Plain Text Converter
Use the CaseSwitch Plain Text Converter to strip HTML tags and common Markdown markers so you can paste clean words into forms that hate formatting. Drop in a README snippet or rich paste, copy the unstyled text. Cleaning runs in this browser — nothing is uploaded.
Written by the CaseSwitch editorial team. We maintain these tools in the browser so drafts, keys, and images stay on your device.
Last reviewed: 23 July 2026
Processed locally in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.
Paste or type text to convert. Output stays empty until there is input.
Character count: 0 · Word count: 0 · Line count: 0
Examples
Bold, italic, and code markers
Input
**bold** and *italic* and `code`
Output
bold and italic and code
Markdown link keeps label
Input
[Click](https://x.com) here
Output
Click here
HTML tags removed
Input
<b>Hi</b> there
Output
Hi there
Underscore emphasis
Input
__strong__ and _em_
Output
strong and em
Mixed emphasis
Input
**Hello** _world_
Output
Hello world
How to use
- Paste the Markdown- or HTML-tinged text into the input panel.
- Skim the plain output for leftover markers on edge cases.
- Copy into the destination form, Slack message, or converter.
What this tool is for
Slack, CMS fields, and ticket systems often want characters without bold markers, link syntax, or leftover tags. This converter removes HTML tags and simplifies common Markdown emphasis, code spans, and links into readable plain wording. It is a practical cleaner, not a full CommonMark parser and not an XSS sanitizer for untrusted HTML apps.
How it works
Processing matches Remove Text Formatting: HTML tags are removed with a tag-shaped pattern; `**bold**` and `*italic*` unwrap to their inner text; `__` and `_` emphasis unwrap similarly; inline backticks drop; Markdown links `[label](url)` keep the label only. Order matters — tags go first, then Markdown patterns. Complex nested Markdown may need a dedicated parser afterward.
When to use it
Pasting a README snippet into Slack as plain text, cleaning a CMS export, preparing copy for a system that escapes HTML badly, and getting unstyled words ready for a case converter.
When not to use it
Do not expect a full HTML sanitizer for a web app that renders untrusted HTML. Do not use it as the only XSS defense. Tables, nested lists, and irregular Markdown may survive partly marked — prefer a real Markdown toolchain for documents you still want as Markdown.
How it compares to related tools
Remove Text Formatting uses the same cleaning pipeline with a formatting-removal framing. The Whitespace Remover only fixes spaces. HTML-to-Markdown goes the other direction. The Character Remover deletes arbitrary characters, not structured markers.
Common mistakes
Stripping underscores that were part of snake_case identifiers when `_word_` matched emphasis. Assuming the output is safe to inject as HTML. Expecting heading hashes `# Title` to disappear — this cleaner focuses on tags, emphasis, code spans, and links, not every Markdown block construct.
Plain text versus sanitizer
Removing tags in the browser helps you paste into a plain field. It does not make arbitrary HTML safe to re-render. If you build a product that displays user HTML, use a vetted sanitizer library on the server. This page is for writers and operators cleaning a paste, not for application security boundaries.
Overlap with Remove Text Formatting
Both tools share the same processor. Choose Plain Text when your mental model is “I need unstyled words.” Choose Remove Text Formatting when you are thinking “strip these markers from a Markdown draft.” Afterward, run the Whitespace Remover if tag deletion left awkward gaps.
Frequently asked questions
Will this remove HTML tags?+
Yes — tag-shaped spans are stripped. For pathological or script-heavy HTML, use a dedicated sanitizer before any re-display.
Does it change my words?+
It tries to keep words and only drop formatting characters and tags. Always skim the result.
What happens to Markdown links?+
The label is kept and the URL in parentheses is dropped: [Click](https://x.com) becomes Click.
Are code fences handled?+
Inline backticks are unwrapped. Multi-line fences may need manual cleanup — extract code first if you need it intact.
How is this different from Remove Text Formatting?+
Same cleaning engine; different page framing and SEO entry points. Use either when you need markers gone.
Is my text uploaded?+
No. Cleaning runs in this browser.
Does CaseSwitch upload this text?+
No. Conversion, cleaning, and counting for this page run in your browser. Drafts are not sent to CaseSwitch for processing.
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Remove Text Formatting
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Online Notepad
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