Convertio alternatives for Mac that keep files local
By Himanshu Ranjan · Updated 8 November 2026
If you use Convertio on a Mac and would rather not upload files to EU servers or pay a monthly plan, FileDial does the same conversions, OCR and video compression on the Mac for $20 once, with every tool working offline. For occasional light use, Convertio's free tier, Preview and HandBrake cost nothing.
Why people look for a Convertio alternative
- Your output files stay on Convertio's servers for up to 24 hours unless you delete them yourself, per its privacy policy.
- Large files mean a monthly subscription: the plans are tiered by file size, from 1 GB on Lite to 10 GB on Pro.
- Every conversion needs a connection and an upload, which is slow for long video and impossible on a plane.
- Scanned contracts and IDs sent for OCR are exactly the documents you may not want on someone else's server.
About Convertio: A browser-based converter that claims more than 25,600 conversions between more than 300 formats, plus OCR and video tools. Platforms: Any web browser, no install; API and CLI for developers. Price: Free tier. Lite US$11.99/mo (1 GB files), Basic US$22.99/mo (3 GB), Pro US$44.99/mo (10 GB) billed monthly; US$6.99, US$13.99 and US$25.99 per month billed yearly; Custom from US$54/mo.. Where files are processed: Kept in the European Union; input and temporary files deleted instantly after conversion, output files deleted when you remove them or automatically after 24 hours.
Every Convertio tool, and its FileDial equivalent
| Convertio | FileDial (offline) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Video converter (MKV to MP4) | Convert › Convert to MP4 | New MP4 beside the original |
| Compress video | Compress › Compress to 720p | Smaller copy at 720p |
| Audio converter (M4A to MP3) | Convert › Convert to MP3 | New copy beside the original |
| Image converter (HEIC to JPG) | Convert › Convert to JPG | New copy beside the original |
| Image converter (JPG to PNG) | Convert › Convert to PNG | New copy beside the original |
| Document converter (PDF to DOCX) | Convert › PDF to Word | Layout, tables and pictures kept; scans are OCRed |
| Document converter (DOC to DOCX) | Convert › Convert to Word (DOCX) | New copy beside the original |
| OCR (scan to searchable PDF) | OCR › Make searchable | Adds an invisible text layer to pages without text |
| OCR (image to text) | Markup › Extract text | Saves the text in a picture as a text file |
| GIF editor (video to GIF) | Convert › Make a GIF | New GIF beside the original |
| Add subtitles to video | Combine › Burn in subtitles | Pick a video and an SRT or VTT file |
| Text to speech | Convert › Read aloud to audio… | M4A in the system voice; a scanned PDF needs OCR first |
| Ebook converter (to EPUB) | Convert › PDF to EPUB | Reflowable e-book; pages without text become pictures |
| Presentation to PDF | To PDF › Convert to PDF | Uses Keynote or PowerPoint when installed |
What FileDial does not replace:
- Many of the 300+ formats Convertio lists that sit outside FileDial's catalogue.
- AI video translation and a full online video editor. FileDial translates subtitles and transcribes on the Mac, but does not dub video.
- Access from any device with a browser, and an API for developers.
Details about Convertio come from its own website, checked 2026-11-09. FileDial tool names match the app exactly.
The best Convertio alternatives for Mac
1. FileDial
FileDial is our app. It replaces Convertio's main menu with tools in Finder: Convert › Convert to MP4, Convert › Convert to MP3 and Convert › Convert to JPG for media, Convert › PDF to Word for documents, and OCR › Make searchable for scans. A 42 MB PDF was OCRed in about 2 seconds on a MacBook, and nothing is sent anywhere.
- OCR and conversions with no upload
- No file-size tiers or monthly plan
- Batch: one tool on many files at once
- Not free after the 1-day trial
- Needs macOS 14 or later on an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or newer)
- Mac only, no web, Windows or API version
2. Permute
Permute is a Mac converter for video, audio and images with presets and a drag-and-drop queue, and it exports PDF pages as images. Permute 4 requires macOS 26 and Apple silicon; Permute 3 is sold for macOS 11 to 15 and Intel Macs.
- Friendly interface with presets
- Lower one-time price
- Runs on the Mac, no upload
- Not built for office documents, spreadsheets or archives
- Current version needs macOS 26
3. Preview and Finder Quick Actions (built into macOS)
Preview exports images to HEIC, JPEG, JPEG-2000, OpenEXR, PDF, PNG and TIFF, and can convert several at once from one window. In Finder, the Convert Image and Create PDF Quick Actions work on selected files without opening an app.
- Already installed
- Works on selections in Finder
- Free
- Images and PDFs only
- Few options
4. LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free office suite for macOS 11 or newer on Intel or Apple silicon. Opening a document and exporting it in another format, such as a Word file to PDF, is a common free way to convert documents offline.
- Free
- Opens and saves many document formats
- Exports PDF
- One document at a time through the interface
- Large install for occasional use
What Convertio does well, and what it costs
Convertio is a broad, polished converter: its homepage claims more than 25,600 conversions between more than 300 formats, and the menu adds OCR, a video editor, a GIF editor, subtitles and text to speech. Its privacy policy is clear that files are kept in the EU, inputs are deleted right after conversion, and outputs go after 24 hours or when you click the X.
The cost of that convenience is the upload, and for heavy users a subscription. Plans are sold by file size and conversion credits, from Lite at US$11.99 a month to Pro at US$44.99, or less billed yearly.
Doing Convertio's OCR job on a Mac
OCR is the Convertio feature people are most uneasy about, because the input is usually a scanned document with names and numbers on it. In FileDial the same job never leaves the Mac.
- Select the scanned PDF, or several, in Finder.
- Open the dial with the right Option key and choose the OCR category.
- Release on Make searchable to add a text layer, or on Extract text with OCR to get a .txt file.
- The result is saved beside the original. To get an editable Word file instead, use Convert › PDF to Word, which OCRs scans as it converts.
Why the upload is worth avoiding
Convertio itself is a reputable service with a stated deletion policy. The wider category is not always so careful. In March 2025 the FBI's Denver field office warned that free online document converters are increasingly used to spread malware and that such sites can scrape personal data. Choosing a local tool removes the need to judge which site to trust.
There is also the practical side: a 4 GB screen recording has to be uploaded before Convertio can start, and downloaded again after. On a Mac, FileDial starts immediately; a 366 MB 1080p video compressed to 720p in 23 seconds on a MacBook.
Free ways to cover the basics
If you convert a few files a month, you may not need any paid app. Preview exports images to JPEG, PNG, HEIC and TIFF, Finder's Convert Image Quick Action works on a selection, LibreOffice exports documents to PDF, and HandBrake converts video. Convertio's own free tier is also fine for non-sensitive files. FileDial earns its price when conversions are frequent, mixed, or private.
Questions
How long does Convertio keep my files?
Convertio's privacy policy says input files and all temporary files are deleted instantly after conversion, and output files are deleted when you click the X in the web panel or automatically after 24 hours. Files are kept in the European Union. With FileDial there is nothing to delete, because files never leave the Mac.
Is there a Convertio app for Mac?
Convertio describes itself as browser-based and working on all platforms with no software to download, so on a Mac you use it in Safari or another browser. If you want a native Mac app that converts locally, FileDial and Permute both run on the Mac, and FileDial also covers PDFs and office documents.
Can I do OCR offline on a Mac?
Yes. FileDial's OCR › Make searchable adds an invisible text layer to scanned pages, and OCR › Extract text with OCR saves the text as a .txt file, both on the Mac with Wi-Fi off. macOS Live Text also lets you copy text from images in Preview and Photos, one picture at a time.
Does Convertio have a file size limit?
Yes. Its upload box shows a 1 GB maximum, and paid plans raise the limit to 1 GB on Lite, 3 GB on Basic, 10 GB on Pro and 20 GB on Custom. FileDial has no upload limit because nothing is uploaded; the practical limit is your Mac's free disk space.