DataFromChart and PlotDigitizer.com both offer browser-based chart extraction, but they are not interchangeable. DataFromChart focuses on rectangular bar, column, line, scatter, and area charts with manual, colour-based, and optional AI-assisted methods. PlotDigitizer’s free web app supports more graph types, while its paid Pro desktop software adds autotracing and a wider toolset.
This page compares the capabilities each vendor currently documents, checked on 9 August 2026. It does not infer speed or precision from marketing descriptions.
At a glance
| DataFromChart | PlotDigitizer.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Hosted browser application | Free browser app; paid Pro desktop software for Windows, macOS, and Linux |
| Documented image input | PNG, JPEG, SVG, PDF | Free app: JPG/JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, BMP, SVG, SVGz |
| Chart types | Rectangular bar, column, line, scatter, and area workflows | XY, horizontal and vertical bar, pie, polar, ternary, maps, distance, angle, and area |
| Axis scales | Linear, logarithmic, date, categorical | Free app: linear, log10, date/time; Pro adds more scales |
| Manual extraction | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic methods | Colour-based extraction and optional AI assistance | Pro autotracing algorithms; not listed for the free app |
| Free-app exports | CSV, TSV, XLSX, JSON | Clipboard, CSV, MS Excel, Python array, JSON |
| Offline option | No | Pro desktop software |
| Project or dataset storage | Browser project save | Pro dataset management |
Scope of the free browser apps
DataFromChart requires a registered account to upload a user’s own chart, while a prepared sample can be used without signing in. Manual extraction, colour extraction, and CSV, TSV, XLSX, and JSON export do not require buying AI credits. Optional AI extraction uses included runs and then paid credits.
PlotDigitizer’s free online app provides manual calibration and point placement across its listed chart types. Its feature matrix documents common exports in the free version but reserves autotracing, image editing, advanced scales, multiple-dataset management, and additional export formatting for Pro.
This corrects two claims that appeared in the earlier version of this comparison: PlotDigitizer’s official pages do not limit the web app to linear and logarithmic XY charts, and they do list Excel output in the free online version.
Chart types and calibration
DataFromChart supports linear, logarithmic, date, and categorical axes for familiar rectangular charts. The workflow includes a preparation step for confirming the chart and axis types before calibration.
PlotDigitizer’s free app exposes a broader list: 2D XY, horizontal bar, vertical bar, pie or doughnut, polar, ternary, map with scale, distance, angle, and area. For XY calibration, the current app documents linear, date/time, and log10 scales. Pro documentation adds natural logarithmic, reciprocal, and other scale options.
Choose PlotDigitizer when one of those additional coordinate systems or measurement modes is required. Choose based on other workflow and output needs when both tools support the chart.
Manual and automatic extraction
Both free browser workflows support calibration, manual point placement, point adjustment, and deletion.
DataFromChart adds colour-based extraction with a live tolerance preview. Its optional AI path can propose axes and points, after which the user can correct the project before export.
PlotDigitizer Pro documents colour masks and several autotracing algorithms for points, curves, histograms, and bars. The vendor’s current feature matrix marks these as Pro features rather than features of the free online app.
Export and downstream use
DataFromChart exports CSV, TSV, XLSX, and JSON. Its XLSX output can include the source image and axis labels with the recovered table.
PlotDigitizer’s free online app documents clipboard, CSV, MS Excel, Python array, and JSON exports. Pro adds custom separators, MATLAB, matrix, HTML, LaTeX, TSV, sorting, and number-format controls.
Confirm the exact file created by either tool if a downstream system requires a specific spreadsheet extension or workbook structure.
When DataFromChart fits
Consider DataFromChart when:
- the source is a rectangular bar, column, line, scatter, or area chart;
- PDF import is part of the workflow;
- the output should be CSV, TSV, XLSX, or JSON;
- including the source chart in an XLSX workbook helps review; or
- manual, colour-based, and optional AI-assisted methods should be available in one hosted project.
When PlotDigitizer fits
Consider PlotDigitizer when:
- the chart is polar, ternary, pie, a map, or a measurement task;
- its free manual browser app covers the required workflow;
- Pro autotracing or image-editing tools are needed; or
- a paid desktop application for Windows, macOS, or Linux is preferred.
A fair way to decide
Use the same source image and the same calibration ticks in both tools. Compare the correction workflow and the exported file against the original values and the requirements of the next person or system receiving the data.
Review DataFromChart on a prepared chart. Open the sample extractor without an account, or register to upload your own image or PDF.
Sources
- PlotDigitizer current online app and version
- PlotDigitizer feature matrix
- PlotDigitizer Pro documentation
- DataFromChart pricing and included features
- DataFromChart supported chart and file types
See also
Try it on your own chart
Create a free account to upload an image or PDF, calibrate the axes, and export CSV or XLSX. Or start with a built-in sample without signing in.
Open the extractor
