About The Converter
The file converter that doesn't make you feel sketchy.
Why We Built This
We've all been there. You need to convert a quick HEIC photo to JPG, or turn a Word doc into a PDF. You Google "heic to jpg converter" and click the first result.
Then it starts:
- Fake download buttons that lead to sketchy ads
- Dark patterns trying to trick you into subscriptions
- Mystery processing — where do your files go? Are they stored? Sold? Who knows?
- Intrusive pop-ups and interstitial ads blocking your workflow
- Forced account creation for a single conversion
It feels gross. You finish the conversion and immediately wonder: "Should I change my passwords? Did I just upload my private photos to some random server in who-knows-where?"
We got tired of that feeling. So we built the converter we wished existed.
Our Privacy Philosophy
Privacy shouldn't be a promise — it should be architecture.
Most converter sites say they respect your privacy. We prove it:
Client-Side First
90%+ of conversions happen entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Your files never touch our servers. Open your browser's Network tab — you'll see zero uploads.
Open Source
Our client-side conversion library is open source. You can audit the code yourself. We're not hiding anything.
Auto-Delete
For the few conversions that require servers (like DOCX → PDF), files are encrypted in transit, processed in isolated containers, and deleted within 1 hour. Guaranteed.
No Dark Patterns
Buttons look like buttons. Ads look like ads (and are labeled). Downloads look like downloads. No tricks, no fake-outs, no bullshit.
How We Make Money (Honestly)
We're not a charity, but we're also not trying to trick you into buying something you don't need.
Free Tier
- Client-side conversions: Unlimited and free forever.
- Server-side conversions: 3/day, 25MB max.
- Ads: Tasteful display ads (clearly labeled, separated from the tool). No pop-ups, no interstitials, no fake download buttons.
Pro Tier ($8/month)
- Unlimited everything
- No ads
- Larger files (up to 500MB)
- Batch conversion
- Priority processing
- Light API access
If you're a casual user converting a few files a month, the free tier is perfect. If you're a designer, developer, or power user who relies on conversions daily, Pro is a no-brainer.
Our Commitments
- Privacy by architecture — Client-side conversion by default. Files never touch our servers unless technically unavoidable.
- Transparency — Open-source client-side code. Real-time UI indicators showing where processing happens (browser vs. server). Clear, human-readable privacy policy.
- No dark patterns — Every interactive element looks exactly like what it is. No tricks.
- Fast & simple — One drop zone, one format selector, one convert button, one download. No accounts required for free tier.
- Progressive monetization — Free client-side conversions → ads on free server-side tier → premium subscriptions. Pay only if you need more.
Technology We Use
The Converter is built on modern, privacy-respecting technology:
- WebAssembly (WASM) — Runs FFmpeg, image codecs, and PDF tools directly in your browser at near-native speed.
- Web Workers — Keeps conversions fast without freezing your browser.
- Next.js & React — Fast, SEO-friendly, accessible web app.
- Plausible Analytics — Privacy-friendly analytics. No cookies, no tracking, no personal data.
- Cloudflare R2 — Temporary file storage for server-side conversions. Auto-deletes after 1 hour.
- Stripe — Secure payment processing. We never see your credit card details.
Open Source
Our client-side conversion library is open source on GitHub. We believe privacy claims should be verifiable, not just promises in a privacy policy.
Security researchers, developers, and curious users are welcome to audit our code, report issues, or even contribute improvements.
Who We Are
The Converter is built by a small team of developers and designers who care deeply about privacy, user experience, and honest business practices.
We're frustrated by the state of online file converters — dark patterns, sketchy ads, zero transparency. So we built the tool we wished existed.
If you have questions, feedback, or just want to say hi, reach out at hello@theconverter.app. We read every email.
Try The Converter Today
Ready to convert files without the sketchy feeling? Start with our most popular conversions: