Frontend Frameworks

html2text

Convert HTML to Markdown-formatted text.

Status
Generally available
Last checked
Checked · Oct 10, 2026
License
Open source
Pricing
Free tier · from $0
Visit html2text Compare with alternatives

What it is

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.

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.

When it fits — and when it doesn’t

A good fit 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

Look elsewhere if

  • 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

Known weaknesses

Each one links to the public issue, changelog or docs page it came from, where we have one.

  1. 01

    Limited customization options for complex HTML structures

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

  2. 02

    Performance issues with large HTML documents

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

  3. 03

    Dependence on Python ecosystem limits cross-language use

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

  4. 04

    Documentation lacks comprehensive examples and troubleshooting guides

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

What it does well

  • Converts HTML to plain text or Markdown

  • Handles complex HTML structures and nested tags

  • Customizable output with options for different styles of text formatting

Pricing

Free tier
YesOpen source — free to use
Paid from
$0
Model
Flat rate
Enterprise plan
No

Pricing not independently confirmed — check the vendor’s page.

Performance benchmarks

How Fast Is It?

Set up html2text

Setup steps, common gotchas and what to check after 30 days.

Open the setup guide →