// rag · Zipstack/unstract

unstract

Unstract — LLM-driven extraction of unstructured data, built for API deployments and ETL pipeline workflows.

★ 7.3k stars⑂ 718 forksAGPL-3.0updated 2026-10
▦ visual — this project's README ships no embeddable screenshot,
so here's a placeholder. The guide below is complete regardless.
// project facts

Project facts

unstract is an open-source rag & knowledge project by Zipstack (Zipstack/unstract on GitHub). It has 7,277 GitHub stars and 718 forks, is released under the AGPL-3.0 license, and was last updated on GitHub on 8 October 2026.

GitHub stars
7,277
Forks
718
License
AGPL-3.0
Last updated on GitHub
8 October 2026
Listing
Full install guide
Official site
Official site
// how it works

How it works

  1. Clarify your goal

    Pick a representative document type and write down the exact fields and JSON shape your downstream system needs.

  2. Get the project

    Clone Zipstack/unstract from GitHub (or use the install path in the run steps below) and skim its README for the parts relevant to your goal.

  3. Install and configure

    Clone the repo and start the platform with its Docker Compose setup, keeping the generated encryption key safe — losing it makes existing adapter credentials inaccessible.

  4. Run your first task

    Log in locally, build one extraction for your sample document, test it on a few files, then deploy it as an API endpoint.

// features

Why people love it

LLM document extraction

Extracts structured JSON from unstructured documents using LLMs, aimed at document-AI and IDP workloads.

Built for API deployment

Extractions are designed to be deployed as APIs, not just run interactively in a notebook.

ETL pipeline workflows

Fits extraction into ETL pipeline workflows for recurring document processing.

Prompt-engineering tooling

A platform UI for designing and iterating on extraction prompts and schemas.

Docker deployment options

Run locally with Docker Compose, pull a specific version tag, upgrade in place, or build images locally.

MCP server integration

Exposes MCP server capability so agent tooling can call extraction as a tool.

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// run it

Run it yourself

  1. Clone the repository

    Get the source from the official GitHub repository for unstract.

    git clone https://github.com/Zipstack/unstract.git
    cd unstract
  2. Clone and start locally

    Clone the repository and follow the README quickstart to start the platform with Docker.

    git clone https://github.com/Zipstack/unstract.git
    cd unstract  # then start with Docker Compose per the README quickstart
  3. Open the platform

    Visit the local frontend, log in with the README's default local credentials, and build your first extraction.

    # Open http://frontend.unstract.localhost — default local login is in the README; change it after first use
// use cases

What you can build

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// faq

Questions, answered

Who maintains unstract?

Zipstack, through the Zipstack/unstract repository, with the product site at unstract.com.

Is unstract free to use?

Yes — the project is open source under the AGPL-3.0 license as recorded for this listing. See the license terms for any conditions on redistribution.

Does unstract need a paid API key?

Extraction calls LLMs, so you configure your own LLM provider credentials as adapters; Unstract itself is open source under AGPL-3.0, and losing the platform encryption key locks existing adapter credentials.

How does Unstract compare to a traditional OCR-plus-templates IDP tool?

Template IDP breaks when layouts change and needs per-format rules. Unstract uses LLM extraction defined by prompts and schemas, deployable as APIs and pipelines — more flexible across document variety, with model cost per document instead of template maintenance.

How do I get started with unstract?

Clone the repository (or use the documented installer), follow the install and configure steps on this page, and run the smallest real task first — log in locally, build one extraction for your sample document, test it on a few files, then deploy it as an API endpoint.

// keep exploring

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// alternatives

Alternatives in RAG & Knowledge

The most-starred other RAG & Knowledge projects in the LibreAI catalogue — the realistic shortlist if unstract is not the right fit.

Get unstract

Free and open — grab the source, star the repo, and start creating.