Mktero

Mktero is a Zotero extension that converts local PDF attachments into source-linked Markdown documents.

Mktero is a restartless Zotero extension designed for Zotero versions 7 through 10. It converts local PDF attachments into source-linked Markdown, formulas, tables, figures, and annotations inside a temporary reading tab. On a cache miss, the default conversion sends the PDF through your Mktero account, while alternative options like MinerU and Mistral remain available with your own API keys. It features reflowed OCR output, layout preservation, figure reconstruction, and Obsidian export. The tool also supports AI translation through Vercel AI SDK providers, citation discovery via Semantic Scholar, OpenCitations, and OpenAlex, and reference checks across Zotero libraries.

Mktero at a glance

Best for: Researcher, Student
Runs on: Web, API, self-hosted
Pricing: Free
Released: August 2026
Category: AI productivity tool
Website: github.com/tenglvjun/mktero

Key features

Reflow OCR output into continuous academic reading documents
Map text and figures back to their PDF sources
Display and create Zotero annotations in Markdown
Translate complete articles through Vercel AI SDK providers
Export corrected Markdown and extracted figures to local folders or Obsidian vaults
Explore direct reference relationships using external databases
Rebuild figures from local PDFs in a background worker

Use it for

Read academic PDFs as continuous source-linked Markdown in Zotero
Translate research papers with continuous bilingual reading options
Export converted Markdown and figures to Obsidian vaults
Manage and create PDF annotations directly within Markdown
Check reference existence across accessible Zotero libraries

Alternatives to Mktero

Zotero PDF Translate — Translates research materials directly inside your Zotero reader.
LLM for Zotero — Chat with papers, manage your library, and save notes without leaving Zotero.
PapersGPT for Zotero — Chat with academic PDFs locally and privately inside Zotero.
Docling — Provides advanced PDF understanding and local execution for sensitive data.
Zotero MCP — Connects Zotero libraries directly to AI assistants for direct paper management.
PDF Craft — It preserves formulas, tables, and document structure during conversion.
MarkItDown — Converts documents into LLM-friendly Markdown for better token efficiency.
OpenDataLoader PDF — It ranks first in benchmarks for layout and table extraction without needing a GPU.
Pix2Text — It provides a free alternative to Mathpix for math formula recognition and LaTeX export.
MinerU — Parses complex documents and tables into structured markdown for agents.
Pdf2epub — Uses Apple's PDFKit, Vision, and Foundation Models for precise conversion.
MiniCPM OCR — Efficient document parsing with correctness assessment and high throughput.

All Mktero alternatives