ConvertX — Self-Hosted File Converter Supporting 1000+ Formats

Introduction

ConvertX provides a clean web UI for file conversion that you can host on your own server. It wraps multiple conversion backends into a single interface, eliminating the need for online converters that may compromise your data.

What ConvertX Does

• Converts documents, images, audio, video, and archive formats through a browser UI
• Supports batch conversion of multiple files at once
• Integrates LibreOffice, FFmpeg, ImageMagick, and other engines under one roof
• Runs entirely on your hardware with no external API calls
• Provides a drag-and-drop interface for quick uploads

Architecture Overview

ConvertX is a TypeScript application built with Bun and Elysia. It delegates actual conversion work to system-level tools like FFmpeg, LibreOffice, and ImageMagick installed in the Docker image. The web frontend communicates with the backend API that queues and processes conversion jobs.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Run via Docker with a single command, no external database required
• Configure max file size and concurrent jobs via environment variables
• Mount a volume to persist converted files across container restarts
• Place behind a reverse proxy for TLS termination
• Supports custom themes via Tailwind CSS configuration

Key Features

• Covers 1000+ format combinations through multiple conversion backends
• Privacy-first: all processing happens locally on your server
• Lightweight container image with minimal resource overhead
• Clean responsive UI that works on desktop and mobile browsers
• No user accounts required for simple deployments

Comparison with Similar Tools

• CloudConvert — cloud-hosted with usage limits; ConvertX keeps files on your server
• Stirling PDF — focused on PDF operations only; ConvertX covers all file types
• FileConverter (desktop) — Windows-only desktop app; ConvertX runs in a browser
• Pandoc — CLI-only document converter; ConvertX adds a graphical interface
• OmniTools — broader web toolbox but fewer conversion format combinations

FAQ

Q: What conversion backends does ConvertX use? A: It wraps FFmpeg for audio and video, LibreOffice for documents, ImageMagick for images, and several other tools depending on the format.

Q: Is there a file size limit? A: The default limit is configurable via environment variables. Since it runs on your own hardware, you control the constraints.

Q: Does it require a database? A: No, ConvertX operates without an external database. Conversion state is managed in memory.

Q: Can I restrict access to specific users? A: The application itself does not include authentication, but you can place it behind a reverse proxy with auth middleware.

Sources

• https://github.com/C4illin/ConvertX