Iteration Layer vs Regex & Templates
Regex patterns and template matching break on any layout change and have no way to signal uncertainty.
Why developers switch from Regex & Templates
Regex templates break the moment a document layout changes — even slightly.
Zero maintenance overhead
Every regex pattern is a liability — a different date format, a new line in the address block, a vendor's updated invoice template, and your extraction silently fails. Our schema-based approach adapts to document variation without code changes.
Confidence scores replace silent failures
When a regex misses, you get an empty string or an exception. We return a confidence score of 0 for missing fields, and route low-confidence results to human review rather than letting bad data flow downstream.
Understands scanned documents and images
Regex cannot process scanned PDFs or image-based documents — it only works on selectable text. Our API has built-in OCR and visual understanding, handling scans, photos, and handwritten notes with the same schema.
Feature-by-feature comparison
We went through the docs so you don't have to. Here's how every feature compares — including the ones where we're not the better choice.
| Feature | Iteration Layer | Regex & Templates |
|---|---|---|
| Schema-defined extraction |
Yes
Define extraction schemas with 17 purpose-built typed fields for structured output |
No
Manual regex patterns and template matching without schema support |
| Typed field support |
17 types
Choose from 17 typed schema fields including date, IBAN, currency, address, phone, email, and URL |
Text only
All matches are raw text strings requiring manual type parsing and validation |
| Confidence scores |
Per field
Confidence score between 0 and 1 for every extracted schema field |
None
Missing matches result in empty strings or exceptions with no confidence signal |
| Source citations |
Yes
Verbatim source citation from the document for every extracted field |
No
No source citation linking matched values back to document text |
| Multi-file support |
Up to 20 files
Process up to 20 files in a single API request with merged extraction results |
1 file
Each file must be processed individually |
| Supported input formats |
40+ formats
Process 40+ formats — PDF, Office, EPUB, RTF, LaTeX, email, Jupyter, images, and more — in a single API endpoint |
Text only
Only works on documents with selectable text — cannot process scans or images |
| Handles layout variation |
Yes
Adapts automatically to document layout variation without code changes |
No
Breaks on any format change such as a new date format or a different address layout |
| Handles scanned documents |
Yes
Built-in OCR and visual understanding for scanned PDFs, photos, and handwritten notes |
No
Only works on documents with selectable text — cannot process scans or images |
| Maintenance |
None
Schema-based extraction adapts to document variation without code changes |
High
Every regex pattern is a maintenance liability that breaks on document layout changes |
| Logic control |
Schema-based
Extraction logic defined through schema fields and types |
Full control
Complete control over matching logic with custom regex patterns and validation rules |
| Static formats |
Flexible
Schema-based approach designed for varying document layouts |
Ideal
Perfect fit for documents with a guaranteed static format that never changes |
| EU hosting |
EU only
All processing happens exclusively on EU-hosted servers |
Your choice
Runs on your infrastructure, so data residency depends on where you deploy |
| Pricing model |
Per credit
Pay-per-use pricing based on the number of extraction requests |
Free
Zero cost — runs on your own infrastructure with no per-extraction charges |
| Infrastructure required |
None
Fully managed API with no deployment or infrastructure to manage |
Self-hosted
Runs as part of your application code on your own infrastructure |
| GDPR / Data privacy |
Zero retention
No files or results stored beyond temporary 90-day logs |
Your responsibility
Data privacy depends entirely on your deployment and infrastructure choices |
Pricing
Start usage-based. Switch to a subscription when your volume becomes predictable.
Usage-based
Graduated pricing. Your effective rate decreases automatically as monthly usage grows.
- No monthly commitment
- Pay only for credits used
- Automatic volume discounts as usage grows
Predictable volume
Fixed recurring credit packs with lower effective credit prices for steady usage.
- Lower effective per-credit prices
- Fixed recurring credit packs
- Predictable monthly budget
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