im2graph is a lightweight Linux/macOS desktop digitizer — manual core, no auto-extraction or fancy axes. DataFromChart is a browser app with color-mask, AI calibration, and XLSX-with-chart export. Pick DataFromChart for anything beyond the simplest manual job; pick im2graph for a tiny no-frills binary on Linux when you’re happy clicking every point.
At a glance
| DataFromChart | im2graph | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Platform | Any browser | Linux, macOS |
| Offline use | No | Yes |
| Axis types | Linear, log, date | Linear |
| Color auto-extraction | Yes | No |
| AI calibration | Yes | No |
| Manual placement | Yes | Yes |
| CSV / TSV | Yes | CSV |
| XLSX | Yes (chart embedded) | No |
| JSON | Yes | No |
| Project save | Yes | Limited |
What each one is best at
DataFromChart wins on almost every feature. Color-mask, AI calibration, XLSX with chart embedded, log and date axes, no install. Beyond a small linear scatter, the workflow gap is large.
im2graph wins on minimalism and remote-desktop friendliness. A few MB, instant startup, works over slow SSH X-forwarding where heavier tools struggle. On a low-bandwidth link digitizing a twenty-point chart, im2graph opens faster than DataFromChart loads.
Workflow comparison
Both follow calibrate-then-click. Differences:
- Calibration. Both manual; DataFromChart adds AI.
- Extraction. im2graph manual-only. DataFromChart adds color-mask and vision-LLM.
- Export. im2graph: CSV. DataFromChart: CSV, TSV, XLSX (chart embedded), JSON.
- Axes. im2graph: linear only. DataFromChart: linear, log, date.
When to pick DataFromChart
- More than ~20 points; don’t want to click every one.
- XLSX with chart embedded for visual verification.
- Log or date axis.
- AI to handle calibration.
- Windows, Chromebook, or anywhere im2graph doesn’t run.
When to pick im2graph
- Linux or macOS, want a tiny native binary on disk.
- Small linear scatter, clicking anyway, CSV is enough.
- Slow remote desktop / SSH X-forwarding where a browser app is sluggish.
- Unix “does one thing” philosophy.
Cost
Both free. im2graph under its own license; DataFromChart free for individual extraction.
Try DataFromChart on a chart you’d usually click by hand in im2graph. The extractor runs in your browser; with more than a couple dozen points, color-mask extraction saves you the click-fest.
See also
- DataFromChart vs Engauge Digitizer — the heavyweight OSS desktop comparison.
- DataFromChart vs WebPlotDigitizer — both work in a browser.
- WebPlotDigitizer alternatives — all seven tools — the roundup.
Try it on your own chart
Upload an image, click your data points, calibrate the axes, and export CSV. Under three minutes, no login required for a single export.
Open the extractor
