Convert on your own device instead of a cloud server
Compare the free-plan limits and file retention of the big cloud converters, each quoted from their own pages, with a converter that never uploads.
A cloud converter sends your file to a server and converts it there. WebConverter converts in your browser with WebAssembly, so the file stays on your device. The tables below quote each service's own published limits and retention.
Convert a file on your deviceFree-plan limits, as the services publish them
| Service | Published limits | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CloudConvert | Conversions per day “10 / day” Max processing time “5 minutes” Max file size “1 GB” Concurrent conversions “5” Account “Sign Up”“No credit card required” | cloudconvert.com/pricingcloudconvert.com/privacy |
| Zamzar | Max file size “You are attempting to upload a file that exceeds our 50MB free limit.” Files over the size limit “You will need to create a paid Zamzar account to be able to download your converted file.” | www.zamzar.com |
| FreeConvert | Conversion minutes per day “Free users get 20 conversion minutes per day” Files per day “up to 20 files per day” Minutes per file “limit of 5 conversion minutes per file” Max file size “Max file size 1GB” Account “You do not need to create an account to get these benefits on our website.” | www.freeconvert.com/pricingwww.freeconvert.com |
| ezgif (upload mode) | Max file size “Max file size: 200MB.” | ezgif.com/webp-to-png |
| WebConverter | No daily cap and no timer per file. File size is set by your device's memory. |
ezgif also offers a local mode that runs in your browser. These figures are for its upload mode. Quotes are copied from the official pages, in English as published. Checked on 2026-10-31.
How long each service keeps your file
| Service | Published retention | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CloudConvert | “automatically at the latest after 24 hours” | cloudconvert.com/privacy |
| Zamzar | “Free converted files are stored securely for a maximum of 24 hours” | www.zamzar.com |
| FreeConvert | “automatically delete them after 8 hours” | www.freeconvert.com |
| ezgif (upload mode) | “All uploaded files are automatically deleted 1 hour after upload.” | ezgif.com/webp-to-png |
| WebConverter | Nothing is uploaded, so nothing is kept. |
Checked on 2026-10-31.
Local without an installer
A desktop converter needs an installer before the first file. WebConverter runs in a browser tab, and you can install it from your browser later if you want it offline.
What powers each conversion
WebConverter uses open engines compiled to WebAssembly. None of them needs a server round trip:
| Audio and video | FFmpeg |
| Documents | Pandoc |
| PDF text extraction | PDF.js |
| PDF page editing and merging | pdf-lib |
| Speech to text | Whisper (whisper.cpp) |
| Images | a WebAssembly image codec |
Check it yourself
- Open your browser's developer tools (F12) and select the Network tab.
- Convert a file.
- Look for a request that sends your file. You will not find one.
The verdict
Cloud converters like CloudConvert, Zamzar and FreeConvert fit jobs that need an API or a format WebConverter lacks. For everyday files, converting on your own device removes the upload, the account and the daily counter.
Frequently asked questions
Do my files get uploaded when I use WebConverter?
No. Every conversion runs in your browser with WebAssembly, so your files never reach a server.
Is there a file size limit?
WebConverter sets no size cap. Your device's memory is the limit, so a large file may fail on an older phone where a laptop succeeds.
Does it work offline?
Yes, after you open it once. Install the app from your browser and it keeps converting without a connection.
Is WebConverter really free?
Yes. Conversions are free, with no sign-up and no watermark. The site is supported by ads.
Is WebConverter open source?
No. WebConverter is free to use, but it is not open source. It builds on open-source engines such as FFmpeg and Pandoc.
