PDF to Markdown API

Endpoint

POST https://markdflow.org/api/convert
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer mf_live_YOUR_KEY

{
  "fileName":   "quarterly-report.pdf",
  "mimeType":   "application/pdf",
  "sourceType": "pdf",
  "fileData":   "data:application/pdf;base64,JVBERi0xLjQK...",
  "pageCount":  12
}

At least one source field must be provided: fileData (inline base64 data URL), rawText (plain text), documentUrl (public HTTPS URL) or fileUrl (a file already uploaded to our storage).

Authentication

Every request needs one of two credentials:

• API key (recommended for scripts) — send Authorization: Bearer mf_live_.... Create keys in your profile under API Keys: name them, copy the key once, revoke any time. Up to 5 active keys per account; email verification required.
• Session cookie — works for browser extensions and tools that already run inside your signed-in session.

Request fields

Examples

curl -X POST https://markdflow.org/api/convert \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer mf_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "fileName": "invoice.pdf",
    "mimeType": "application/pdf",
    "fileData": "data:application/pdf;base64,'"$(base64 -i invoice.pdf)"'"
  }'

import base64, requests

API_KEY = "mf_live_YOUR_KEY"

def to_markdown(path: str) -> dict:
    with open(path, "rb") as fh:
        data_url = "data:application/pdf;base64," + base64.b64encode(fh.read()).decode()

    res = requests.post(
        "https://markdflow.org/api/convert",
        headers={
            "Content-Type": "application/json",
            "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}",
        },
        json={"fileName": path.split("/")[-1], "mimeType": "application/pdf", "fileData": data_url},
        timeout=120,
    )
    res.raise_for_status()
    return res.json()

result = to_markdown("quarterly-report.pdf")
print(result["markdownText"])
print("blocks:", result["blocksCount"], "confidence:", result["confidence"])

import fs from "node:fs/promises";

const API_KEY = "mf_live_YOUR_KEY";
const buf = await fs.readFile("paper.pdf");

const res = await fetch("https://markdflow.org/api/convert", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    Authorization: `Bearer ${API_KEY}`,
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    fileName: "paper.pdf",
    mimeType: "application/pdf",
    fileData: "data:application/pdf;base64," + buf.toString("base64"),
  }),
});

if (!res.ok) {
  const { error } = await res.json();
  throw new Error(error);
}

const { markdownText, blocks, confidence } = await res.json();

Response

On success you get the Markdown plus structural metadata:

Error codes

Limits and pricing

• 1 credit = 1 processed page.
• Max file size: 10 MB free tier, 20 MB trial, 50 MB Pro and Annual.
• Rate limits: 30 requests per hour per IP, 60 per hour per user (session and API-key requests share the user limit).
• Up to 5 active API keys per account; keys are revocable at any time.
• Remote URLs are fetched with SSRF protection; private and metadata addresses are blocked.

Frequently asked questions