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Connectors · Marketing & media

PDF.co MCP server for AI agents.

actionlake is an MCP gateway: one remote MCP server that connects Claude and other MCP clients to PDF.co and the rest of your systems. It gives your agent 69 PDF.co actions (16 reads, 50 writes and 3 that wait for a confirmation) and holds the PDF.co credential itself, so the agent never does. It paces PDF.co's limits and records every call.

Connect PDF.co freeSee pricing

100,000 free calls a month. No card, no email, no password: press Start a free sandbox on the next screen and keep the key it shows you.

claude mcp add --transport http actionlake https://connect.actionlake.com/mcp
the first call
do {  action: "pdf_co.html_templates.list",  intent: "check which PDF.co account is connected"}# List HTML-to-PDF templates · read · 1 upstream call
  • 69actionsin one signed file
  • 16readlook, never change
  • 50writecreate and update
  • 3wait for a yesdestructive, confirmed first

Set up

Connect PDF.co in three steps.

  1. 01

    Add actionlake to Claude.

    Run the command once in Claude Code; its consent page can create a free sandbox: 100,000 calls a month, no card. In the Claude app, add a custom connector with the URL below and paste your key on the consent page. Creating a new sandbox from the Claude app is not yet tested by us.

    https://connect.actionlake.com/mcp
  2. 02

    Connect PDF.co.

    API key. No consent screen: your agent can connect it for you, but the key then passes through your chat. To keep it out of the model's context, paste it in the console instead. actionlake stores what you paste write-only, sealed under your tenant's key.

    • api_keyPDF.co API key: app.pdf.co > API (Dashboard > API Key)
    account { op: "connections.requirements", service: "pdf_co" }
# free: exactly what to paste, and what is found for you
  3. 03

    Make the first call. Check before a write.

    Ask in plain words; Claude picks the action. Before anything changes, check validates the call and prices it, for free.

    do    { action: "pdf_co.html_templates.list" }# list html-to-pdf templates · read · 1 upstream callcheck { action: "pdf_co.pdf.merge", input: { … } }# free: inputs, permissions, cost and confirmations, nothing sent

PDF.co at a glance

Sign-in
API key. No consent screen: your agent can connect it for you, but the key then passes through your chat. To keep it out of the model's context, paste it in the console instead.
You provide
api_key
Limits we pace to
120 calls a minute, per connection
API covered
PDF.co API 1.0 (OpenAPI 3.0.1)api.pdf.co
Built from
PDF.co's documentation, read 23 October 2026docs.pdf.codeveloper.pdf.co
Service file
Version 1.0.0, signed (Ed25519)
Cached reads
5 of 16 reads, for up to 5 minutes; a write clears what it affects
Shared entities
1, so ask can line PDF.co up with your other systems
Data
Processed and stored in Sydney, Australia. No US region yet

Capabilities

What an AI agent can do in PDF.co.

69 actions in 16 areas. Every one carries its effect, so a key can allow the reads and hold the rest.

  • 16readlook, never change
  • 50writecreate and update
  • 3destructivewait for a confirmation

  1. PDF convert

    21

    0 read · 21 write · 0 destructive

    Convert a CSV or spreadsheet to PDF · Convert a document (DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT, XPS) to PDF · Convert an email (MSG or EML) to PDF · Convert HTML to PDF

  2. PDF

    12

    4 read · 8 write · 0 destructive

    Classify a document by keyword rules · Get a PDF's metadata and page count · Compress a PDF · Find tables in a PDF

  3. PDF edit

    7

    0 read · 5 write · 2 destructive

    Add text, images, links or form-field values to a PDF · Delete pages from a PDF (writes a new file) · Search and delete text in a PDF · Search and replace text in a PDF

  4. Files

    6

    1 read · 4 write · 1 destructive

    Calculate a file's hash · Generate a presigned URL for uploading a file · Upload a base64-encoded file · Upload a file from a URL

  5. XLS convert

    6

    0 read · 6 write · 0 destructive

    Convert an Excel spreadsheet to CSV · Convert an Excel spreadsheet to HTML · Convert an Excel spreadsheet to JSON · Convert an Excel spreadsheet to PDF

  6. Email

    3

    1 read · 2 write · 0 destructive

    Decode an email (MSG or EML) to JSON · Extract attachments from an email · Send an email with an attachment through your SMTP server

  7. Barcodes

    2

    1 read · 1 write · 0 destructive

    Read barcodes from a PDF or image · Generate a barcode image

  8. Document parser templates

    2

    2 read · 0 write · 0 destructive

    List Document Parser templates · Get a Document Parser template

8 more areas · 10 actions
  • HTML templates 2
  • PDF security 2
  • Account 1
  • AI invoice parser 1
  • Document parser 1
  • Jobs 1
  • PDF attachments 1
  • PDF forms 1

Top actions

The PDF.co API, shaped for agents.

The ids your agent types, what each does, and the one name it shares with other systems.

ActionWhat it doesEffectSame name in
pdf_co.html_templates.listList HTML-to-PDF templatesReturn All Templates.readthis connector
pdf_co.document_parser_templates.listList Document Parser templatesList All Templates.readthis connector
pdf_co.pdf.infoGet a PDF's metadata and page countPDF Info Reader.readthis connector
pdf_co.files.hashCalculate a file's hashGet MD5 Hash of File by URL.readthis connector
pdf_co.jobs.checkCheck a background job's statusBackground & Job Check.readthis connector
pdf_co.email.decodeDecode an email (MSG or EML) to JSONExtract Data from Email File.readthis connector
pdf_co.pdf.classifyClassify a document by keyword rulesDocument Classifier.readthis connector
pdf_co.barcodes.readRead barcodes from a PDF or imageBarcodes Reader.readthis connector
pdf_co.pdf.mergeMerge PDF filesMerge PDF.writethis connector
pdf_co.pdf.splitSplit a PDF by page numbers or rangesSplit PDF.writethis connector
pdf_co.email.sendSend an email with an attachment through your SMTP serverSend Email with File.writethis connector
pdf_co.files.deleteDelete a file from PDF.co temporary storageDelete Temporary File.destructivethis connector

Try it

Prompts to paste into Claude.

Each one names the PDF.co actions it will call, so you know what it reads and what it changes before you send it.

  1. Readread

    Which PDF.co files changed this week, and who changed them?

    callspdf_co.html_templates.list

  2. Writewrite

    Merge PDF files in PDF.co. Show me exactly what you will send before you save it.

    callspdf_co.pdf.merge

Governance for PDF.co

Destructive actions wait for a yes.

3 PDF.co actions are destructive. These are all of them:

  • Delete a file from PDF.co temporary storagepdf_co.files.delete
  • Rotate pages of a PDFpdf_co.pdf_edit.rotate
  • Auto-rotate PDF pages by detected text orientationpdf_co.pdf_edit.rotate_auto

A destructive action runs only with confirm: true. Under the human policy the agent cannot confirm for itself: the run stops until a named person approves, in the console or from a signed link in an email. The cap on a key is refused before the call is sent, never after.

dopdf_co.files.deleteconfirm_policy: human

Delete a file from PDF.co temporary storage?

intent: the user asked me to delete a file from PDF.co temporary storage

run suspended · waiting for a named person · key pdf-co-agent cannot confirm itself
In the console, or from an emailed signed link.
a key for this connector
account {  op: "keys.create", name: "pdf-co-agent",  allowed_actions: ["pdf_co.*"], cap_calls: 2000,  confirm_policy: "human_for_writes",  approval_rules: [    { match: "pdf_co.files.delete", approver: "[email protected]" },    { match: "pdf_co.pdf_edit.rotate", approver: "[email protected]" },    { match: "pdf_co.pdf_edit.rotate_auto", approver: "[email protected]" }  ]}
Illustrative. Scoped to PDF.co only, capped at 2,000 upstream calls, every write confirmed, and the destructive ones approved by a named person.

Cost

What PDF.co costs on actionlake.

Every PDF.co action is one upstream call, the only thing actionlake bills. Searching, check, cost, account and any call PDF.co refused with 401, 403, 429 or a 5xx are free. Paid plans start at US$49 a month for 250,000 calls, with overage from US$0.30 down to US$0.18 per 1,000.

  • 1upstream call per actionall 69 PDF.co actions
  • 69actions pageeach page of a long list is one call
  • 5reads can be cacheda cache hit costs nothing
  • 100,000calls a month, freepaid plans from US$49 a month for 250,000

See pricing

Action index

Every PDF.co action.

69 actions by area: the id your agent calls, what it does, and its effect.

PDF convert21
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.from_csvConvert a CSV or spreadsheet to PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.from_docConvert a document (DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT, XPS) to PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.from_emailConvert an email (MSG or EML) to PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.from_htmlConvert HTML to PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.from_imageConvert images to PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.from_templateConvert an HTML template to PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.from_urlConvert a web page URL to PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_csvConvert a PDF to CSVwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_htmlConvert a PDF to HTMLwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_jpgConvert PDF pages to JPG imageswrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_jsonConvert a PDF to JSONwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_json_metaConvert a PDF to JSON with layout metadatawrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_pdfaConvert a PDF to PDF/Awrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_pngConvert PDF pages to PNG imageswrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_textConvert a PDF to text (layout-preserving)write
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_text_simpleConvert a PDF to plain text (simple)write
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_tiffConvert a PDF to a TIFF imagewrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_webpConvert PDF pages to WEBP imageswrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_xlsConvert a PDF to Excel XLSwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_xlsxConvert a PDF to Excel XLSXwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_convert.to_xmlConvert a PDF to XMLwrite
PDF12
  • pdf_co.pdf.classifyClassify a document by keyword rulesread
  • pdf_co.pdf.compressCompress a PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf.find_tablesFind tables in a PDFread
  • pdf_co.pdf.find_textFind text in a PDFread
  • pdf_co.pdf.infoGet a PDF's metadata and page countread
  • pdf_co.pdf.make_searchableMake a scanned PDF searchable (OCR)write
  • pdf_co.pdf.make_unsearchableMake a PDF unsearchablewrite
  • pdf_co.pdf.mergeMerge PDF fileswrite
  • pdf_co.pdf.merge_anyMerge PDFs, documents, images and archives into one PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf.optimizeOptimize a PDF (legacy compression)write
  • pdf_co.pdf.splitSplit a PDF by page numbers or rangeswrite
  • pdf_co.pdf.split_by_searchSplit a PDF by text search or barcodewrite
PDF edit7
  • pdf_co.pdf_edit.addAdd text, images, links or form-field values to a PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_edit.delete_pagesDelete pages from a PDF (writes a new file)write
  • pdf_co.pdf_edit.delete_textSearch and delete text in a PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_edit.replace_textSearch and replace text in a PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_edit.replace_text_with_imageReplace text in a PDF with an imagewrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_edit.rotateRotate pages of a PDFdestructive
  • pdf_co.pdf_edit.rotate_autoAuto-rotate PDF pages by detected text orientationdestructive
Files6
  • pdf_co.files.deleteDelete a file from PDF.co temporary storagedestructive
  • pdf_co.files.hashCalculate a file's hashread
  • pdf_co.files.presigned_urlGenerate a presigned URL for uploading a filewrite
  • pdf_co.files.upload_base64Upload a base64-encoded filewrite
  • pdf_co.files.upload_from_urlUpload a file from a URLwrite
  • pdf_co.files.upload_from_url_getUpload a file from a URL (GET form)write
XLS convert6
  • pdf_co.xls_convert.to_csvConvert an Excel spreadsheet to CSVwrite
  • pdf_co.xls_convert.to_htmlConvert an Excel spreadsheet to HTMLwrite
  • pdf_co.xls_convert.to_jsonConvert an Excel spreadsheet to JSONwrite
  • pdf_co.xls_convert.to_pdfConvert an Excel spreadsheet to PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.xls_convert.to_textConvert an Excel spreadsheet to textwrite
  • pdf_co.xls_convert.to_xmlConvert an Excel spreadsheet to XMLwrite
Email3
  • pdf_co.email.decodeDecode an email (MSG or EML) to JSONread
  • pdf_co.email.extract_attachmentsExtract attachments from an emailwrite
  • pdf_co.email.sendSend an email with an attachment through your SMTP serverwrite
Barcodes2
  • pdf_co.barcodes.generateGenerate a barcode imagewrite
  • pdf_co.barcodes.readRead barcodes from a PDF or imageread
Document parser templates2
  • pdf_co.document_parser_templates.getGet a Document Parser templateread
  • pdf_co.document_parser_templates.listList Document Parser templatesread
HTML templates2
  • pdf_co.html_templates.getGet an HTML-to-PDF templateread
  • pdf_co.html_templates.listList HTML-to-PDF templatesread
PDF security2
  • pdf_co.pdf_security.addAdd password protection and permissions to a PDFwrite
  • pdf_co.pdf_security.removeRemove password protection from a PDFwrite
Account1
  • pdf_co.account.balanceGet the account's remaining credit balanceread
AI invoice parser1
  • pdf_co.ai_invoice_parser.parseParse an invoice with AIread
Document parser1
  • pdf_co.document_parser.parseParse a document with a Document Parser templateread
Jobs1
  • pdf_co.jobs.checkCheck a background job's statusread
PDF attachments1
  • pdf_co.pdf_attachments.extractExtract attachments from a PDFwrite
PDF forms1
  • pdf_co.pdf_forms.infoRead a PDF's fillable form fieldsread

Questions

The PDF.co MCP server, answered.

Is there a PDF.co MCP server for Claude?

Yes. actionlake is an MCP gateway: a remote MCP server that gives Claude, or another MCP client, 69 PDF.co actions across PDF convert, PDF, PDF edit and files, through the same eight tools it uses for every other connector. actionlake is independent; it is not made or endorsed by PDF.co.

What do I need to connect PDF.co?

PDF.co API key: app.pdf.co > API (Dashboard > API Key). The free call account { op: "connections.requirements", service: "pdf_co" } lists exactly what to paste.

Can an AI agent delete or change things in PDF.co?

Only if its key allows it, and only with an explicit confirmation. 3 PDF.co actions are destructive, including delete a file from PDF.co temporary storage, rotate pages of a PDF and auto-rotate PDF pages by detected text orientation. Each runs only with confirm: true. Under the human confirm policy, or an approval rule on the key, the run waits until a named person approves it.

Will an AI agent use up my PDF.co API limit?

actionlake paces every call to the limits in the PDF.co service file: 120 calls a minute per connection. Repeated reads are answered from cache (5 PDF.co actions can be), which never reaches PDF.co.

What does a PDF.co action cost?

One upstream call, the only unit actionlake bills. A list that pages bills one call per page (69 PDF.co actions page). Cache hits, searches, dry runs and calls PDF.co refused with 401, 403, 429 or a 5xx are free. The Free plan includes 100,000 calls a month with no card. Paid plans start at US$49 a month for 250,000 calls, with overage from US$0.30 down to US$0.18 per 1,000.

Which PDF.co API does it cover?

The PDF.co API 1.0 (OpenAPI 3.0.1) at api.pdf.co. It is built from PDF.co's documentation as read on 23 October 2026. 69 actions in 16 areas, each one in the signed service file (version 1.0.0).

Does actionlake keep my PDF.co data, and where?

actionlake processes and stores data in Sydney, Australia; there is no US region yet. Reads may be cached for up to 5 minutes, and a write clears the reads it affects. Each run's request and response is kept, sealed, for your plan's trace window: 1 day on Free, 3 days on Starter, 7 days on Pro, 14 days on Team, 30 days on Business and 30 days on Enterprise. Your PDF.co credential is sealed under your tenant's key, never logged and never returned. Your traffic is not used to train models.

Which AI clients can use it?

Claude Code, tested by us end to end, and the Claude app as a custom connector, tested by us with an existing key. Other MCP clients that support remote servers over Streamable HTTP (MCP revisions 2025-06-18 and 2025-11-25) and OAuth dynamic client registration, or a bearer header, should connect the same way; we have not tested them. Or plain REST, under the same action names.

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actionlake is independent. It is not made or endorsed by PDF.co; the name is the vendor's own. Counts are from the PDF.co service file, version 1.0.0.

Give your agent PDF.co today.

Connect PDF.co freeSee pricing

Start free - 100,000 calls/month, no card. No signup. Hard caps on every key. Cached answers are free.