Surya vs 
PaddleOCR
Surya vs PaddleOCR compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Modern OCR with layout detection vs Industrial OCR with tiny models.
Updated regularly · curated by OpenSourceAI.tech
Surya vs PaddleOCR at a glance
| Spec | Surya | PaddleOCR |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Document AI & OCR | Document AI & OCR |
| Type | OCR toolkit | OCR toolkit |
| 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 | production OCR on constrained hardware |
| GitHub stars | — | 85.3k |
How Surya and PaddleOCR score
| Criterion | Surya | PaddleOCR |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | n/a | 4.5 |
| Maintenance | n/a | 5.0 |
| 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
PaddleOCR
PaddleOCR is an industrial-strength multilingual OCR toolkit with ultra-lightweight models that run from servers down to edge devices.
- Ultra-light models deployable on edge devices
- 80+ languages, battle-tested in industry
- Complete tooling from training to serving
Key differences
Surya is oCR toolkit, while PaddleOCR is oCR toolkit. 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 PaddleOCR fits production OCR on constrained hardware.
Which should you choose?
Choose Surya for developers who need OCR beyond plain text. Choose PaddleOCR for production OCR on constrained hardware.
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 PaddleOCR easier to use?
Both sit at a similar level (Intermediate). Your choice should come down to fit rather than difficulty.
Are Surya and PaddleOCR free?
Surya is free and open source (GPL-3.0), and PaddleOCR is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run Surya and PaddleOCR locally?
Surya: yes · PaddleOCR: yes. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
Surya vs PaddleOCR — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose Surya for developers who need OCR beyond plain text. Choose PaddleOCR for production OCR on constrained hardware.
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