.2.2 as reported by one user.

Weaknesses

Lack of support for some LaTeX packages like TikZ.
Potential shortcode conflicts with other LaTeX plugins.
No updates or fixes reported for compatibility issues.
No premium support or advanced features available.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a lightweight, easy-to-use LaTeX rendering plugin for WordPress that produces clean, non-image math expressions and who are comfortable with minor shortcode adjustments if needed.

Not ideal for

Users who require full LaTeX package support including TikZ, those needing guaranteed compatibility with all WordPress versions, or those wanting advanced premium features and dedicated support.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers full functionality for rendering LaTeX math expressions without image generation, suitable for most users.

Final Verdict

WP-KaTeX is a highly rated and reliable plugin for rendering LaTeX math expressions in WordPress, praised for its ease of use and clean output. It stands out by not generating images, which benefits site performance and appearance.

While it lacks advanced features and has minor compatibility issues reported by a small number of users, it remains a strong choice for those needing straightforward LaTeX support without premium costs or security concerns.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free WP-KaTeX plugin.

Equation

Katex

Latex

Math

MathJax

Screenshots

FAQ

KaTeX is fast. It’s really fast, compared to MathJax. In fact, it’s a staggering 35 times faster than MathJax. Your page will load much faster with KaTeX, especially if it’s heavy with equations.