HTML to Text Converter

This HTML to text converter strips the tags from a web page or email and keeps what matters: paragraphs, lists, and link addresses. Scripts and styles are removed and entities such as & are decoded.

Updated
Runs in your browser. The HTML is parsed without running scripts or loading anything.
Converts as you type for inputs up to 200 KB.

How to use the HTML to Text Converter

  1. Paste HTML or upload an .html file.
  2. Choose how links appear and whether lists get bullets.
  3. Copy or download the plain text.

How it works

The HTML is parsed with the browser's built-in DOMParser. It creates an inert document, so no script runs and no image or stylesheet loads. The converter then walks the document: block elements such as paragraphs and headings start new lines, list items get a bullet or number, table cells are separated by tabs, and runs of spaces collapse to one, as a browser would show them.

Examples

  • <p>Hello<br>world</p> → Hello and world on two lines.
  • <a href="https://example.com">Docs</a> → Docs (https://example.com).
  • <li>One</li><li>Two</li> → - One, - Two.

Why not just remove the tags?

Deleting everything between < and > leaves script code, CSS, and entity codes in the text, and runs paragraphs together. Reading the HTML the way a browser does keeps the structure: separate paragraphs, readable lists, and the link addresses you would lose otherwise. That makes the output usable for plain-text emails, notes, or feeding text into other tools.

Limitations

  • Layout from CSS (columns, grids) is not reproduced.
  • Images are replaced by their alt text, if they have one.
  • Files up to 5 MB.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert HTML to plain text?

Paste the HTML and copy the text. Tags, scripts, and styles are removed, and the structure is kept.

Are links kept?

Yes. By default the address is written after the link text in brackets. You can switch to Markdown links or plain text.

Is it safe to paste HTML from an unknown source?

Yes. The HTML is parsed as an inert document, so nothing in it runs or loads.

Often used together with the HTML to Text Converter.

  • HTML FormatterDeveloper Tools

    Beautifies HTML with consistent indentation, including inline CSS and JavaScript.