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markitdown

Free

Python tool for converting files and office documents to Markdown.

Model APIsFreeFree tier
Inputs: file, urlOutputs: text
Type
Open Source
Company
Microsoft
GitHub (119.8k stars)

About markitdown

MarkItDown is an open-source Python tool developed by Microsoft for converting a wide variety of files and office documents into Markdown format. It supports common document types such as PDF, PowerPoint (PPTX), Word (DOCX), Excel (XLSX), images (with EXIF metadata and OCR), audio (with speech transcription), HTML, text-based formats (CSV, JSON, XML), and ZIP files (which are processed recursively). The tool is designed to be extensible, allowing developers to add custom plugins for additional file types. It can be used as a command-line utility or integrated into Python applications via its API, making it suitable for workflows that require structured text extraction, such as indexing content for large language models (LLMs) or generating documentation.

Key Features

Converts PDF, PPTX, DOCX, XLSX, images, audio, HTML, CSV, JSON, XML, and ZIP files to Markdown
Extracts EXIF metadata and performs OCR on images
Transcribes audio files using speech recognition
Supports recursive processing of ZIP archives
Extensible via custom plugins for additional file types
Available as a command-line tool and Python library
Open-source under MIT license

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Open-source and free to use under MIT license
  • Supports a broad range of file formats including images and audio
  • Extensible plugin architecture allows customization
  • Developed and maintained by Microsoft, indicating reliability
  • Can be used both as a CLI tool and integrated into Python projects
Cons
  • Output quality may vary depending on the source file complexity
  • Requires Python environment and dependencies to be installed
  • OCR and audio transcription accuracy depends on underlying libraries
  • Limited to Markdown output; does not produce other formats natively
  • Free tier is the full product; no paid support or hosted version available

Best For

Preprocessing documents for indexing by large language models (LLMs)Converting office files to Markdown for documentation or knowledge basesExtracting text and metadata from images and audio filesAutomating batch conversion of mixed file types in data pipelinesBuilding custom document processing workflows with plugin support

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FAQ

What file formats does MarkItDown support?
Based on available information, MarkItDown supports PDF, PPTX, DOCX, XLSX, images (with EXIF and OCR), audio (with transcription), HTML, CSV, JSON, XML, and ZIP files. The full list should be verified in the documentation.
Is MarkItDown free to use?
Yes, MarkItDown is open-source and appears to be free to use under the MIT license. There is no paid version mentioned.
Can I add support for custom file types?
Yes, the tool appears to be extensible via a plugin system, allowing developers to add support for additional file types. Details should be checked in the project documentation.
Does MarkItDown require an internet connection?
No, MarkItDown appears to run locally and does not require an internet connection for most conversions, though audio transcription may depend on local speech recognition libraries.
How do I use MarkItDown?
MarkItDown can be used as a command-line tool or imported as a Python library. The GitHub repository provides installation and usage instructions.