Surya vs Transmonkey
Surya vs Transmonkey compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Modern OCR with layout detection vs Translates documents, images, audio and video files.
Updated regularly · curated by olud.ai
Surya vs Transmonkey at a glance
| Spec | Surya | Transmonkey |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Document AI & OCR | Document AI & OCR |
| Type | OCR toolkit | File translation service (SaaS) |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Proprietary |
| Runs locally | Yes | No |
| Primary language | Python | — |
| Ease of use | Intermediate | Beginner |
| Best for | developers who need OCR beyond plain text | people who must translate finished files and keep the original layout |
| GitHub stars | — | — |
How Surya and Transmonkey score
| Criterion | Surya | Transmonkey |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | n/a | n/a |
| Maintenance | n/a | n/a |
| Ease of use | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Privacy | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| License freedom | 3.5 | 1.5 |
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
Transmonkey
Transmonkey is a hosted service that translates whole files: upload a document, image, audio or video in the browser and download a translated copy, original layout kept. 30+ formats, 130+ languages. Free trial credits for new users, then pay-as-you-go credits or subscriptions. Note before using it: uploaded files are stored on servers in the United States, deleted only on request, and pass through third-party model providers.
- Over 30 input formats, among them PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, EPUB, PNG, MP4, MP3, SRT, VTT
- Keeps document layout and writes translated text back over the image background
- Names the models it runs on: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, OpenAI's Whisper and TTS
Key differences
Surya is oCR toolkit, while Transmonkey is file translation service (SaaS). Their licenses differ (GPL-3.0 vs Proprietary), which matters if you ship a commercial product. Surya leans more intermediate-friendly, whereas Transmonkey is more suited to beginner users. They also differ in how they run (Yes vs No). In short, Surya fits developers who need OCR beyond plain text, and Transmonkey fits people who must translate finished files and keep the original layout.
Which should you choose?
Choose Surya for developers who need OCR beyond plain text. Choose Transmonkey for people who must translate finished files and keep the original layout.
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 Transmonkey easier to use?
Transmonkey is generally the easier of the two to get started with, while Surya rewards more setup with more control.
Are Surya and Transmonkey free?
Surya is free and open source (GPL-3.0), and Transmonkey is free to use but closed source. Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run Surya and Transmonkey locally?
Surya: yes · Transmonkey: no. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
Surya vs Transmonkey — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose Surya for developers who need OCR beyond plain text. Choose Transmonkey for people who must translate finished files and keep the original layout.
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