GetMarkdown emphasizes a narrow, low-configuration path from common files—including PDFs—to downloadable Markdown. Pandoc is the more powerful document-conversion system when you need fine-grained format control, filters, templates, citations, or many output formats.
Feature-by-feature comparison
Last fact-checked August 17, 2026
| What matters | GetMarkdown | Pandoc |
|---|---|---|
| Browser use | The main product is a browser converter with a focused select, convert, and download workflow. | Pandoc offers an official pandoc.wasm browser app as well as its established command-line and library interfaces. |
| Browser privacy | Free conversions run locally and do not upload selected files to GetMarkdown servers. | Pandoc’s official browser app says conversion runs in the browser and documents are not transmitted to a server. |
| PDF input | Supports PDF-to-Markdown in the free browser workflow, plus an optional managed Advanced PDF path. | Pandoc’s official supported-format table currently marks PDF as an output format, not an input format. |
| Office input | Supports DOCX, PPTX, and XLSX through the focused browser interface. | Current Pandoc releases support DOCX, PPTX, and XLSX input, including PPTX/XLSX support added in version 3.8.3. |
| Image and audio input | Accepts JPG, JPEG, PNG, MP3, and WAV among its supported extensions. | Pandoc’s official input list does not present raster images or audio files as document input formats. |
| Customization | Optimized for a low-configuration conversion and download path. | Provides extensive control through templates, Lua filters, citations, extensions, readers, writers, and command-line options. |
| Cost | Free browser conversion; optional fixed-price Advanced PDF packages. | Free, open-source software distributed under the GPL. Local use does not require a paid conversion package. |
Choose GetMarkdown when
- — You need PDF as an input for a straightforward Markdown conversion.
- — You want one focused interface for common files without learning conversion options.
- — You want optional managed processing for difficult PDFs and structured JSON output.
- — You need common image or audio extensions accepted in the same browser workflow.
Choose Pandoc when
- — You need extensive conversion options, filters, templates, or citation processing.
- — You want to automate a local command-line or library workflow.
- — You need broad bidirectional conversion beyond Markdown output.
- — You prefer a fully open-source conversion stack you operate yourself.
Try GetMarkdown without creating an account
Free browser conversion supports unlimited batches of up to 8 files, with a 10 MB limit per file.
Sources and comparison policy
Competitor information comes from the official sources below and may change. Product names belong to their respective owners. This page aims to explain fit, not declare one tool universally better.