We’ve all been there: you need to quickly convert a PDF to Word, compress a video, or change an image format. You search online, click on what looks like a legitimate converter, and suddenly you’re bombarded with ads, file size restrictions, mandatory sign-ups, and worse—your private files uploaded to unknown servers where they sit for who knows how long.
Traditional online file converters have frustrated users for years with their cluttered interfaces, privacy concerns, conversion limits, and glacial speeds. Meanwhile, desktop converters require installation, updates, and often come with hefty price tags or subscription models. Enter VERT—the next-generation file converter that’s rewriting the rules entirely.
VERT (available at https://github.com/VERT-sh/VERT) is a completely open-source, fully local*, and free forever file conversion tool that leverages cutting-edge WebAssembly technology to convert your files directly in your browser—no uploads, no ads, no limits, and most importantly, no compromises on your privacy.
What is VERT? The File Converter Built for Privacy and Performance
VERT is an innovative web-based file conversion utility that fundamentally changes how we think about converting files online. Unlike traditional converters that send your data to remote servers, VERT processes most file conversions entirely on your device using WebAssembly (Wasm)—a technology that brings near-native performance to web applications.
The Origin Story: Created by developers frustrated with the current state of file conversion tools, VERT launched with a clear mission: build a converter that’s beautiful, fast, privacy-respecting, and accessible to everyone. The project has rapidly gained traction in the open-source community, accumulating over 7,100 GitHub stars and attracting contributions from developers worldwide who share the vision of making file conversion better for everyone.
Key Technical Specifications: Built with modern web technologies including Svelte and TypeScript, VERT offers a sleek, responsive interface that feels instantly familiar yet refreshingly clean. Under the hood, it leverages industry-standard conversion libraries:
- FFmpeg (WebAssembly) for audio and video processing
- libvips (WebAssembly) for lightning-fast image conversion
- ImageMagick for additional image format support
- Pandoc for comprehensive document conversions
The entire project is licensed under AGPL-3.0, ensuring that it remains open, transparent, and community-driven forever.
Standout Features: What Makes VERT Different
1. Fully Local Processing (with one important asterisk)
Here’s where VERT truly shines: all image, audio, and document conversions happen 100% locally in your browser. Your files never leave your device, eliminating privacy risks associated with cloud-based converters.
The asterisk: Video conversions are an exception. Due to the computational intensity of video processing, VERT’s official instance uploads videos to their RTX 4000 Ada server for faster conversion. However, even here, VERT respects your privacy: converted videos are automatically deleted after one hour or immediately upon download.
Want complete local control? VERT offers vertd—a self-hostable video conversion daemon built with Rust and FFmpeg that allows you to handle video conversions entirely on your own infrastructure. Simply run vertd via Docker or compile from source, and you’ll have truly 100% local file conversion across all formats.
2. Support for 250+ File Formats
VERT doesn’t just handle a few common formats—it supports an extensive range of over 250 file types across multiple categories:
Images: PNG, JPEG, JPG, WebP, GIF, HEIC, ICO, BMP, CUR, ANI, ICNS, NEF, CR2, HDR, DNG, TIFF, AVIF, SVG, and more
Audio: MP3, WAV, FLAC, OGG, AAC, M4A, WMA, AMR, AC3, ALAC, AIFF, and others
Video: MKV, MP4, WebM, AVI, WMV, MOV, GIF, MTS, TS, M2TS
Documents: DOCX, XML, DOC, MD, HTML, RTF, CSV, TSV, JSON, RST, EPUB, ODT, DocBook, PDF
This comprehensive format support makes VERT a truly universal conversion tool for virtually any file type you encounter in daily work.
3. No File Size Limits, No Ads, No Subscriptions
Unlike traditional online converters that impose frustrating file size restrictions or demand payment for “premium” features, VERT has zero limitations. Convert a 10MB document or a multi-gigabyte video—VERT handles it all without complaint, ads, or hidden costs.
The entire platform is completely free and will remain so forever thanks to its open-source nature.
4. Blazing-Fast Performance
Because conversions happen locally using pre-compiled WebAssembly modules, VERT eliminates the upload/download bottleneck that plagues traditional online converters. Your conversion speed is limited only by your device’s processing power—typically resulting in conversions that complete in seconds rather than minutes.
As one reviewer noted: “Upload to download in a flash—very practical tool”.
5. Privacy and Security by Design
In an era where data privacy is paramount, VERT’s architecture ensures your files remain private. The browser’s sandbox environment processes your files without any data leaving your machine (for non-video formats), making it virtually impossible for your sensitive information to be intercepted or stored on unknown servers.
For users handling confidential documents, medical records, legal files, or proprietary business data, this local processing is a game-changer.
6. Open Source and Self-Hostable
Want complete control? VERT’s open-source nature means you can:
- Inspect the code to verify privacy and security claims
- Self-host the entire platform on your own infrastructure
- Customize the interface and features to match your specific needs
- Contribute improvements back to the community
The project welcomes contributions on GitHub, with active development and responsive maintainers.
7. Modern, Intuitive Interface
VERT’s Svelte-powered interface is clean, fast, and refreshingly simple:
- Drag and drop your file (or click to browse)
- Select your desired output format
- Click “Convert”
- Download your converted file
That’s it. No confusing options, no dark patterns, no friction—just pure functionality.
Why Choose VERT Over Other Converters?
VERT vs. Traditional Online Converters
Traditional converters require uploading your files to remote servers, introducing privacy risks, bandwidth consumption, and file size limitations. They’re often cluttered with ads, require account creation, or impose daily conversion limits.
VERT processes files locally, ensuring maximum privacy, unlimited conversions, zero ads, and faster processing—all without requiring any personal information.
VERT vs. Desktop Converter Software
Desktop converters require installation, regular updates, and often come with licensing costs or subscription fees. They’re tied to specific devices and operating systems.
VERT runs in any modern browser on any device—Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS, even mobile—with no installation required. Access it anywhere, anytime, for free.
VERT vs. Cloud Services (Google Drive, Adobe)
Services like Google Drive and Adobe offer conversion features, but they store your files on their servers indefinitely, raising privacy concerns for sensitive data.
VERT keeps your data on your device, or deletes it within one hour if video conversion requires server processing.
Real User Testimonials
Users across platforms have praised VERT’s approach:
- “I started converting all my files with this open-source tool” – XDA Developers
- “While VERT is great for privacy-conscious users, we found it great for regular use as well, due to faster processing and no size limitations” – MakeTechEasier
- “This is the best online file converter—and it’s totally free” – Fast Company
- Reddit users on r/selfhosted gave it 890 upvotes, praising its local conversion approach
Getting Started: Quick Setup Guide
Option 1: Use the Official Instance (Easiest)
- Navigate to https://vert.sh in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
- Click the “Drop or click to convert” area or drag your file directly onto the page
- Select your desired output format from the dropdown menu
- Click “Convert”
- Download your converted file
Time to first conversion: Under 30 seconds
Option 2: Self-Host VERT (Full Control)
For frontend-only (image, audio, document conversion):
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/VERT-sh/VERT.git
cd VERT
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Run locally
npm run devAccess VERT at http://localhost:5173
For complete local video conversion (with vertd):
# Using Docker (recommended)
docker run -d -p 24153:24153 ghcr.io/vert-sh/vertd:latestThen connect your VERT instance to the vertd server URL (http://localhost:24153) in the settings.
System Requirements:
- Modern browser with WebAssembly support (any recent Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
- For self-hosting: Node.js 16.x or higher
- For video conversion: Docker (optional) or Rust/Cargo for building vertd
Option 3: Deploy on NAS or Home Server
VERT can be easily deployed on home servers and NAS devices using Docker and Portainer, making it accessible to your entire household or organization while maintaining complete data privacy.
Advanced Features and Customization
Batch Conversion
Need to convert multiple files to the same format? VERT supports batch operations—simply add multiple files and use the “Set all to” feature to apply one output format to all queued files.
Conversion Settings
For advanced users, VERT offers customization options including:
- Quality adjustments for images and videos
- Bitrate selection for audio files
- Codec preferences for video conversion
- Resolution and scale adjustments
Integration and API
As an open-source project, developers can fork VERT and integrate it into their own applications, creating custom workflows or adding format-specific features.
The Technology Behind VERT: WebAssembly Explained
What makes VERT’s local processing possible is WebAssembly (Wasm)—a binary instruction format that allows code written in languages like Rust, C, and C++ to run at near-native speed in web browsers.
Traditional web applications rely on JavaScript, which can be slow for computationally intensive tasks like video encoding or image processing. WebAssembly bridges this gap by compiling high-performance code into a portable format that runs safely in the browser’s sandbox.
By compiling FFmpeg, libvips, and other conversion libraries to WebAssembly, VERT brings desktop-grade conversion power directly to your browser—no installation, no server uploads, no compromises.
Privacy and Security Considerations
What VERT Does NOT Do
- Does not collect personal information – No account required, no tracking
- Does not store your files – Local conversions stay on your device; video conversions are auto-deleted within 1 hour
- Does not inject malware – Open-source code can be audited; no hidden executables
- Does not sell your data – No business model based on data harvesting
Industry Context: Why This Matters
The FBI and security researchers have warned about malicious file converter sites that install malware or steal data. VERT’s open-source nature and local processing architecture eliminate these risks entirely.
For industries with strict compliance requirements (healthcare, finance, legal), VERT’s local processing and self-hosting options provide a secure alternative to cloud-based converters that may violate data privacy regulations.
Conclusion: The Future of File Conversion is Open, Local, and Free
VERT represents a fundamental shift in how we think about file conversion. In a world where most online tools prioritize monetization over user experience and privacy, VERT stands as a refreshing alternative—built by developers, for users, with no compromises.
With 250+ supported formats, zero file size limits, local privacy-focused processing, and a completely free, open-source foundation, VERT delivers on the promise of what file converters should have been all along: fast, secure, and genuinely useful tools that respect your privacy and your time.
Whether you’re a developer seeking a self-hostable conversion solution, a privacy-conscious user tired of uploading sensitive files to unknown servers, or simply someone frustrated with traditional converters’ limitations, VERT offers a compelling answer.
