A WebPlotDigitizer alternative that does the clicking for you
WebPlotDigitizer is the standard tool to get numbers from published charts. It earned that place. But the workflow is manual. You calibrate the axes by hand. Then you click each data point. graph2table automates this work. graph2table automatically extracts the data table from a chart image; it reports 77.7 AP@slight on the ChartX benchmark, with released data.
Speed is not the only difference. graph2table shows each extracted point on top of your original chart. You can compare the result with the pixels. You can correct each point. Then you export data that you have checked.
graph2table vs WebPlotDigitizer
| graph2table | WebPlotDigitizer | |
|---|---|---|
| Data extraction | Automatic: paste the image and the points are extracted for you | Click each data point by hand, or tune the semi-automatic detection per chart |
| Axis calibration | Automatic: axes and scales are read from the image | Click the axis corner points and enter their values for every chart |
| Verifying the result | Every extracted point is drawn on your original chart; drag, add, or remove points and the table updates | Visual inspection while you click; re-checking a chart means redoing it |
| Batch processing | Batch upload on paid accounts | One chart at a time |
| Published accuracy evidence | 77.7 AP@slight on the ChartX benchmark, with the extraction data released for inspection | Third-party reliability studies of the manual workflow |
| Price | Free preview without an account, 2 free conversions with a free account, then paid credits | Free and open source |
| Platform | Web app | Web app and desktop builds |
How the workflows compare
In WebPlotDigitizer, each chart follows the same routine. Load the image. Click the known axis points and type their values. Select the axis type. Then click each data point yourself, or configure the color detection and correct its output. This is careful work. You do it again for the next chart.
In graph2table, you upload or paste the chart image. The extraction starts automatically. The tool reads the axes, the scales, and the data series from the image. Your work changes from clicking points to checking them. The extracted points show as an editable overlay on the chart. The table updates when you adjust a point. Paid accounts can upload charts in batches.
This verification step is important for a meta-analysis or a systematic review. Each number in your dataset stays auditable against the source figure.
Where WebPlotDigitizer still wins
An honest comparison cuts both ways. WebPlotDigitizer supports chart types that need manual calibration. Examples are polar, ternary, and map plots. It runs as a desktop app for offline use. It is free and open source, with a long academic track record. If that describes your work, keep using it. graph2table is built for the common case: standard charts, in volume, where the manual routine is the bottleneck.
Frequently asked questions
Is graph2table free like WebPlotDigitizer?
Partly. You can try a conversion without an account and see your chart digitized. A free account includes 2 full conversions with CSV and Excel export. After that it is paid, with credit packs that do not expire. WebPlotDigitizer is free and open source.
How is the extraction verified?
The tool draws each extracted point as an overlay on your original chart image. You can drag a point that the model got wrong. You can add missing points or remove wrong ones. The data table updates instantly. You do not have to trust a number that you cannot see on the chart.
How accurate is the automatic extraction?
graph2table reports 77.7 AP@slight on the ChartX benchmark. The full set of extractions behind that number is published. You can inspect the results chart by chart.
When is WebPlotDigitizer the better choice?
WebPlotDigitizer is the better choice in three cases. You need chart types with manual calibration, such as polar, ternary, or map plots. You need a desktop tool that works offline. Or your budget is zero and your volume is low.
Try it on one of your charts
The fastest comparison: run a chart that you already digitized by hand. Check the overlay against your numbers. You do not need an account for the first look.
Automeris develops WebPlotDigitizer. graph2table is an independent tool. It has no affiliation with Automeris.