REST API

Image to text API

Extract text from photos, scans, screenshots and handwriting with a single REST call. Upload a file or base64 string and get structured JSON back in seconds.

Get a free API key API documentation
  • 25 free calls a month
  • JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP
  • Up to 10 MB per image
WHAT IT READS

Extract text from almost any image

Printed or handwritten, clean scan or quick phone snap.

Phone photos

Pages, labels and notes captured on a phone camera.

Scans

Flatbed and document-scanner images of printed or handwritten pages.

Handwriting & cursive

Notes, letters and forms — the speciality of this API.

Whiteboards

Meeting boards and classroom notes, turned into editable text.

Screenshots

Text inside screenshots and exported images.

Letters & postcards

Old correspondence and family documents for archives.

IN YOUR LANGUAGE

Convert an image to text in a few lines of code

Use any HTTP client — no SDK to install. Send the image as a file upload for the best performance, or as base64 when the image is already in memory.

  • One endpoint: POST /api/v1/recognize
  • Bearer-token authentication with revocable keys
  • Stable error codes such as quota_exceeded and no_text_found
Full request reference →
File upload
curl https://www.cursivetotext.com/api/v1/recognize \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CURSIVETOTEXT_API_KEY" \
  -F "image=@letter.jpg"
Base64
curl https://www.cursivetotext.com/api/v1/recognize \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CURSIVETOTEXT_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d "{\"image\": \"$(base64 < letter.jpg | tr -d '\n')\"}"
Response · 200 OK
{
  "id": "rec_4f1c9a2e7b3d40c8a6e1",
  "object": "recognition",
  "text": "Dear Anna,\nLife is a beautiful journey —\nkeep writing your story.",
  "confidence": 94,
  "word_count": 11,
  "processing_ms": 1180,
  "usage": {
    "plan": "API Growth",
    "limit": 5000,
    "used": 1242,
    "remaining": 3758,
    "resets_at": "2026-11-22T13:32:01.000Z"
  }
}
RESPONSE FORMAT

Structured JSON you can use right away

Every response includes the extracted text with line breaks preserved, a confidence score from 0–100, the word_count and your remaining usage — so you can show quotas in your own product without a second call.

PRICING

Image to text API pricing

Pay for the calls you need. API plans are separate from website plans, and failed calls are never charged.

API Free

For trying the API and prototypes.

$0/mo

25 calls / month

Start free
  • All endpoints
  • No card required

API Starter

For side projects and early products.

$19/mo

1,000 calls / month

  • ≈ 1.9¢ per image
  • 60 requests / minute
  • Cancel anytime
POPULAR

API Growth

For apps with steady daily volume.

$49/mo

5,000 calls / month

  • ≈ 0.98¢ per image
  • 60 requests / minute
  • Cancel anytime

API Scale

For production workloads and teams.

$149/mo

20,000 calls / month

  • ≈ 0.74¢ per image
  • 60 requests / minute
  • Cancel anytime

API plans are separate from website conversion plans. Monthly calls reset each billing period; failed calls and images with no text are never charged. Need more than 20,000 calls a month? See business plans →

FAQ

Image to text API questions

Working with handwritten documents? See the handwriting OCR API. Prefer no code? Try the online converter.

What does an image to text API do?+

An image to text API reads the words inside an image and returns them as text. You send an image over HTTPS and get a JSON response, so your app can search, edit, translate or store the content without anyone retyping it.

How do I convert an image to text with this API?+

Create a free API key, then POST the image to https://www.cursivetotext.com/api/v1/recognize with your key in the Authorization header. Send it as multipart form data (field "image") or as a base64 string in JSON. The response contains the recognized text and a confidence score.

Does it work for handwriting as well as printed text?+

Yes. It reads printed text and is tuned and tested on handwriting and cursive, including connected script and older letters. See the handwriting OCR API page for details on handwritten documents.

Is there a free image to text API?+

Every account includes 25 free API calls per month, which is enough to build and test an integration. For production volumes, API plans start at $19/month for 1,000 calls.

What are the size and format limits?+

JPEG, PNG, GIF and WebP images up to 10 MB (about 7 MB when sent as base64). Each key can make 60 requests per minute.

Is my data safe?+

Images are sent over HTTPS, processed in memory and never stored. The extracted text is returned to you and is not kept on our servers.

Turn images into text in your app

Free key with 25 calls a month — API plans from $19/month when you’re ready to scale.

Get a free API key See pricing