Surya vs 
olmOCR
Surya vs olmOCR compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Modern OCR with layout detection vs Turn PDFs into clean training-grade text.
Updated regularly · curated by OpenSourceAI.tech
Surya vs olmOCR at a glance
| Spec | Surya | olmOCR |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Document AI & OCR | Document AI & OCR |
| Type | OCR toolkit | OCR pipeline |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Runs locally | Yes | Yes |
| Primary language | Python | Python |
| Ease of use | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Best for | developers who need OCR beyond plain text | bulk PDF extraction for RAG or training |
| GitHub stars | — | 19.1k |
How Surya and olmOCR score
| Criterion | Surya | olmOCR |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | n/a | 3.5 |
| Maintenance | n/a | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| License freedom | 3.5 | 5.0 |
Scores are computed automatically from public signals — GitHub stars (popularity), recent commit activity (maintenance), license type (freedom), local-first design (privacy) and onboarding complexity (ease of use). Indicative, not a verdict.
What each one is
Surya
Surya is a modern OCR toolkit providing text recognition in 90+ languages plus layout analysis, reading order and table detection.
- 90+ languages with strong accuracy
- Layout, reading order and table detection
- Runs locally on modest GPUs
olmOCR
olmOCR from AI2 converts messy PDFs into clean linearised text at scale, preserving reading order across columns and figures.
- Handles multi-column academic PDFs
- Built for very large batches
- Preserves correct reading order
Key differences
Surya is oCR toolkit, while olmOCR is oCR pipeline. Their licenses differ (GPL-3.0 vs Apache-2.0), which matters if you ship a commercial product. In short, Surya fits developers who need OCR beyond plain text, and olmOCR fits bulk PDF extraction for RAG or training.
Which should you choose?
Choose Surya for developers who need OCR beyond plain text. Choose olmOCR for bulk PDF extraction for RAG or training.
There is rarely one winner — many setups use both. The right pick depends on your hardware, your team's skills, and whether you value simplicity or control.
Frequently asked questions
Is Surya or olmOCR easier to use?
Both sit at a similar level (Intermediate). Your choice should come down to fit rather than difficulty.
Are Surya and olmOCR free?
Surya is free and open source (GPL-3.0), and olmOCR is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run Surya and olmOCR locally?
Surya: yes · olmOCR: yes. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
Surya vs olmOCR — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose Surya for developers who need OCR beyond plain text. Choose olmOCR for bulk PDF extraction for RAG or training.
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