MinerU vs pdflayer
MinerU
opendatalab.github.iopdflayer
pdflayer.comSide by side
| Figure | MinerU | pdflayer |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.99/mo | $9.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 4 |
| Spec score · PDF Converter Software | 9.1 (#3) | 7.9 (#21) |
| Spec score · PDF converters | 9.4 (#2) | 8.0 (#9) |
| Input formats | Supported inputs include PDF, images, DOC/DOCX, PPT/PPTX, XLS/XLSX, RTF, OpenDocument, EPUB, OFD, HTML/MHTML and CSV/TSV. | The API accepts standard HTTP URLs or raw HTML, with raw HTML conversion available via HTTP POST. |
| Integration | MinerU provides a Python SDK, V1 HTTP API, command-line tools, and a Gradio-based WebUI. | The maker says the API works with any programming language and names PHP, Python, Ruby, jQuery.ajax, and Java as examples. |
| Purpose | MinerU 4.0 combines document parsing, a local document library, and service tools for conversion, application integration, and agent reading. | pdflayer is a REST API for developers and businesses to convert HTML or HTTP URLs into PDF documents. |
| Support | The FAQ directs users with unresolved problems to the MinerU Discord or WeChat community. | The FAQ says paid subscriptions include unlimited and prioritized technical support. |
Plans
MinerU
- FreeFree
- MinerU open-source softwareFree
- Pro · Monthly$9.90, paid once
- Pro · Annual$59.90 a year
- On-premisePriced on request
pdflayer
- Free PlanFree
- Basic Plan$9.99 a month
- Professional Plan$39.99 a month
- Enterprise Plan$119.99 a month
In their own words
MinerU
MinerU 4.0 combines document parsing, a local document library, and tools for conversion, application integration, and agent reading. It accepts PDFs, images, office documents, ebooks, web formats, and other listed inputs, and can produce Markdown, HTML, LaTeX, DOCX, EPUB, PDF, structured content, and content lists. Four parsing tiers—Flash, Basic, Standard, and Advanced—serve different quality and compute needs. The library can discover files, cache parsing results, search content, continue by page or block, and preserve citation locators. Developers can use a Python SDK, V1 HTTP API, command-line tools, or a Gradio-based WebUI. MinerU supports the MCP protocol and agent frameworks, with exports to Dify and Notion. Documents are not automatically uploaded to the official service; remote parsing requires explicit configuration. Local WebUI and API server deployments are documented for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The open-source software is free under its project license; commercial-use limits apply above 100 million monthly active users or USD 20 million monthly revenue.
pdflayer
pdflayer is a cloud REST API that converts HTML or HTTP URLs into PDF documents. It accepts standard URLs and raw HTML, with raw HTML conversion available through HTTP POST. Requests can use GET or POST, though some features require POST. The rendering engine can handle HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML, and SVG, and customization options include dimensions, margins, page numbers, custom CSS, encryption, viewport, delay, headers, footers, and watermarks. The maker says the API works with any programming language, citing PHP, Python, Ruby, jQuery.ajax, and Java. Generated PDFs are stored on a CDN and can be retrieved within milliseconds, according to the maker. Users can track usage daily or monthly and receive notices when usage is running low. The free plan provides 100 API requests per month for non-commercial use; it lists no encryption feature. Paid plans start at $9.99/mo, include commercial use, and list 256-bit HTTPS encryption. Paid subscriptions include unlimited, prioritized technical support. pdflayer is based in Vienna, Austria.