Google Cloud Vision API
- 1Runs onAPI, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows
- 2CostsFree plan
- 3Text moderationNo
- 4Image moderationYes
- 5Deployment optionscloud
Overview
Google Cloud Vision API provides image-analysis features that developers can integrate into applications through REST or RPC. Its capabilities include image labeling, face and landmark detection, text recognition, object localization, web detection, and explicit-content tagging. Text Detection reads text in images, while Document Text Detection supports dense text, handwriting, and PDF or TIFF files. Object Localization returns labels and bounding boxes for multiple recognized objects. Web Detection can return related web entities, matching image URLs and pages, visually similar images, and a best-guess label. Face Detection locates faces and facial landmarks and supplies likelihood ratings, but it does not recognize specific individuals. Documented workflows connect it with Cloud Storage, Cloud Functions, Pub/Sub, and Cloud Translation API. For Android and iOS development using Google Cloud Vision services, Google recommends ML Kit for Firebase. Limits include 20 MB per image, 10 MB per JSON request, 16 images per synchronous annotate request, and 2,000 images per asynchronous batch request. The first 1,000 units per feature each month are free; subsequent charges vary by feature and usage tier. The listed plan price is 0.00 USD per free, with Label Detection listed at 1.50 USD per 1,000 units for 1,001–5,000,000 units.
Who it is for
The API suits developers seeking prebuilt image-analysis capabilities to add to applications. It is cloud-based, and Google recommends ML Kit for Firebase for Android and iOS development using its Vision services.
What is good
- Offers image labeling, OCR, and explicit-content tagging.
- Document Text Detection supports handwriting and PDF or TIFF.
- Object Localization returns labels and bounding boxes.
- Face Detection includes face and landmark likelihood ratings.
- First 1,000 units per feature each month are free.
What to know first
- Does not support recognition of specific individuals.
- Image size limit is 20 MB.
- JSON request limit is 10 MB.
- Synchronous annotate requests are limited to 16 images.
Verdict
Google Cloud Vision API lists a range of image-analysis tasks, access methods, and integration paths. Its face feature detects and rates faces but does not identify people, and usage is subject to request and image limits.
Google Cloud Vision API plans and pricing
All plansCompared on AI image recognition software
- Free plan
- Yescloud.google.com
- Text moderation
- Nocloud.google.com
- Image moderation
- Yescloud.google.com
- Deployment options
- cloudcloud.google.com
Facts
- Purpose
- Cloud Vision API provides image analysis features that developers can integrate into applications.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Access
- The API is available through REST and RPC.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Image features
- Features include image labeling, face and landmark detection, OCR, and explicit-content tagging.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- OCR
- Text Detection recognizes text in images, while Document Text Detection supports dense text, handwriting, and PDF or TIFF files.docs.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Object localization
- Object Localization returns labels and bounding boxes for multiple recognized objects in an image.docs.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Image search
- Web Detection can return related web entities, matching image URLs, pages containing matching images, visually similar images, and a best-guess label.docs.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Face detection limit
- Face Detection locates faces and facial landmarks and provides likelihood ratings, but specific individual facial recognition is not supported.docs.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Google documentation shows Vision API workflows with Cloud Storage, Cloud Functions, Pub/Sub, and Cloud Translation API.docs.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Mobile development
- Google recommends ML Kit for Firebase for Android and iOS SDKs that use Cloud Vision services, along with on-device vision APIs and custom-model inference.docs.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Usage limits
- The documented limits include 20 MB per image, 10 MB per JSON request, 16 images per synchronous annotate request, and 2,000 images per asynchronous batch request.docs.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Security and compliance
- Google Cloud states that customers own their data and that Google processes it according to customer agreements; its compliance center lists certifications, attestations, and audit reports.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Support
- Google Cloud Standard Support offers unlimited individual access to technical support and billing support through multiple channels.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
- Intended users
- The API is presented for developers seeking quick integration of prebuilt vision features into applications.cloud.google.com · 28 Sept 2026
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Sources
- cloud.google.com/vision· checked 28 Sept 2026
- docs.cloud.google.com/vision/docs/features-list· checked 28 Sept 2026
- docs.cloud.google.com/vision/docs· checked 28 Sept 2026
- docs.cloud.google.com/vision/quotas· checked 28 Sept 2026
- cloud.google.com/support· checked 28 Sept 2026
- cloud.google.com/vision/pricing· checked 28 Sept 2026