What is LlamaParse?
LlamaParse is the document processing product from LlamaIndex. It reads complex files such as PDFs, Office documents, spreadsheets and images, including scans and handwritten notes, and converts them into clean, structured outputs that AI applications and pipelines can use.
The platform works through layout-aware agentic OCR. Specialized agents handle text, tables, charts and images separately and route each part to the right expert, while auto-correction loops check and fix errors. You can parse documents into Markdown, JSON, XLSX, HTML tables or annotated PDFs, extract data into a defined schema, split and classify documents using natural-language rules, and build chunking and embedding pipelines for retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
Key features
- Layout-aware parsing of 130+ file formats
- Table and chart extraction into structured data
- Schema-based data extraction without training
- Document splitting and classification with natural-language rules
- Chunking and embedding pipeline for RAG
- Output in Markdown, JSON, XLSX, HTML tables and annotated PDF
Who is it for
- Developers building AI agents and RAG applications
- Finance and insurance teams processing invoices and claims
- Engineering and R&D teams working with technical documents
- Healthcare and pharma teams handling clinical documents
How to get started with LlamaParse
- Create an account on the LlamaIndex platform and choose the Free plan.
- Upload your first PDF or scan through the web interface.
- Select the output format: Markdown, JSON, XLSX, or annotated PDF.
- For integration, generate an API key and call parsing from your code.
- You are building a RAG system and need clean text from tables and scans.
- You process invoices, insurance documents, or financial reports with complex layouts.
- You need structured extraction into your own JSON schema.
- You need a user interface in Polish, since none is offered.
- You process very large page volumes and your budget does not allow paid credits.
Pros and cons
- Layout-aware parsing of tables, charts and handwriting
- Support for 130+ file formats and 80+ languages
- Free plan with 10K credits per month
- Costs scale with credit usage on higher tiers
- Enterprise features such as SSO and hybrid deployment require sales contact
LlamaParse pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 USD / month | 10K credits included; up to 100 users; basic support; 5 concurrent parse jobs |
| Starter | 50 USD / month | 40K credits included; pay-as-you-go up to 400K credits; up to 100 users; basic support |
| Pro | 500 USD / month | 400K credits included; limited-time bonus of 800K credits (one-time, business email domains only); pay-as-you-go up to 5,000 USD/mo; 20 concurrent parse jobs; priority Slack support |
Prices copied from LlamaParse pricing, checked October 12, 2026. Currency as shown by the vendor; taxes may apply.
Is LlamaParse free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free plan: 10,000 credits per month (about 1,000 pages), agentic OCR for layout-aware parsing, structured extraction of defined schemas, and building end-to-end document agents. Up to 100 users, basic support.
Featured in
- Best AI for PDFs - #4
LlamaParse alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 Reducto | not listed | trial | PDF & documents |
 ChatPDF | not listed | yes | PDF & documents |
 iLovePDF | 5 EUR/mo | yes | PDF & documents |
 Instafill.ai | not listed | ? | PDF & documents |
 UPDF | not listed | trial | PDF & documents |
 Humata | 9.99 USD/mo | yes | PDF & documents |
All alternatives to LlamaParse →
Comparisons
FAQ
What is LlamaParse used for?
Document parsing and extraction platform turning complex PDFs, Office files and scans into LLM-ready data, for developers and document-heavy teams.
Is LlamaParse free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free plan: 10,000 credits per month (about 1,000 pages), agentic OCR for layout-aware parsing, structured extraction of defined schemas, and building end-to-end document agents. Up to 100 users, basic support.
How much does LlamaParse cost?
The cheapest paid plan is 50 USD/mo (vendor pricing, October 12, 2026).
What are the best LlamaParse alternatives?
Closest alternatives: Reducto, ChatPDF, iLovePDF, Instafill.ai, UPDF.
Data checked October 12, 2026 on the vendor website (llamaindex.ai).