# Markdown to PDF MCP Server (`parseforge/markdown-to-pdf-mcp`) Actor

Convert Markdown text or files to PDF documents via an MCP server. Supports custom styling, page sizes, and headers. No external dependencies.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/markdown-to-pdf-mcp.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, MCP servers
- **Features:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 9 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: 5.00 out of 5 stars

## Pricing

from $50.00 / 1,000 markdown to pdf conversions

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner-v4.webp)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### Markdown to PDF MCP Server

**Convert Markdown files to PDFs via an MCP server, ready for AI workflows and document sharing.** Every PDF is generated from clean Markdown input, with no formatting loss. Export to PDF directly from your MCP client. No API key needed.

Markdown is great for writing, but sharing often requires PDF. This MCP server takes any Markdown input and returns a polished PDF file, preserving headers, lists, code blocks, and tables. It runs as a local or remote MCP tool, so you can integrate it into your AI agent, CLI, or automation pipeline without extra steps.

| Who uses it | What they scrape Markdown to PDF MCP Server for |
|---|---|
| AI developers | Generate PDF reports from LLM outputs in Markdown format. |
| Documentation writers | Convert Markdown docs to PDF for distribution or printing. |
| Automation engineers | Integrate Markdown-to-PDF conversion into CI/CD or data pipelines. |

### What it does

This MCP server converts Markdown text or files into PDF documents, returning each PDF as a downloadable file.

- 📄 **Direct Markdown input:** Pass Markdown text as a string and get a PDF back.
- 📁 **File conversion:** Point to a Markdown file path and receive the PDF output.
- 🔧 **Custom styling:** Optionally set page size, margins, and CSS for the PDF.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with Markdown to PDF MCP Server data

**🤖 Generate PDF reports from AI conversations.**

An AI developer uses the MCP server to convert a chat thread's Markdown summary into a PDF report for stakeholders.

**📚 Convert documentation to PDF for offline reading.**

A technical writer runs the server to turn a Markdown manual into a PDF for distribution to users who prefer print.

**⚙️ Automate PDF generation in CI/CD pipelines.**

An automation engineer integrates the MCP server into a GitHub Action to produce PDF release notes from Markdown changelogs.

### Why choose this scraper

|  | What you get |
|---|---|
| **Clean output** | PDF preserves Markdown formatting exactly. |
| **MCP native** | Works with any MCP client (Claude, Cursor, custom). |
| **No dependencies** | No external API or account needed. |

### How it compares

This MCP server focuses solely on Markdown-to-PDF conversion, while competitors offer broader document conversion or web scraping.

| Feature | ParseForge | Thesis Literature Review Scraper | AI Markdown Maker | Doc To Markdown MCP Server |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markdown to PDF conversion | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| MCP protocol support | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
| Custom CSS styling | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Local/offline operation | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
| Batch conversion | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |

### Configure the run

Configure the run by providing Markdown content or a file path, and optionally adjust PDF layout settings like page size and margins. The Input tab lists every parameter.

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.06 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $6.00 |
| 1,000 results | $60.00 |
| 10,000 results | $600.00 |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [Markdown to PDF MCP Server](https://apify.com/parseforge/markdown-to-pdf-mcp?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to Markdown to PDF MCP Server through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=parseforge/markdown-to-pdf-mcp"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**The PDF looks different from my Markdown preview.**

Check that your Markdown uses standard syntax. Custom CSS can override default styling. Also ensure images are accessible at the paths you provide.

**The server won't start.**

Verify you have the required runtime (Node.js or Python) installed. Check that the port is not already in use. See the installation guide in the README.

**Images are not showing in the PDF.**

Make sure image paths are absolute or relative to the working directory. URLs must be publicly accessible or on a local network the server can reach.

**The PDF is blank.**

Ensure you provided valid Markdown content. Empty or whitespace-only input produces a blank page. Try a simple test like '# Hello'.

**Error: 'MCP protocol not supported'**

Your client may not support the MCP protocol version used. Update your client or use a compatible one like Claude Desktop or Cursor.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What Markdown features are supported? | Standard Markdown including headers, lists, code blocks, tables, links, images, and bold/italic text. Custom CSS can extend styling. |
| Can I use this with Claude or other AI assistants? | Yes, it works as an MCP server, so any MCP-compatible client like Claude Desktop, Cursor, or custom apps can call it. |
| Do I need an API key or internet connection? | No. The server runs locally or on your own infrastructure. No external services are required. |
| What PDF page sizes are available? | You can set page size to A4, Letter, Legal, or custom dimensions via the input schema. |
| Can I add headers and footers to the PDF? | Yes, you can specify custom headers and footers using HTML or CSS in the input. |
| Is there a limit on Markdown file size? | No hard limit, but very large files may take longer to convert. The server handles typical documents up to hundreds of pages. |
| Does it support images in Markdown? | Yes, local image paths and URLs are rendered in the PDF. |
| Can I convert multiple Markdown files at once? | The current version processes one file or text input per run. You can batch them by calling the server multiple times. |
| What output format does the server return? | It returns a PDF file as a binary stream or base64-encoded data, depending on your MCP client. |
| How do I install and run the server? | Install via npm or pip (depending on the package), then run the server command. Full instructions are in the README. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ParseForge. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## Actor input object example

```json
{}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/markdown-to-pdf-mcp").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/markdown-to-pdf-mcp").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call parseforge/markdown-to-pdf-mcp --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/markdown-to-pdf-mcp"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/3wubGouTtUYf1LUtk/builds/mTKTybPTra3V46d5C/openapi.json