Convert HTML to Markdown Online
Free, private HTML to Markdown converter. Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens locally on your device.
Drag & drop files here
images, PDFs, documents, audio, video, and more
No Server Uploads
FormatShift converts files directly in your browser. Your files never leave your device, so there's nothing to intercept or leak.
Instant Export
Files convert on your machine, so downloads are ready right away, even on slow connections.
High Fidelity
Good encoding keeps your files looking and sounding right, even at smaller sizes.
Built for Privacy
Your files are processed entirely in your browser. They never leave your device.
How to convert HTML to Markdown
Drop your HTML file
Drag your file onto the converter above, or click to browse your files. Your files stay on your device.
Automatic conversion
FormatShift converts your file right in your browser using WebAssembly. No server involved, so your data stays completely private.
Download your Markdown file
Once the conversion finishes, click the download button and you are done. The converted file is ready to use.
Why convert HTML to Markdown?
HTML and Markdown serve different purposes. Converting between them lets you use whichever format works best for your situation.
What is a HTML file?
HyperText Markup Language: HTML is the language that web pages are written in. Every website you visit is HTML at its core. As a file format, .html files are plain text documents that browsers know how to render.
Created by: Tim Berners-Lee / W3C, first published in 1993
Used for: Web pages, email templates, documentation, any content displayed in a browser
Technical details: Tag-based markup language. Supports text, images, links, tables, forms, and embedded media. Can include CSS for styling and JavaScript for interactivity.
Compatibility: Every web browser renders HTML. It is the most universally supported document format.
What is a Markdown file?
Markdown: Markdown is a plain text format with simple formatting symbols. Headings use # signs, bold uses asterisks, links use brackets. Developers and writers use it because it's easy to read as raw text and converts cleanly to HTML.
Created by: John Gruber, first released in 2004
Used for: Documentation, README files, blog posts, notes, technical writing
Technical details: Plain text with lightweight formatting syntax. No binary data. Converts to HTML, PDF, and other formats. Many variations exist (CommonMark, GitHub Flavored Markdown).
Compatibility: Readable as plain text anywhere. Rendered by GitHub, VS Code, most note-taking apps, and static site generators.
HTML vs Markdown
| Feature | HTML | Markdown |
|---|---|---|
| Type | HyperText Markup Language | Markdown |
| Best for | Web pages, email templates, documentation, any content displayed in a browser | Documentation, README files, blog posts, notes, technical writing |
| Compatibility | Every web browser renders HTML. It is the most universally supported document format. | Readable as plain text anywhere. Rendered by GitHub, VS Code, most note-taking apps, and static site generators. |
| Pros | Universal browser support, can include rich media, easy to inspect and edit | Human-readable as plain text, easy to learn, version-control friendly |
| Cons | Requires a browser to view as intended, raw HTML is not as readable as Markdown | No standardized spec (many flavors), limited formatting compared to rich text |