2markdown.io

Free PDF to Markdown Converter

Convert PDFs to clean Markdown in your browser. Private by default. AI mode when you need it.

What makes this different

Most PDF-to-Markdown tools upload your file to their servers. 2markdown.io works differently.

  • Native PDFs convert in your browser. Word, Google Docs, and LaTeX exports — processed locally, file never leaves your device.
  • Scanned and complex PDFs get AI mode. One click routes them to Gemini OCR. You're told exactly when a file is sent out.
  • Truly free. No signup, no daily quota, no watermarks.

What kinds of PDFs work with this tool?

Native PDFs

PDFs exported from Word, Google Docs, LaTeX, Pages, or any modern editor. These have a real text layer, so we extract and structure them entirely in your browser — instant, free, and your file never leaves your device.

Scanned PDFs and image-based documents

PDFs that are essentially scans or photos of paper — old contracts, receipts, books, handwritten notes — with no embedded text layer. These need OCR. Enable AI mode and we route them through Gemini for high-accuracy text and table recovery.

Complex layouts and mixed documents

Financial reports with nested tables, multi-column academic papers, slide decks exported to PDF, or documents with math equations. We handle the simple pages in your browser and offer AI mode for the pages where structure recovery is harder.

How it works

1

Drop your PDF

Drag and drop, or click to upload. Up to 50MB per file.

2

Convert locally — or with AI

Native PDFs convert in your browser, file never uploaded. Scanned or complex PDFs? One click for AI mode.

3

Edit and export

Live preview side-by-side. Copy to clipboard, download as .md, or open directly in Obsidian.

Made for AI workflows

Personal knowledge bases

Import PDFs into Obsidian, Logseq, or Notion. Headings, lists, and tables preserved — no copy-paste cleanup.

ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini context

Cleaner than raw PDF text. LLMs handle Markdown structure better, which means better answers and fewer wasted tokens.

RAG and AI agents

Markdown chunks cleanly for embeddings. Build retrieval pipelines and agents on structured content, not on noisy PDF text extraction.

Docs, wikis, and blogs

Migrate legacy PDFs into documentation platforms, internal wikis, or static sites. Edit in the same Markdown your stack already speaks.

Where your file actually goes

We handle your file in one of two ways, depending on what you upload — both fully transparent.

  • Native PDFs convert entirely in your browser. No upload, no server log, no stored copy.
  • AI mode (opt-in) sends your file to Google's Gemini OCR for processing. You're warned before it happens. The file is deleted from our servers immediately after conversion finishes.

We never log file contents, store your conversions, train on your data, or use tracking cookies. Anonymous analytics only.

From PDF to Markdown

A 4-page engineering memo with headings, lists, tables, and code blocks — converted in 1.2 seconds.

Input PDF
Project Brief

Goal: convert product notes, tables, and action items from a PDF into editable text.

Next steps
1. Extract headings
2. Preserve tables
3. Send clean Markdown to the docs repo
Markdown output
## Project Brief

Goal: convert product notes, tables, and action items from a PDF into editable text.

### Next steps

1. Extract headings
2. Preserve tables
3. Send clean Markdown to the docs repo

Frequently asked questions

Is it really free? Are there any limits?

Yes, completely free. Browser-based conversion has no daily limits. AI mode is capped at 5 conversions per day per IP to keep API costs sustainable. No signup, no credit card, no watermarks.

Does my PDF get uploaded to your servers?

Only if you opt into AI mode. Native PDFs (Word, Google Docs, and LaTeX exports) are processed entirely in your browser — the file never leaves your device. AI mode for scanned or complex PDFs sends your file to Google's Gemini OCR, then deletes it from our servers immediately after conversion.

What happens with scanned PDFs or PDFs without a text layer?

Those need OCR. The in-browser converter can't read them since there's no extractable text. Enable AI mode and we'll route them to Gemini OCR, which handles scanned documents and handwritten content with good accuracy. You'll see a confirmation prompt before the file is sent.

What's the maximum file size?

50MB per file, up to 200 pages. If your document is larger, split it into sections before uploading.

Will tables, headings, and code blocks be preserved?

Headings, lists, paragraphs, and code blocks are preserved in both modes. Simple tables work well in browser mode; complex tables (merged cells, nested headers, financial reports) are more reliable with AI mode, which outputs HTML tables for complex layouts.

Can I convert math equations?

Math is best handled by AI mode, which can output LaTeX for use in Obsidian, Notion, or any Markdown environment with math support. Browser mode handles inline math reasonably but complex multi-line equations may need manual cleanup in the editor.

Can I batch convert multiple PDFs?

Not yet. The current version handles one PDF at a time. Batch upload is on the roadmap.

Can I use this for commercial work?

Yes. The output Markdown is yours to use however you like — client projects, internal documents, AI training data preparation, publishing, anything. We claim no rights to the content you convert.