MarkPrep vs LlamaParse
MarkPrep is a free LlamaParse alternative that converts documents to Markdown in your browser, so files are never uploaded and no credits are spent. LlamaParse is LlamaIndex's hosted parsing API, which reads more than 130 formats with agentic OCR and charges in credits.
MarkPrep reads PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other files, and it shows how many tokens the result uses in an AI model.
Side by side
| MarkPrep | LlamaParse | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Browser converter | Hosted parsing API |
| Where it runs | In your browser | LlamaIndex's cloud |
| Files leave your computer | No, conversion runs in your browser | Yes, files are uploaded |
| Account or key | None | LlamaIndex account and API key |
| Input formats | PDF, Word .docx, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, HTML, JSON, XML, EPUB, Jupyter, TXT, images, web pages by URL | 130+ formats |
| OCR | Local Tesseract, English | Agentic OCR in the cloud |
| Chunking for RAG | Chunk preview split at headings, JSONL export | A separate service, Index, ingests and embeds documents for RAG |
| Price | Free converter; Pro £19 once | Paid in credits; free monthly allowance |
Where LlamaParse wins
LlamaParse reads far more formats than MarkPrep and parses them with AI models in the cloud. MarkPrep runs OCR in English only and has no maths support. It reads PDFs left to right, top to bottom, so the columns of a two-column page can come out mixed.
With the same API key, LlamaIndex also offers structured data extraction with your own schemas, document classification and indexing for RAG. Official SDKs exist for Python and TypeScript.
What MarkPrep does differently
MarkPrep keeps the file on your computer. It needs no account or API key, and the converter is free with no page limit.
After conversion, the free AI-Ready Pack shows a token estimate for the model you pick and checks it against the context window. A chunk preview splits the text at headings, and you can export the chunks as JSONL. If you want conversion inside your own tools, Pro adds a local MCP server and command-line converter for a one-time £19.
Frequently asked questions
What is LlamaParse?+
LlamaParse is LlamaIndex's hosted parsing API. You send files to it with an API key and pick a tier for each parse job, such as fast or agentic. It returns the parsed content.
Does LlamaParse upload my files?+
Yes. LlamaParse runs in LlamaIndex's cloud, so its SDKs upload each file before parsing it.
Is there a cheaper alternative to LlamaParse for PDF to Markdown?+
Yes. MarkPrep's converter is free in your browser, with no credits or account. Pro, which adds the MCP server and command-line converter, is a one-time £19.
Is there an open-source LlamaParse alternative that runs locally?+
Yes. Docling, Marker and Microsoft's MarkItDown are free open-source Python tools that run on your own computer. Docling and Marker use AI models for layout and OCR. MarkItDown reads the text layer and suits simpler documents.
What should I use for scientific PDF parsing?+
Scientific papers often have two columns and equations. MarkPrep reads PDFs left to right, top to bottom, and doesn't convert maths. For papers, try LlamaParse or a layout-aware local tool such as Docling or Marker, then check the output.
How is LlamaParse priced?+
LlamaParse charges in credits, and its free plan includes a monthly credit allowance.
Convert a document in your browser for free, with no API key or credits.