Updated 3 years ago • 7 min read
It is often data we require is available in images, graphs, plots, and other published formats. And extracting these data from these published media is a very challenging, time-consuming task. To reduce the efforts of engineers, scientists, and researchers, here are some of the best data extraction tools listed according to rank. Some are free and some are proprietary.
PlotDigitizer.com
Website: https://plotdigitizer.com/
Platforms: Online, Windows, Linux, Mac
PlotDigitizer.com is a professional tool that reads and extracts data from your graph images. It comes in a free online version and a licensed offline version. There are ample useful features in it.
Pros:
- Accepts multiple image file formats that include PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, SVG, and many more.
- Supports numerous graphs (XY, polar, horizontal bar, vertical bar, ternary, pie, distance calculation, maps, angle, area)
- Linear and non-linear scale (logarithmic, date, time, angular)
- Create and manage multiple datasets
- Zoom panel to increase the accuracy of data points
- Autotrace feature
- Export to other formats (CSV, Excel, JSON, Python) and copy to clipboard
- Can handle big images and large data points
- Rotation tool
Cons:
- Proprietary license
Webplotdigitizer
Website: https://automeris.io/WebPlotDigitizer/
Platforms: Online, Linux, Windows, Mac
Webplotdigitizer is a very popular data extraction tool developed. It is free and available in both online and offline versions. The software is developed and maintained by a single-person software developer.
Pros:
- Accepts JPEG, PNG, TIFF
- Supports XY graphs, bar graphs, polar plots, ternary diagrams, maps, and distance & area calculation.
- You can auto-trace your graphs
- It is a free-to-use software.
- Zoom panel
- Dataset management
- Export the extracted data into CSV
Cons:
- Lacks professional support
- It fails to handle large data points
- The software lags sometimes when handling larger images.
- Dull graphical user interface
- Data points do not change dynamically.
- There are some minor glitches.
- Limited export formats
Graphreader.com
Website: https://www.graphreader.com/
Platforms: Online
Graphreader is a free online data extraction tool that supports only XY plots. Besides extracting data, it offers linear regression features.
Pros:
- Supports XY graphs
- Accepts JPEG, PNG, TIFF
- Manual tracing
- Linear regression of the extracted points.
- Export the extracted data in JSON and CSV
Cons:
- Available only online
- It works with only XY graphs
- Data points do not change dynamically.
- No auto-tracing
- Dull GUI
Engauge Digitizer
Website: http://digitizer.sourceforge.net/
Platforms: Mac, Linux, Windows
Engauge Digitizer is open-source, non-commercial software. You can download it from GitHub. The software works with only XY graphs.
Pros:
- Accepts several media formats (JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, PDF, SVG)
- It is a free and open-source project.
- Automated data extraction
- Export to a text file
- Multiple coordinate systems
Cons:
- Installing might be complicated, especially for Windows users.
- Support only XY graphs
- No online version
- Lacks professional touch
- Bad graphical user interface
Plot Digitizer (Java)
Website: http://plotdigitizer.sourceforge.net/
Platforms: Linux, Windows, Mac
Plot Digitizer is a Java-based digitizer. First released on June 3, 2001, the software has received no new update since October 27, 2015.
Pros:
- Free to use and modify the code.
- Accepts GIF, JPEG, or PNG
- Auto-tracing feature
- Export to CSV
Cons:
- Require Java to be installed on your machine
- No online version
- Unpleasant user interface
- Outdated
Digitizeit
Website: https://www.digitizeit.de/
Platforms: Linux, Windows, Mac
DigitizeIt is a paid digitizer to extract data values from graphs. It is no web version but you download the offline version for $ 49.00.
Pros:
- Accepts common image format, such as JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, BMP
- Can capture screenshots
- Export data to clipboard and CSV
- Support linear and nonlinear scale
- Multiple datasets can be created
- Auto-tracing
Cons:
- No web version
- Support only XY plot
- Limited export formats
- Dull GUI
Datathief
Website: https://datathief.org/
Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac
Datathief is a java-based program that reverse-engineers your graphs. It is paid software and you will require Java to be installed on your machine.
Pros:
- Support XY and polar graphs
- Export the extracted data to a .txt file
- Accepts online scale
Cons:
- No online version
- Require Java to be installed
- Limited graph types
- Dull interface
- Limited export formats
- There are some bugs and glitches.
GetData Graph Digitizer
Website: https://getdata-graph-digitizer.com/
Platforms: Windows
GetData Graph Digitizer is a paid tool to read and digitize your graph. It is made for only Windows users.
Pros:
- Accepts TIFF, JPEG, BMP, and PCX
- Export data to TXT, XLS, XML, DXF or EPS file
- Auto-tracing feature
Cons:
- Supports only XY graph
- Available only for Windows
- No web version
- Limited GUI
GraphClick
Website: https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/16832/graphclick
Platforms: Mac
GraphClick is a one-time payment software made only for Mac users. The software is no longer supported.
Pros:
- Accepts common image file format, GIF, TIFF, Photoshop, PDF
- Linear as well as nonlinear scales (logarithmic, inverse)
- Multiple datasets for the same image
- Automatic detection of curves, symbols, and points.
- Undo option
- Support Maps
Cons:
- Available only for Mac users
- No web version
- The app is no longer supported
- Limited Graph types
im2graph
Website: https://www.im2graph.co.il/
Platforms: Linux, Windows
Im2graph is a freemium tool to extract data from XY graphs. No updates since December 26th, 2016.
Pros:
- Optical character recognition (OCR)
- Reads BMP, PNG, JPG, TIF, & GIF
- Auto-detection
- Undo-redo
- Multiple datasets
- Export to a text file
- Logarithmic scale
Cons:
- No online version
- Support only XY plots
- Not available for Mac
- Limited export options
- No support or update since December 26th, 2016
Graph Grabber
Website: https://www.quintessa.org/software/downloads-and-demos/graph-grabber-2.0.2
Platforms: Windows
Graph Grabber is a data extraction tool from Quintessa available only for Windows users. It requires a .NET framework to work.
Pros:
- Works with only XY graphs
- Export a .CSV file
- Automatic detection
- Export to CSV
Cons:
- No online version
- Available only for windows 10
- Support only XY graphs
- Limited export options
xyExtract Graph Digitizer
Website: https://xyextract-graph-digitizer.soft112.com/
Platforms: Windows
xyExtract Graph Digitizer extract data from 2d graphs. It is a trialware available only for Windows. The last update received by the software was in March 2011.
Pros:
- Accepts GIF, PNG, JPG, and PDF
Cons:
- Can handle only 1500 data points
- No online version
- Not available for Linux and Mac
- Outdated
OriginLab
Website: https://www.originlab.com/doc/Origin-Help/Tool-Digitizer
Platforms: Linux, Windows, Mac
OriginLab’s Enhanced Digitizer is a tool, part of its main product.
Pros:
- Support XY, polar, ternary
- Auto-tracing feature
Cons:
- No online version
- Limited graph types
- Require OriginPro
- Limited functionality compared to PlotDigitizer.com
MatLab (GRABIT)
Website: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/7173-grabit
Platforms: Linux, Windows, Mac
Grabit is a MatLab function that allows users to extract data points from an image file. Of course, you will require Matlab to be installed on your computer.
Pros:
- Can read BMP, JPG, TIF, GIF, and PNG
- Multiple datasets
- Zoom in and zoom out
Cons:
- No web version
- Require Matlab
- Supports only XY graphs
- No updates or supports from developers since Jan 2007.
Dagra
Website: https://www.datadigitization.com/
Platforms: Windows
Dagra is a paid data extraction tool from Blue Leaf Software. The tool offers basic features to extract data from images.
Pros:
- Trace with Bezier curves
- Screenshot tool
- Accept JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP
- Copy-paste image from clipboard
- Linear and nonlinear scales
- Export to CSV
Cons:
- No online version
- Available only for Windows users
- Only works with XY graph
- Limited export formats
Log Evolve
Website: http://www.graytechnical.com/software/log-evolve/
Platforms: Windows
Log Evolve digitizes your graphs, images, and plots. It is particularly designed for geology.
Pros:
- Load TIF, JPG, PNG, BMP
- Supports XY, Bar, Bubble Charts
- Export CSV and Excel
Cons:
- No online version
- Not available for Mac and Linux
- Limited graph types
- Limited export formats
Ungraph
Website: http://www.biosoft.com/w/ungraph.htm
Platforms: Windows
Ungraph is a plot digitizer from Biosoft, designed especially for the biology domain. A single license is available at $300.
Pros:
- Accepts TIF, PCX, JPG, BMP, and TGA
- Accepts logarithmic scale
- Multiple lines can be digitized
Cons:
- Available only for Windows
- No web version
- Works with only XY plots
- Limited export formats
G3data
Website: http://github.com/pn2200/g3data/
Platforms: Linux
G3 data is a tool that can extract data from XY graphs. You can download it from its official GitHub page. It is written in C.
Pros:
- Free, distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL)
Cons:
- No web version
- Only for Linux
- Outdated
- Limited functionality
- Supports only XY graphs
DigitGraph
Website: https://digitgraph.soft112.com/
Platforms: Windows
DigitGraph is a trialware for manual data extraction from XY graphs. The software is no longer maintained by the developer.
Pros:
- Copy to clipboard
Cons:
- Accepts BMP files
- No automatic detection
- Support only XY graphs
- Available only for Windows
- No updates since 2017