Organizations rely on data analytics to generate business insight within their industries. It allows businesses to improve operational efficiencies, lessen risks, and deliver better customer experiences. Business organizations can access all the required data for their analytics purpose by making use of data extraction technology.
It becomes vital for organizations to have an authoritative data extraction process that helps in converting the big, unfiltered data into clean and usable content for the business growth.
What is data extraction?
Data extraction is the process of scraping valuable data from the available resources in a reliable manner. It allows data processing or storage by retrieving data from the data sources.
The data is captured within semi-structured and unstructured sources like PDFs(Portable Document Format), text files, barcodes, images, and PDF forms. The data extraction tools help in extracting data from these sources, which are then used for analytics and reporting.
What are the different types of data extraction tools?
The commonly used data extraction tools are as follows:
What are the features of the data extraction tool?
The data extraction tools should have the following features that allow in transforming incoming data into information and help in generating the actionable business insights:
Why is data extraction software necessary for the business?
The data extraction application offers numerous benefits; let’s see how!
Implementation of data extraction process
The data comes in different forms like financial insights, market research data, business analytics, or prospect databases. The business can leverage data with a data extraction tool that brings efficiency to the business.
The prominent stage in pulling the data is through the ETL process, which means Extract, Transform, and Load. This process allows drawing data from multiple sources into a single database. The ETL process involves three parts to extract data:
What are the consequences of not having a data extraction tool?
Data being the heart of any business, not having a compiled form can affect the business in various ways. Without this tool, there will be:
So to avoid all the ill effects of not having a data extraction tool, it becomes significant for the businesses to opt for the promising data extraction tool that allows the smooth functioning of the business proceedings.
In the market, there are lots of data extraction tools. If your budget is less and prefers a customizable app, then free and open source data extraction tool is an apt choice for you. Here you can explore the list of high-quality data extraction software that will bring high productivity and efficiency in your business.
Before exploring the list of free and open source data extraction software, let's have a quick look at the comparison chart of free and open source data extraction software.
Comparison Chart of Free and Open Source Data Extraction Software
Free and open source data extraction software
1. Textricator (free and open source)
Textricator is the open source data extraction software that extracts text from PDFs, which are computer-generated. This free data extraction tool can help the users to extract data to CSV (Comma-separated values) or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation).
In almost any layout, this app can extract data from PDFS. It generates structured data. You don’t require any programming skills to use this app. With the YAML file (YAML Ain’t Markup Language – works as a human-readable data serialization language for configuration files), the user can describe the structure of the document. The software works on OCR'd materials (Optical Character Recognition that converts different types of documents).
(Source: Textricator)
Core functionalities:
- Web data extraction
- Disparate data collection
- Document Extraction
- Data Cleansing
- Unstructured Data Extraction
- Extract text from the PDF
- Generate JSON
- Parse (analyze and describe) the text that is in columns and rows
2.Outwit Hub (free)
Outwit Hub is the free data extraction software that helps in exploring the in-depth details of the Web. From online sources, this app collects and organizes data automatically. The software serves as a powerful tool that believes in extracting information elements. It arranges the information in the available collections.
The app recognizes and extracts links, structured data along with non-structured data. For extensive volume extractions, this app includes advanced extraction and automation features. This program covers sophisticated scraping functions and data structure recognition scraping
(Source: Outwit Hub)
Core functionalities:
- Extract and download images along with documents
- Extract text along with a group of words
- Custom Scrapers
- Generate automatic query and URL
- Lists queries and links
- Macro automation
- Email Address Extraction
- Grab and export web content
- Auto Image Flagging
- Rapid Image Review
- Different data collection
3. Octoparse (free)
If you are looking for an automatic data extraction tool, then Octoparse is the apt choice for you. It is the free data extraction software that can scrape web data quickly. You don’t require coding.
Within easy clicks, you can turn web pages into structured data. It provides high productivity. You can effortlessly pullout web data in three steps - point, click, and extract. This easy-to-use app deals with all websites. It is engineered for the most data extraction requirements in the field of price monitoring, lead generation, marketing, and research.
(Source: Octoparse)
Core functionalities:
- Cloud Extraction
- Schedule Extraction
- Automatic IP Rotation
- Deal with the sorts of Websites
- Pont-and-Click Interface
- API (application programming interface), CSV ( comma-separated values), and Excel Database
- Document and Image Extraction
- Back-File Conversion
- Auto Image Flagging
- Rapid Image Review
- Unstructured data extraction
- Electronic File Handling
4. ScrapeStorm (free)
ScrapeStorm is an AI-powered data extraction tool that is used for visual web scraping. This free data extraction software was built initially by the ex-Google crawler team You will find this app easy-to-use as it does not require programming. The solution holds powerful scraping capabilities. It can meet the scraping needs of teams and enterprises with their professional services. Effortlessly, users can export data to databases and websites.
It supports all types of operating systems. Without writing any code, you can extract data from almost any websites with the help of this solution. This leading technology supports Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. You can conveniently switch the platforms.
(Source: SrapeStorm)
Core functionalities:
- Data Cleansing
- Back-File Conversion
- Pricing Extraction
- Web Data Extraction
- Auto Image Flagging
- Quick image review
- Unstructured data extraction
- Ad blocking
- Cloud Account
- Image and file download
- Concurrent task running
- Scheduled Extractions
- URL generator
5. WebHarvy (open source, paid)
WebHarvy is the open source data extraction tool that can scrape data from the websites automatically. It scraps text, images, emails, and URLs from the sites. This visual web scraper is intuitive and powerful.
Quickly users can start the scraping process as this software is extremely easy-to-use. The built-in scheduler, proxy/VPN support, and Smart Help system of this application help in extracting data from multiple pages, keywords, and categories.
It serves as the visual web scraper that makes use of a point and click interface to scrape data. In web pages, this tool can smartly identify patterns. This cloud-based tool extracts data from many areas that include real estate listings, social networks, forums, yellow pages, and product listings. The user can save the extracted data in a variety of formats.
(Source: WebHarvy)
Core functionalities:
- Crawl multiple pages
- Automate browser tasks
- Image Extraction
- Technical Assistance
- Regular Expressions
- Category Scraping
- Submit Keywords
- Safeguard Privacy
- Intelligent pattern detection
- Download Images
- Point and Click Interface
- Technical Support
- Easy configuration
6. Scrapy (open source, free)
If you want to extract data in a fast and simple way, then you can rely on this open source web scraping software.It has a collaborative framework that can effortlessly build and run your web spiders.
This free data extraction softwareserves as a web crawler for general purposes. It is extensible by design as without touching the core, the users can easily plug new functionality. This app is written in Python. It runs on Mac, Linux, BSD, and Windows.
From different pages, this fast high-level web crawling software extracts structured data efficiently. The app includes data mining, monitoring, and automated testing.
(Source: Scrapy)
Core functionalities:
- Portable, Python
- Easily extensible
- Fast and powerful
- Document, web data, and email address extraction
- Unstructured data extraction
- Image extraction
- Data cleansing
- Rapid Image Review
7. Webhose.io (30 days free trial)
Webhose.io provides a free trial of 30 days and can turn the unstructured web content into machine-readable data. Across several vertical content domains, this app delivers comprehensive coverage of web data sets. It serves as the cyber security threat intelligence and data breach detection tool.
In all languages, this app analyzes media outlets. With this app, you can remain updated with your database progress. It is accessible to mint data from any of the data structures. This tool safeguards your database. If there is any threat from the dark web, then this data extraction tool exposes the same. This app helps companies in financial analysis, market research, AI & Machine learning along with media & web monitoring. It delivers structured and organized datasets.
(Source: Webhose.io)
Core functionalities:
- Media and Web Monitoring
- Pricing Extraction
- Document and image extraction
- Disparate data extraction
- Monitor and analyze media outlets
- Across the blogosphere, tracks significant updates
- Uncover cyber threats
- Data breaches
- Ideal predictive models
8. Parsehub (free)
Pareshhub is the free data extraction tool that allows users to have access to unlimited data. This web scraping software is powerful that can extract millions of data points from any website. It is a cloud-based application that is incredibly scalable.
Analysts and Consultants, Sales Leads, Developers, Aggregators and Marketplaces, Data Scientists and Journalists, and eCommerce all find this data mining tool efficient. From any dynamic website, the user can scrape data. This browser-based tool is easy-to-use. It can effortlessly extract text, images, and attributes.
(Source:Parsehub)
Core functionalities:
- Cloud-based scraping
- Schedule projects
- Scrape Images
- Conditionals and expressions
- Automatic IP Rotation
- Pagination and Navigation Scraping
- Multiple Output Formats
- Flexible and Scalable
- Disparate data collection
- Data Cleansing
- Rapid Image Review
- Web data extraction
- Document Extraction
9. Tabula (free and open source)
Tabula is the open source data scraping tool that extracts data from PDF files. With the help of a simple and easy-to-use interface, this efficient tool allows users to extract the data into a CSV or Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
This app can effortlessly work on Mac, Linux, and Windows. If you are looking for a free data extraction tool that helps in liberating data tables that are trapped inside PDF files, then Tabula is an ideal choice for you. It is meant for text mining and is designed for general-purpose analysis. This easy-to-use application is suitable for students, learners, consumers, teachers, managers, tutors, researchers, developers, and designers.
(Source:Tabula)
Core functionalities:
- Three principal operating systems
- Offers user security levels
- Keeps in compliance
- Data extraction
- Text mining
- Tool orientation
- Image and document extraction
- Pricing extraction
- Web Data Extraction
- Data cleansing
- Disparate data collection
10. SPIDA (open source, paid)
Point duty offers SPIDA Suite Web Crawlers that helps in collecting unstructured data from the deep and dark web. This open source web scraping software comes in three configurations – Huntsman Spida, Wolf Spida, and Funnelweb Spida. All these three configurations allow investigators to acquire and gather the materials accurately for any type of task.
The SPIDA-generated data, along with designs, photos, forms, and analysis results, all are stored and managed by SPIDA DB in a centralized location. The user can create the structure management system by making use of user-friendly SPIDA’s products. It saves and manages the asset data of the users.
(Source: SPIDA)
Core functionalities:
- Superior User Interface
- Cloud-based Analysis
- Image Extraction
- Web Data Extraction
- Auto Image Flagging
- Rapid Image Review
- Unstructured Data Extraction
- Document Extraction
- Email address Extraction
- Pricing extraction
- Email Address Extraction
Apart from the above mentioned free and open source data extraction software, there is yet another data scraping tool – ReportMiner that is gaining popularity. Below you can go through the core features of the same.
ReportMiner – (Popular)
ReportMiner provides end-to-end data integration and ingestion solution to the users. Business data that is trapped in documents like PDFs, DOC, TXT, XLS; all are liberated with the help of this data extraction tool. This tool is powerful, reliable, and extremely useful for users. For business intelligence applications and operations, this data extraction software can extract, transform and load data into the final destination.
If you are looking tool for pdf conversion, then ReportMiner is an excellent tool for you. The efficient features of this tool will take your business to a different level. The user will find this tool useful for easy pdf automation. From raw screenprints, this user-friendly tool does a good job of extracting data. This app has email notification, work automation, and built-in-scheduler functionality.
(Source: ReportMiner)
Core functionalities:
- Extracts information from unstructured data formats
- Template-based data extraction approach
- Automates data extraction process
- Data quality and validation
- Export data to any destination
- SaaS data extraction platform
- Data cleansing
- Data transformation
- Email Address and IP extraction
- Disparate data collection
- Document extraction
Epilogue
The filtered data in businesses help in removing the irrelevant data that can be incorrect information, duplicate records, or poorly formatted data sets. Clean data is necessary for a proper decision-making process in the organization. Especially the big data requires data cleansing. For correct data analytics, the cleaning of big data is essential.
Businesses can analyze the client’s company data and learn the needs and requirements of the company with the help of data extraction tools. Informative data can get a hold of a better perspective for growth.
“The goal is to turn data into information and information into insight.” –
Carly Fiorina, former chief executive officer, Hewlett Packard.
An online data extraction tool allows businesses to make a transition from paper to digital. Companies can use unstructured data correctly with the help of free and open source data scraping tools.
The list of free and open source web scraping software mentioned in this article will allow organizations to have control over the information. In case you have come across any of the software mentioned in this article, then feel free to share your valuable views on the same.
If you are looking for more advanced features of the data extraction tool, then you can explore the GoodFirms platform where you will find the list to top-notch data extraction tools for your organization.
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