Best Data Labeling Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Doccano is ranked #1 of 24 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Label Studio and LightlyStudio. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Label Studio. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Datasaur at $0.42/mo.
Data labeling software supports annotating datasets for different uses and formats. Compared on image, text and audio/video annotation, the entries also show whether model-assisted labeling and review workflows are available. API or SDK access and deployment can help you assess how an option fits your technical setup. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing offer further comparison points. Doccano, Label Studio and LightlyStudio are among the named tools. Consider the data types you need to label, the review process your work requires, and how annotation software should connect to the rest of your workflow.
24 data labeling software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
10 of the 24 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DoccanoWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 2 | Label StudioWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $99/mo | 6.6 | |
| 3 | LightlyStudioWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | PotatoWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 5 | ArgillaWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | RoboflowWeb · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $39/mo | 6.5 | |
| 7 | Amazon SageMaker AutopilotWeb · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.4 | |
| 8 | CVATWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $1.92/mo | 6.4 | |
| 9 | DatasaurWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $0.42/mo | 6.4 | |
| 10 | SuperviselyWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | €199/mo | 6.4 | |
| 11 | BasicAIWeb · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $550/mo | 5.4 |
| 12 | LabelboxWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 13 | MakeSense.aiWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 14 | Deepen AIWeb · Self-hosted · API | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | LabelmeWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | ProdigyWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | DataloopWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | LabelUWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | SuperAnnotateWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | V7 DarwinWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | VGG Image AnnotatorWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | Kili TechnologyWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.7 |
| 23 | Segments.aiWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.7 |
| 24 | EncordWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.6 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which data labeling software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Doccano is ranked #1 of 24 with a score of 6.7. Label Studio is second and LightlyStudio third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 24 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Datasaur has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.42/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.