html2text

Convert HTML to Markdown-formatted text.

EstablishedOpen SourceLow lock-in

Pricing

Free tier

Flat rate

Adoption

Cooling

License

Open Source

Data freshness

Aging · Jun 8, 2026

Overview

What is html2text?

html2text is a Python library that converts HTML into plain-text or Markdown. It's useful for developers and content creators who need to extract readable text from web pages without the clutter of HTML tags.

Key differentiator

html2text stands out with its simplicity and effectiveness in converting complex HTML structures into clean, readable text or Markdown, making it a go-to tool for developers and content creators alike.

Capability profile

Capability Radar

Ease of StartEcosystemValueMaturityFlexibilityScale Ready

Honest assessment

Strengths & Weaknesses

↑ Strengths

Converts HTML to plain text or Markdownmedium

Handles complex HTML structures and nested tagsmedium

Customizable output with options for different styles of text formattingmedium

↓ Weaknesses

Limited customization options for complex HTML structureshigh

html2text may not handle all edge cases of complex HTML, leading to inconsistent text output

Performance issues with large HTML documentsmedium

Parsing large or deeply nested HTML structures can be slow and resource-intensive

Dependence on Python ecosystem limits cross-language usehigh

Being a Python library restricts its direct usage in non-Python environments without additional integration efforts

Documentation lacks comprehensive examples and troubleshooting guidesmedium

The official documentation is sparse, making it harder for new users to quickly understand how to use the library effectively

Fit analysis

Who is it for?

✓ Best for

Developers who need to process and analyze web content in plain text or Markdown format

Content creators looking to convert HTML documentation into a more readable form for distribution

✕ Not a fit for

Projects requiring real-time conversion of large volumes of HTML data, as it is designed primarily for local use

Applications that need advanced formatting options beyond basic Markdown and plain text

Cost structure

Pricing

Free Tier

Available

Open source — free to use

Starts at

$0

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise

None

Performance benchmarks

How Fast Is It?

Ecosystem

Relationships

Next step

Get Started with html2text

Step-by-step setup guide with code examples and common gotchas.

View Setup Guide →