Convert PDF to Markdown

Beta

Turn a PDF into clean Markdown for notes, docs or AI tools. Prose works well, tables are Beta.

Text only: headings and lists are detected, tables are a best guess.

or drag and drop files here

Your files are processed on this device and never uploaded.

Convert a PDF to Markdown in a minute, free and without sending it to anyone. The tool reads the text, recognizes headings, lists and paragraphs, and writes them as a clean .md file for your notes app, a docs repository or an AI assistant. Plain prose converts well, and tables are a Beta feature that may need checking. It works in your browser on a phone or computer with no account, and the document is processed on your device, so it never reaches a server.

Why convert PDF to Markdown with us

Headings detected

Larger or bolder lines are turned into Markdown headings, so the structure of the document is visible as soon as you open the file.

Lists and paragraphs

Bullet and numbered lists are recognized, and wrapped lines are joined back into proper paragraphs instead of one broken line per row.

Tables (Beta)

Simple tables are written as Markdown tables. This is a Beta, so complex or borderless tables should be checked after conversion.

Ready for notes and docs

The result is plain text that pastes cleanly into Obsidian, Notion, GitHub, a static site or any editor that understands Markdown.

Handy for AI tools

Clean Markdown is easier for a language model to read than raw PDF text, and you decide what to share, since nothing is uploaded here.

Processed on your device

Your browser reads the PDF and writes the file. Nothing is sent to a server, and it works offline after first use.

How to use 3 steps

  1. 01

    Select or drop your PDF into the box above.

  2. 02

    Click "Convert to Markdown" and wait for the structure to be detected.

  3. 03

    Download the .md file, or copy the text, and review headings and any tables.

How do I convert a PDF to Markdown?

Drop the PDF into the box above and click “Convert to Markdown”. The tool reads the text, works out which lines are headings, which are list items and which are body paragraphs, and writes a .md file. Download it, or copy the text straight into your notes. Your original PDF is not changed.

Markdown is a light way of writing structure in plain text. A line starting with # is a heading, a dash starts a list item, and asterisks add emphasis. Because the output is only text, it is small, easy to diff and easy to move between apps.

Tip: Long PDFs with a table of contents give the best headings. If a heading level looks wrong, one search and replace in your editor fixes it everywhere.

What converts well, and what does not?

Being clear about this saves you time, so here is a plain summary.

  • Prose (good). Articles, reports, manuals, papers and e-books convert into tidy headings and paragraphs.
  • Lists (good). Bullets and numbered steps are recognized and kept in order.
  • Tables (Beta). Simple grids become Markdown tables. Merged cells, tables with no lines and very wide tables can come out wrong.
  • Multi-column pages (fair). Two-column layouts may interleave lines in a few places, so check the reading order.
  • Formulas, footnotes and figures (limited). Equations are text at best, and images are not included.
  • Scans (not directly). Run OCR first.

If you want tables with working cells, PDF to Excel is the better tool. If you only want the words with no structure, PDF to Text is simpler.

Where can I use the Markdown?

Once you have the file, it opens up many small jobs:

  1. Notes. Drop it into Obsidian, Notion or a notes folder and search it like any other note.
  2. Docs and wikis. Publish the text in a GitHub repository, a README or a static documentation site.
  3. AI assistants. Paste a paper or a policy into a chat with structure intact, which usually gives better answers than copied PDF text with broken lines.
  4. Editing. Rewrite a report in a text editor without fighting page layout.
  5. Archiving. Keep a small, future-proof text version next to the PDF.

Because the conversion is done on your device, you choose what leaves it. That is useful with private contracts and unreleased drafts.

Is it safe to convert a PDF to Markdown online?

Yes. You open the tool online, but the conversion runs on your own phone or computer. The browser reads the PDF, finds the structure and writes the Markdown, and at no point is the file sent to a server. You decide afterward where the text goes, whether that is a note, a repository or an assistant.

You can check it yourself by looking at your browser’s network tab during conversion: no file data leaves your device. Nothing to install, no account, and the tool keeps working offline after the first use.

Related tools

Questions answered

How do I convert a PDF to Markdown for free?

Add the PDF above and click "Convert to Markdown". There is no fee, no account and no watermark. You download a .md file you can open in any text editor.

How good is the result?

Prose is the strong point, so headings, paragraphs and lists convert well. Tables are Beta and multi-column layouts can mix the reading order, so skim the output before you publish it.

Does it work on scanned PDFs?

Not directly. A scan is a picture with no text to read. Run the OCR tool first to make it searchable, then convert that PDF here.

Are images kept?

No. The output is text only, written as Markdown. Pictures, charts and decoration are left out, so keep the original PDF if you still need them.

Why use Markdown instead of plain text?

Plain text loses the structure. Markdown keeps headings, lists and emphasis in a lightweight form that notes apps, documentation sites and AI tools all understand.

Is my PDF uploaded when I convert it?

No. Your browser reads the document and writes the Markdown on your device, so nothing goes to a server. Free, with no sign-up.