How GetMarkdown Works
GetMarkdown converts supported document, web, text, image, and audio files to Markdown. Free conversion runs in your browser; Advanced PDF is a separate, clearly labeled server-side workflow.
How does browser-based file conversion work?
GetMarkdown uses a dedicated WebAssembly document parser for PDF and common Office files. Conversion runs in a background browser worker so large documents do not block the page. A Pyodide and MarkItDown compatibility path handles other supported formats and preserves embedded-image ZIP output when a Word or PowerPoint file needs it.
What file formats does GetMarkdown support?
GetMarkdown supports common file formats across four categories. PDF and Office formats use a local Rust-and-WebAssembly parser with guarded compatibility fallback; web, text, image, and audio formats use the established browser conversion path. Both workflows preserve useful structure when the source exposes it clearly.
Documents
- PDF (.pdf)
- Word (.docx)
- PowerPoint (.pptx)
- Excel (.xlsx)
Web & Text
- HTML (.html)
- HTML (.htm)
- Plain text (.txt)
Images
- JPEG (.jpg)
- JPEG (.jpeg)
- PNG (.png)
Audio
- MP3 (.mp3)
- WAV (.wav)
Is GetMarkdown private and secure?
Free-tier conversion runs in the browser, and GetMarkdown does not intentionally upload the selected file contents for that workflow. The 10 MB per-file and 8-file batch limits help protect browser stability. The page still makes ordinary network requests for the application, runtime packages, and aggregate analytics, so organizations should evaluate the tool under their own security and compliance requirements.
How is the Markdown output structured?
GetMarkdown produces plain Markdown intended to preserve useful document structure. Headings can map to Markdown headings, many tables become pipe-delimited tables, and lists and text emphasis can carry over when the source exposes them clearly. For DOCX and PPTX files, detected embedded images can be packaged in a ZIP with relative references. Review complex output against the source because every document format contains features Markdown cannot represent.
Can I use GetMarkdown output with AI agents and LLMs?
Yes. Markdown is widely supported by AI tools and RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines. Its headings, lists, tables, links, and code blocks can preserve useful structure without carrying a document format’s visual styling. Conversion is only the first step: check reading order, tables, labels, and citations before embedding or indexing the result.
What is the Pro PDF conversion?
Advanced PDF handles documents that need stronger table, layout, or OCR processing. Unlike the free browser converter, it uploads one PDF for server-side processing and returns a ZIP containing Markdown and structured JSON. Current packages are $5 for up to 50 pages and 50 MB, or $15 for up to 250 pages and 100 MB. Paid job files and downloads are retained for 48 hours by default.
How does GetMarkdown compare to other converters?
Conversion tools make different trade-offs. GetMarkdown emphasizes a focused browser workflow, repeatable free batches, and an optional managed path for difficult PDFs. Other tools may support more formats, deeper customization, larger server-side jobs, or conversion APIs. The best choice depends on the source file and whether local processing, automation, or layout fidelity matters most.
Can I convert multiple files at once?
Yes. GetMarkdown supports up to 8 files in one batch. Files are converted sequentially and downloaded individually. A DOCX or PPTX result may be a ZIP when detected embedded images need to accompany its Markdown file. Start another batch whenever you like; there is no daily conversion quota.