# Docling

Framework · https://godooo.ai/en/framework/docling

> Docling is an open-source AI framework, launched in 2024, made for developers.

A library that parses PDFs, Office files and other documents into structured data for AI pipelines.

Main jobs: Document parsing, Text recognition (OCR). It is open source and free to use. You can use it on your own server, offline on your own machine, in the terminal and through an API.

## At a glance

- **Type:** [Framework](https://godooo.ai/en/browse#framework)
- **Launched:** 2024
- **Galaxy:** [Models & APIs](https://godooo.ai/en/galaxy/builders)
- **Open source:** Yes · MIT
- **Source code:** [github.com/docling-project/docling](https://github.com/docling-project/docling)
- **GitHub stars:** 67,811
- **How you run it:** Self-host · Runs offline · Terminal · API
- **Made for:** Developers
- **Protocols:** [Model Context Protocol](https://godooo.ai/en/protocol/mcp)
- **Website:** [docling-project.github.io](https://docling-project.github.io/docling)

## What it can do

- **[Document parsing](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/document-parsing)** — main job, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “Parsing of multiple document formats including PDF, DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, HTML, EPUB, Apple Pages, WAV, MP3, WebVTT, Box Notes, email formats” (read on [docling-project.github.io](https://docling-project.github.io/docling/), 2026-09-24)
- **[Text recognition (OCR)](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/ocr)** — main job, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “Extensive OCR support for scanned PDFs and images” (read on [docling-project.github.io](https://docling-project.github.io/docling/), 2026-09-24)
- **[Knowledge base (RAG)](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/knowledge-base)** — supported, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “RAG with LangChain RAG with LlamaIndex” (read on [docling-project.github.io](https://docling-project.github.io/docling/), 2026-09-24)
- **[Speech to text](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/speech-to-text)** — supported, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “Audio support with Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) models” (read on [docling-project.github.io](https://docling-project.github.io/docling/), 2026-09-24)

## Alternatives

- **[MinerU](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/mineru)** (Open source, free): Also does: Document parsing, Text recognition (OCR)
- **[Marker](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/marker)** (Open source, free): Also does: Document parsing, Text recognition (OCR)
- **[Unstructured](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/unstructured)** (Open source, free): Also does: Document parsing, Knowledge base (RAG), Text recognition (OCR)
- **[PaddleOCR](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/paddleocr)** (Open source, free): Also does: Document parsing, Text recognition (OCR)
- **[Surya](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/surya)** (Open source, free): Also does: Document parsing, Text recognition (OCR)
- **[MarkItDown](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/markitdown)** (Open source, free): Also does: Document parsing, Speech to text, Text recognition (OCR)
- **[LlamaIndex](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/llamaindex)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Document parsing, Text recognition (OCR)
- **[RAGFlow](https://godooo.ai/en/product/ragflow)** (Open source, free): Also does: Document parsing, Knowledge base (RAG)
- **[FastGPT](https://godooo.ai/en/product/fastgpt)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Document parsing; no code needed
- **[kotaemon](https://godooo.ai/en/product/kotaemon)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Document parsing; no code needed
- **[PDF Skill](https://godooo.ai/en/skill/pdf)**: Also does: Document parsing
- **[PrivateGPT](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/privategpt)** (Open source, free): Also does: Knowledge base (RAG), Document parsing

## Questions

### What is Docling?

Docling is an open-source AI framework, launched in 2024, made for developers. A library that parses PDFs, Office files and other documents into structured data for AI pipelines.

### Is Docling free?

Yes. Docling is open source (MIT) and free to use.

### Is Docling open source?

Yes, under the MIT license. The source code is at https://github.com/docling-project/docling.

### Can Docling run locally?

Yes. Docling can run offline on your own machine. It can also be self-hosted on your own server.

### What can Docling do?

Main jobs: Document parsing, Text recognition (OCR). It can also do: Knowledge base (RAG), Speech to text.

### What are open-source alternatives to Docling?

Open-source ones: MinerU, Marker, Unstructured, PaddleOCR, Surya, MarkItDown, LlamaIndex and RAGFlow. Others: PDF Skill.

## Sources

- [docling-project.github.io](https://docling-project.github.io/docling/) — checked 2026-09-24
- [github.com](https://github.com/docling-project/docling)

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Last updated 2026-09-24 · sources checked 2026-09-24 · Markdown version of https://godooo.ai/en/framework/docling. Every page on this site has one: add .md to its address.