Google Docs is great for writing together. But when a document has to become a thesis or a proposal with citations, numbered figures and a consistent look, you start fixing the format by hand. That is where TommDoc helps.
Updated: October 2026
Quick advice
Citations to ČSN ISO 690, the Czech citation standard, numbered figures and tables, and a PDF from a template you adjust to your school’s guidelines. In Google Docs you would fix all that by hand.
How it works for studentsFive differences
Insert a source with @ and the bibliography builds itself to ČSN ISO 690, the Czech citation standard, in the numeric, author and date, or note variant. Sources come from Zotero, by DOI and ISBN, or from a BibTeX or RIS file.
Google Docs:the built-in citations offer only APA, MLA and Chicago, and generated parts such as the bibliography heading are in English only. Zotero works through an add-in with the Zotero Connector in Chrome or Firefox.
Captions get their numbers automatically. Insert a reference in the text with #, and when you move a figure, the numbers and references update. Add a list of figures and tables with one command.
Google Docs:you will not find automatic caption numbering or cross-references in the documentation. It is done by hand or with an add-in.
The template sets the page size, margins, fonts, heading numbering, page numbers and citation style. It is only a starting point: you edit the look in a form or directly in the template’s code and see the changes in the preview right away. The PDF then looks the same every time, whoever writes the document.
Google Docs:the PDF looks exactly like the document. Format, spacing and page breaks are up to you.
Write a diagram as text and it draws itself. A chart comes from data you paste into a table in the chart dialog (copied from Excel works too). Write equations in a simpler notation or in LaTeX for everyday math, or let Tomm, the AI assistant, write them for you.
Google Docs:charts from Google Sheets, equations in the built-in editor (shortcuts like \alpha, not full LaTeX), diagrams drawn by hand in Drawings or inserted as images.
Tomm is in every plan. Ask about the document, have it add a paragraph, fix the grammar or create a diagram. It writes the edits straight into the text.
Google Docs:Gemini, availability depends on the account type and Google Workspace plan.
Invite classmates or colleagues to the space. TommDoc takes care of citations, numbering and the look. Nobody has to learn a new way of writing.
To be fair
In Chrome or Edge with the Google Docs Offline extension you can write without a connection. TommDoc needs a connection.
Download .docx, Markdown, PDF and other formats. TommDoc exports to PDF only and cannot create or open .docx files yet.
In detail
| Area | TommDoc | Google Docs | Who leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing and format | |||
| PDF look set by a template | The template takes care of the PDF look. You edit it in a form or in code, with a preview. | Paragraph styles, you police the format by hand. | TommDoc |
| Citations | ČSN ISO 690 in three variants, APA, IEEE, Chicago and MLA. | Only APA, MLA and Chicago built in, headings in English only. Zotero via the Zotero Connector in Chrome or Firefox. | TommDoc |
| Figure and table numbering | Automatic, including references and lists. | Missing from the documentation, by hand or with an add-in. | TommDoc |
| Table of contents | One command. | Built in. | Even |
| Equations | A simpler notation or LaTeX, Tomm helps. | Built-in equation editor, not full LaTeX. | TommDoc |
| Diagrams and charts | Diagrams from text. A chart from data you paste into a table in the chart dialog (copied from Excel works too). | Charts from Google Sheets, diagrams drawn by hand in Drawings or inserted as images. | TommDoc |
| Footnotes | Pick a note citation style (Chicago or ČSN ISO 690) and the citations become footnotes in the PDF. | You insert them anywhere in the text. | It depends |
| Collaboration | |||
| Several people writing at once | Yes. | Yes. | Even |
| Comments and mentions | Yes, with threads. | Yes, with threads. | Even |
| Version history | Automatic and named versions, preview, restore. Free 7 days, Team a year. | Version history, up to 40 named versions. | Even |
| AI and output | |||
| AI assistant Tomm | In every plan, edits the document directly. | Gemini depending on the account type and plan. | TommDoc |
| Export to .docx and other formats | PDF from the template only. | .docx, PDF, Markdown and more. | Google Docs |
| Import | Markdown and ZIP. It cannot open .docx files yet. | .docx files and Markdown. | Google Docs |
| Working offline | No, TommDoc needs a connection. | In Chrome or Edge with the Google Docs Offline extension. | Google Docs |
| Publishing on the web | A page with its tree of subpages, by link. | Publish to the web. | Even |
Writing and format
PDF look set by a template
TommDocCitations
TommDocFigure and table numbering
TommDocTable of contents
EvenEquations
TommDocDiagrams and charts
TommDocFootnotes
It dependsCollaboration
Several people writing at once
EvenComments and mentions
EvenVersion history
EvenAI and output
AI assistant Tomm
TommDocExport to .docx and other formats
Google DocsImport
Google DocsWorking offline
Google DocsPublishing on the web
EvenTry it on a group project. Invite the whole team to the space.
FAQ
Citations to ČSN ISO 690, numbered figures and a PDF that looks the same every time.