Convert PDF to Markdown
Drop a PDF into the same GetMarkdown converter used on the homepage. Free conversion runs locally and works best when the PDF has selectable text and a straightforward reading order.
Select Your Files
Select up to 8 local files to convert to Markdown
Click to select or drag and drop
0/8 files selected
Need better PDF tables or RAG-ready output?
Try Advanced PDF conversion for structured Markdown and JSON from complex PDFs.
What usually carries over
- Selectable text, paragraphs, and many document headings.
- Simple lists and reading order when the PDF exposes that structure clearly.
- Basic tables when rows and columns can be inferred from the source.
- A plain Markdown file that can be edited or version controlled.
What to review afterward
- Multi-column pages, sidebars, headers, and footers can appear out of order.
- Complex tables may need manual cleanup or Advanced PDF conversion.
- Scanned pages need OCR; they do not contain a reliable text layer.
- Visual spacing and page layout do not map directly to Markdown.
Illustrative output
From a PDF report to readable Markdown
Source structure
Quarterly Report Revenue by region North America $120,000 Europe $85,000
Markdown representation
# Quarterly Report ## Revenue by region | Region | Revenue | | --- | ---: | | North America | $120,000 | | Europe | $85,000 |
Example is illustrative; exact output depends on the source file structure.
Useful for
Workflows that prefer plain, structured text
- Preparing reports for a RAG pipeline
- Moving research papers into a notes app
- Making PDF text easier to search and quote
- Version-controlling document content
PDF conversion questions
Is the free PDF to Markdown converter private?
Yes. The free converter processes the PDF inside your browser. The selected file is not uploaded to GetMarkdown servers.
Does free PDF conversion support scanned documents?
The free converter works best with PDFs that already contain selectable text. Scanned pages and complicated visual layouts may need OCR or the server-side Advanced PDF option.
What are the free PDF limits?
You can run unlimited conversions. Each file can be up to 10 MB, and each batch can contain up to 8 supported files.
When should I use Advanced PDF conversion?
Use Advanced PDF for dense tables, multi-column layouts, scanned material, or when you need both Markdown and structured JSON. Packages start at $5 for up to 50 pages and 50 MB.