Markitdown vs TruePath PDF
A side-by-side look at the Markitdown and TruePath PDF MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
MarkitdownFile Systems · Local subprocess (stdio)MCP tool access to MarkItDown -- a library that converts many file formats (local or remote) to Markdown for LLM consumption.67GreatAuth: no auth requiredVerdict: choose Markitdown for file systems work as a local process; choose TruePath PDF for file systems as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Markitdown when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
convert_to_markdown.
Choose TruePath PDF when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
get_info, extract_text, search.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | Markitdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Systems | File Systems |
| Quality signal | 67/100 · Great | 55/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 191,245 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 6 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 1 | 9 |
| Full listing | View Markitdown | View TruePath PDF |
Tools & capabilities
Markitdown tools 1
convert_to_markdownConvert a resource described by an http:, https:, file: or data: URI to markdown
TruePath PDF tools 9
get_infoPage count, first-page size (with an `allSameSize` flag), encryption status, and embedded PDF metadata (title, author, dates, producer, format version).extract_textPlain-text extraction. Optional 1-based page range (`"3"`, `"1-5"`, `"1,3,5-7"`). Output is grouped by page with `===== Page N =====` markers so the model can cite the right page.searchSubstring search across the whole document. Returns each hit's page, offset within the page, and a snippet of surrounding text. Use for grep-style discovery before a heavier `extract_text`.splitSplit one PDF into N by page ranges. Each range becomes one output file.mergeCombine two or more PDFs into one, in the given order.pagesDelete, rotate, and reorder pages in one pass. `delete` is applied first (page numbers in `rotate` refer to the source PDF); `reorder` is applied to the survivors.to_imagesRasterise PDF pages as PNG or JPG at a chosen DPI. Common DPIs: `96` (screen), `150` (print preview), `300` (print).extract_imagesPull embedded images out of a PDF and write each as a PNG. Reports any images skipped because of unsupported pixel layouts (CMYK, palettized, etc).open_in_truepathHand a local PDF to the TruePath PDF Mac app via `truepath://open?path=…`. Fire-and-forget: macOS launches (or routes to) the app, the URL handler opens the PDF. Use this after reading / analyzing in MCP to drop the user into the GUI for annotation, signing, redaction, etc.
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Markitdown
{
"mcpServers": {
"microsoft-markitdown": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"markitdown-ocr"
]
}
}
}
TruePath PDF
{
"mcpServers": {
"truepath-pdf": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@truepathpdf/mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Markitdown is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. TruePath PDF belongs to File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Markitdown for file systems work and TruePath PDF for file systems.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Markitdown is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. TruePath PDF has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add microsoft-markitdown and truepath-pdf as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Markitdown has a quality signal of 67/100 (Great) with 6 views, 0 installs and 191,245 GitHub stars. TruePath PDF has 55/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.