MinerU

Overview

MinerU 4.0 combines document parsing and conversion with a local document library and tools for software and agent integrations. It is best suited to people building document-heavy workflows who need structured outputs and want local processing or a self-hosted service.

Its range of formats and integration routes make it more than a simple converter, but local deployments need careful memory planning, and commercial users should check the license thresholds and attribution conditions.

Key features

MinerU accepts PDFs, images, office and spreadsheet files, EPUB, OFD, HTML and MHTML, and CSV and TSV. Four parsing tiers—Flash, Basic, Standard, and Advanced—offer different quality and compute needs, giving users a way to match processing to their workload rather than committing every file to the same approach.

PDFs can be converted to Markdown, HTML, LaTeX, DOCX, EPUB, PDF, Structured Content, and Content List V1/V2. OCR and batch conversion are supported. This breadth is useful when the goal is structured, reusable content rather than a straightforward format swap; images and other supported documents also have documented export options.

The local document library can discover files, cache parse results, search content, continue from a page or block, and preserve citation locators. Those capabilities favor ongoing research or document-processing work over occasional single-file conversion.

Integration options include a Python SDK, V1 HTTP API, command-line tools, and a Gradio-based WebUI. MinerU also supports MCP and agent frameworks, with export to Dify and Notion. That makes it a plausible fit for workflows that need document parsing inside other tools, though users who only need a quick conversion may not need this much machinery.

Pricing

MinerU open-source software: free. The software is free to use under the project license, and the free plan has no stated conversion quota or seat cap in the plan terms. Commercial use does not require a separate license unless monthly active users exceed 100 million or monthly revenue exceeds USD 20 million. Online services based on MinerU must attribute the project.

The official site also links to online use and describes a cloud service, but no price is provided for that service. Users considering hosted processing should confirm its terms before choosing it over a local deployment.

Platforms

MinerU supports web, Windows, macOS, Linux, API, and self-hosted use. The quick start provides installation instructions for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Documents are not automatically uploaded to the official service; remote parsing requires explicit configuration. The documentation also describes running a local WebUI and V1 API server, or connecting the SDK to a self-hosted API.

For higher-throughput local deployments, the documentation recommends at least 16 GB of system memory; Apple Silicon users are advised to have at least 16 GB of unified memory. That makes local control attractive for privacy-conscious workflows, but less suitable for machines that cannot meet the memory guidance.

Who it's for

MinerU is a strong candidate for developers, researchers, and teams that need to parse varied documents into structured formats, maintain a searchable local library, or connect parsing to applications and agents. It is less compelling for someone seeking only a lightweight online converter, particularly if local hardware is limited or the integration features would go unused.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad input and output support serves workflows that need to turn mixed document collections into reusable content.
• Pros: Local processing, self-hosted services, and multiple integration routes offer control over where parsing happens and how it fits into a workflow.
• Pros: The local library combines search and cached results with page- or block-level continuation and citation locators.
• Cons: Higher-throughput local use has substantial memory guidance, which can rule out modest machines.
• Cons: Cloud-service pricing is not provided; users who prefer hosted processing need to establish its cost and terms.
• Cons: Commercial use has thresholds, and online services based on MinerU must provide attribution.

Alternatives

For a broad comparison of conversion tools, start with PDF Converter Software.

• HiPDF may suit readers who prefer a freemium service with web access, OCR, and batch processing; its Basic plan is $39.95 a year.
• PDF Agile is another freemium option, with a free plan capped at 2 pages and 5 conversion tasks.
• Docling is worth considering for a free, MIT-licensed local library that can work offline after model download.
• FoxyUtils Online PDF Tools may be a better fit for web-only PDF work; its Monthly plan costs $5.99 a month and includes OCR.
• Adobe PDF Services API offers a free tier with 500 document transactions per month and paid plans with custom pricing.
• Online2PDF is a free web option for conversions within its file and batch limits: up to 250 MB per file and total conversion, and up to 30 files.
• Convertio may suit users looking for a freemium converter with a Lite plan that allows 1 GB files and 1,000 conversion credits per month for $11.99 a month.
• JPG To PDF is another alternative.

Verdict

Choose MinerU if you need a free, flexible foundation for parsing diverse documents into structured outputs, especially when local processing, self-hosting, or application and agent integration matters. Look elsewhere if you want a simple hosted converter or cannot accommodate the memory needs of a higher-throughput local setup.