VERT
VERT is a privacy-focused file conversion web app that runs conversions locally in the browser via WebAssembly, supporting 250+ formats across images, audio, documents, and video without uploading files to the cloud.
AGPL-3.0-onlyNetwork copyleft (AGPL) — even offering it over a network (SaaS) can trigger the source-sharing requirement.View license →
Production readiness
4/5- Actively maintainedCommits in the last 6 months
- No known vulnerabilitiesNo OSV advisories
- Clear, usable licenseAGPL-3.0-only (network copyleft)
- Proven adoptionWidely used
- Has documentationDocumentation indexed
npm install vertOur analysis
VERT is an open-source, Svelte/TypeScript file conversion utility that performs conversions client-side using WebAssembly, so files never leave the user's device. It supports over 250 formats across images, audio, documents, and video.
When to use VERT
Use it when you want a privacy-respecting, self-hostable file converter without file size limits or cloud uploads, or as a deployable web app for an organization that needs local format conversion. The official instance is also a ready-to-use online tool.
When not to
Reach for dedicated CLIs (FFmpeg, ImageMagick, Pandoc) for scripted/batch server-side pipelines, or a managed service like CloudConvert if you need broad format coverage with no infrastructure. Heavy video conversion requires the separate self-hosted daemon, so pure in-browser use is limited there.
Strengths
- Local, in-browser conversion via WebAssembly preserves privacy and avoids uploads
- No file or file size limits
- Very broad format support (250+) with conversion settings
- Self-hostable, including a Docker setup and a video daemon for full local control
- Clean, modern UI built with Svelte
Trade-offs
- Non-local video conversion depends on a separate daemon (vertd), adding deployment complexity for full video support
- Browser-side WASM conversion can be memory/CPU intensive for large files
- AGPL-3.0 license may be restrictive for some commercial/SaaS integrations
- Not a library/API-first tool — it's primarily an end-user app
Maturity
Popular and actively maintained project (15k+ stars) with a hosted production instance at vert.sh, Docker support, and documentation. The split architecture (app + vertd daemon) is established but adds operational overhead for self-hosters.
VERT is a privacy-focused file conversion web app that runs conversions locally in the browser via WebAssembly, supporting 250+ formats across images, audio, documents, and video without uploading files to the cloud.