Doccano
Doccano: A broad, self-hosted annotation platform for text, images, and speech-to-text projects. Ranked #12 of 24 in Data Labeling Software by our editors (6.3/10); pricing: Open source; best for free self-hosted text and image annotation.
At a glance
- Editor score6.3 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forFree self-hosted text and image annotation
- Paid fromNone
- Model-assisted labelingYes
- Founded2018
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Supports text, image, and speech-to-text annotation projects
- Includes collaboration, roles, guidelines, and dataset import/export
- Offers REST API access, active learning, and model-assisted labeling
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosting requires deployment through pip, Docker, or Docker Compose
- Community-supported rather than a vendor-operated SaaS product
- Automatic labeling depends on external APIs or predefined services
Our verdict on Doccano
Doccano is an open-source data labeling application for machine learning practitioners. It supports text classification, sequence labeling, sequence-to-sequence annotation, image classification, bounding boxes, segmentation, image captioning, and speech-to-text projects. Teams can collaborate through project members and roles, making it suitable for organizations that need shared annotation workflows while retaining control over deployment. It is particularly well suited to free, self-hosted text and image annotation, as well as projects that also include audio or speech-to-text data.
Its main strength is breadth across annotation formats. Text teams can handle classification, sequence labeling, and sequence-to-sequence tasks, while image teams can create classification, bounding-box, segmentation, and captioning projects. Annotation guidelines and labeled dataset import/export support a repeatable labeling process. The platform also includes model-based pre-annotation and active learning through doccano-client, alongside automatic labeling through external APIs and predefined services. These capabilities make Doccano a strong fit for teams that want more than a basic manual labeling interface, though the advanced workflow depends on configuring the relevant services and client tools.
Deployment is available locally with pip, Docker, or Docker Compose, and Doccano can also be deployed to supported cloud providers. Its web interface, REST API, and self-hosted model fit teams that need programmatic access or control over their environment. Integrations include Amazon Comprehend, OpenAI Whisper, and spaCy. The tradeoff is that Doccano is community-supported open-source software rather than a vendor-operated SaaS product, so teams seeking a managed service should consider another option. Choose Doccano for broad annotation coverage, collaboration, and deployment control; choose an alternative if managed operations and vendor-led support are priorities.
Doccano pricing
Doccano fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Image annotation | Yes |
| Text annotation | Yes |
| Audio/video annotation | Yes |
| Model-assisted labeling | Yes |
| Review workflow | Yes |
| API or SDK access | Yes |
| Deployment | Both |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: Amazon Comprehend, OpenAI Whisper, spaCy |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | doccano.github.io |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Doccano integrations
Doccano lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- Amazon Comprehend
- OpenAI Whisper
- spaCy
Alternatives to Doccano
- ArgillaA free, open-source option for teams labeling text and multimodal AI data.9.0
- PotatoA broad self-hosted labeling platform for multimodal datasets and model-assisted workflows.8.2
- CVATCVAT combines broad annotation tools, AI assistance, collaboration, and open-source deployment.7.9
See all Doccano alternatives →
Used Doccano? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Doccano for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Doccano is listed in our Data Labeling Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/doccano/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/doccano.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update