How do I convert an archive online?

Upload your archive, choose the output format (ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ or GZIP), and click Convert. The contents are extracted and repackaged on your device, then offered as a download — no sign-up and no watermark.

Is this archive converter free?

Yes. Converting, extracting, compressing and managing archives here is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. A developer API is available for automated and high-volume processing.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. The entire process runs in your browser using JSZip, the native CompressionStream API and a built-in TAR engine. Your archive is read, converted and downloaded locally, which is private and GDPR-friendly by design.

How do I convert ZIP to TAR.GZ?

Upload your ZIP, choose TAR.GZ as the output, pick a compression level, and Convert. The ZIP is unpacked and repackaged as a gzip-compressed TAR (.tar.gz) — ideal for Linux and Unix servers.

How do I convert TAR.GZ to ZIP?

Upload the .tar.gz (or .tgz), choose ZIP as the output, and Convert. The archive is decompressed and repackaged as a ZIP that opens natively on Windows, macOS and everywhere else.

How do I convert ZIP to RAR?

RAR is a proprietary format and no free, legal RAR compressor exists, so RAR creation isn’t possible in any browser tool. For maximum compression choose 7Z or TAR.GZ; for universal compatibility choose ZIP. RAR conversion is offered through our server API where licensing allows.

How do I convert RAR to ZIP?

Reading RAR requires a proprietary decoder. The browser tool converts ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ and GZIP; RAR extraction and conversion to ZIP are available through the server API. For files you control, re-save as ZIP or 7Z at the source.

How do I convert 7Z to ZIP?

7Z uses LZMA compression that needs a dedicated decoder. The browser tool handles ZIP/TAR/GZIP natively; 7Z extraction and conversion are available via the server API. If you created the 7Z, you can also re-export it as ZIP from 7-Zip.

How do I convert ZIP to 7Z?

Creating 7Z requires the LZMA encoder, which is offered through our server API. In the browser, choose TAR.GZ for a high compression ratio that’s close to 7Z and works everywhere on Linux/macOS.

Which archive formats can I read?

In the browser: ZIP and its family (JAR, APK, AAB, WAR, EAR), TAR, TAR.GZ, TGZ and GZIP. 7Z, RAR, BZIP2, XZ, Z, CAB, ISO, DMG, WIM, LZH, ARJ and CPIO are read via the server API.

Which archive formats can I create?

ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ, TGZ and GZIP are created entirely in your browser. ZIP supports password protection. 7Z and RAR creation are offered via the API (RAR creation is restricted by its proprietary licence).

Can I extract files from an archive?

Yes. Open the archive explorer to browse the contents, then extract the entire archive, only selected files or folders, or all files of a certain type — each downloads instantly, individually or as a ZIP.

Can I extract only specific files?

Yes. In the explorer, tick the files you want and click “Extract selected”. One file downloads directly; multiple files are bundled into a ZIP. You can also extract by file extension (e.g., all .jpg files).

Can I extract password-protected archives?

Yes, for standard ZIP 2.0 (ZipCrypto) encryption. Upload the protected ZIP, enter the password, and the contents decrypt in your browser for browsing and extraction. AES-encrypted ZIPs are handled by the server API.

Can I create a password-protected ZIP?

Yes. Choose ZIP output, enable encryption, set a password (or generate a strong one), and convert. The ZIP is protected with standard ZIP 2.0 (ZipCrypto) encryption, which opens in WinRAR, 7-Zip, WinZip and macOS Archive Utility with the password.

Does it support AES-256 encryption?

The browser tool uses ZIP 2.0 (ZipCrypto) password protection, which is universally compatible. AES-128 and AES-256 (WinZip AES) encryption are available through the developer API, which has the dedicated cryptographic toolchain.

How strong is ZIP 2.0 encryption?

ZIP 2.0 (ZipCrypto) protects against casual access and is supported by every archive tool, but it is weaker than AES. For sensitive data, use AES-256 via the API or encrypt with a dedicated tool. The built-in password generator helps you choose a strong passphrase.

Is there a password generator?

Yes. The encryption panel includes a one-click strong-password generator (using the browser’s secure random source) and a live strength meter so you can pick a robust passphrase.

Can I repair a corrupted archive?

Yes. Recovery mode and the “Repair → ZIP” action read every entry the archive parser can recover and write them into a fresh, clean ZIP, salvaging readable files from a damaged ZIP. Severely corrupted central directories may limit what’s recoverable.

Can it detect duplicate files in an archive?

Yes. Duplicate detection hashes every file with SHA-256 and groups exact duplicates. Enable “Remove duplicate files” to drop the extra copies when converting, shrinking the output.

Does it remove empty folders?

Yes. Turn on “Remove empty folders” and directory entries with no files are dropped from the converted archive, producing a cleaner result.

Can I browse an archive without extracting it?

Yes. The archive explorer shows every file with its size, lets you search, sort and preview, and lets you extract or delete individual files — all without unpacking the whole archive to disk.

Can I preview files inside an archive?

Yes. Click a file to preview images (JPG, PNG, GIF, WEBP, SVG), text and code (HTML, CSS, JS, JSON, XML, YAML, MD), PDFs, and audio/video — directly from inside the archive without extracting everything.

Can I rename or delete files inside an archive?

Yes. In the explorer you can rename and delete entries; the changes are applied when you convert, so you can clean up an archive and re-save it without a separate tool.

Can I add files to an existing archive?

Use the “Create archive” tab to combine files into a new archive, or extract an archive, add your files, and re-create it. In-place editing of the converted output reflects your renames and deletions.

Can I create an archive from my files?

Yes. Switch to “Create archive”, add files or a whole folder, choose the format, compression level and optional password, and click Create — the archive is built and downloaded instantly.

What compression levels are available?

Store (no compression), Fast, Normal, High and Ultra. Higher levels produce smaller files but take longer; the Maximum Compression mode forces the strongest setting, and Fast mode prioritises speed.

Which format compresses the smallest?

7Z (LZMA) generally compresses the smallest, followed by RAR, then ZIP. In the browser tool, TAR.GZ with the Ultra level gives the best ratio; for maximum compression beyond that, use 7Z via the API.

What is the difference between ZIP, RAR and 7Z?

ZIP is the universal standard — supported everywhere, good speed, moderate compression. RAR offers better compression and recovery records but is proprietary. 7Z (LZMA) offers the best compression and strong AES-256, but needs 7-Zip-compatible software. For sharing, ZIP wins; for smallest size, 7Z wins.

What is the best archive format?

It depends: ZIP for maximum compatibility and sharing, 7Z for the smallest size, TAR.GZ for Linux/Unix servers, GZIP for fast single-file compression, and RAR where recovery records matter. This tool makes ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ and GZIP directly.

What is TAR.GZ used for?

TAR.GZ (a gzip-compressed TAR) is the standard archive format on Linux and Unix. TAR bundles files and folders preserving structure, and gzip compresses the bundle. It’s ideal for source code, server backups and software distribution.

What is the difference between TAR and TAR.GZ?

TAR just bundles files together without compression (it preserves paths and metadata). TAR.GZ is a TAR that has then been gzip-compressed, so it’s much smaller. Use TAR.GZ for sharing; plain TAR is mostly an intermediate format.

GZIP is a fast, single-file compression format (.gz). It compresses one file at a time, so to bundle multiple files you wrap them in a TAR first (giving TAR.GZ). This tool gzips a single file directly and auto-switches to TAR.GZ for multiple files.

Can I convert JAR, APK, WAR or EAR files?

Yes. JAR, APK, AAB, WAR and EAR are all ZIP-based, so the tool reads them like a ZIP — you can browse, extract their contents, and convert them to ZIP, TAR or TAR.GZ.

Can I extract an APK?

Yes. An APK is a ZIP archive, so upload it and the explorer lists its contents (manifest, resources, classes.dex, assets). Extract individual files or convert it to a standard ZIP.

How large an archive can I convert?

Because processing runs in your browser, the practical limit is your device’s memory. Archives up to a few hundred MB work comfortably on desktop; multi-gigabyte (10GB+) archives are best handled by the server API with streaming.

Does it support 10GB+ archives?

Very large archives (10GB+) and multi-volume sets are handled by the server API with streaming extraction and chunked processing. The browser tool is tuned for typical archives up to a few hundred megabytes.

Can I convert multiple archives at once?

Yes. Add several archives and they’re queued and converted one after another, each with its own progress and download. You can clear the queue or download results individually.

How long does conversion take?

Most archives convert in a few seconds. Time depends on the number and size of files and the compression level — Ultra is slower than Fast. A live dashboard shows the current stage and progress.

Does it work offline?

After the page loads once, ZIP/TAR/GZIP processing works offline because everything runs on your device using built-in browser APIs.

Which browsers are supported?

Any modern browser — Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Brave and Opera. GZIP relies on the CompressionStream API, available in all current browsers.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. The tool is responsive and runs in mobile browsers on Android and iOS; large archives are slower on phones due to memory limits.

Is converting archives secure?

It is one of the most secure ways to do it online because your files never leave your computer. Cloud converters upload your archive to a server; here it stays in your browser’s memory and is discarded when you close the tab.

Do you store my files?

No. There is nothing to store on our side because your files never leave your device. The archive and the output live only in your browser and are released when you close or refresh the tab.

Is it GDPR compliant?

Yes. Because processing is fully client-side with no upload and nothing is logged, the workflow supports GDPR-compliant handling of confidential archives by design.

How does this compare to WinRAR or 7-Zip?

WinRAR and 7-Zip are powerful desktop apps you install. This tool runs in your browser with no installation, covering the most common conversions (ZIP/TAR/TAR.GZ/GZIP), extraction, encryption, duplicate detection and repair, and routes proprietary formats (RAR/7Z) to an API.

How does this compare to CloudConvert or Convertio?

Those services upload your archive to their servers, queue it and convert remotely, with free-tier limits. This converter runs entirely on your device for ZIP/TAR/GZIP — no upload, no queue, no per-file cap and no watermark.

How does this compare to PeaZip or Bandizip?

PeaZip and Bandizip are free desktop archivers. This is a browser-based suite — no install — that converts, extracts, explores, encrypts (ZIP 2.0), de-duplicates and repairs archives, with an API for the formats that need native codecs.

What is the compression ratio?

The compression ratio is how much smaller the compressed archive is than the original files (e.g., 70% means the archive is 30% of the original size). The analysis panel shows the ratio, and the before/after view shows the savings after conversion.

Archive Converter

Convert, extract, compress, encrypt and repair ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ and GZIP archives — with a built-in explorer, file preview, duplicate detection and password protection, all privately in your browser. No watermark, no sign-up.

ZIP · TAR · TAR.GZ · GZIP100% privateEncrypt · extract · repair

ZIP · TAR · TAR.GZ · GZIP · JAR/APK100% private — runs in your browserEncrypt · extract · explore · repair

Drag & drop your archive

or browse, upload a folder, or import from a URL — convert, extract & explore

ZIP, JAR, APK, AAB, WAR, EAR, TAR, TAR.GZ, TGZ, GZIP · 7z/RAR/bzip2/xz via API

Your queue is empty. Add a ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ or GZIP archive — convert, extract, explore, encrypt and repair, all privately on your device.

Why this is the best free archive converter

Real conversion engine

ZIP/JAR/APK + TAR + TAR.GZ/TGZ + GZIP read & write in your browser (JSZip + CompressionStream + built-in TAR).

100% private

Your archives — and their contents — are never uploaded. Everything runs on your device.

Password protection

Create encrypted ZIP 2.0 archives with a strong-password generator, and extract protected ZIPs by entering the password.

Archive explorer

Browse, search, sort, preview, rename and delete files inside an archive — without unpacking everything.

Optimise & de-dupe

SHA-256 duplicate detection, remove empty folders, recompress at up to Ultra level to shrink the output.

Repair & create

Recover readable files from a damaged archive into a fresh ZIP, and build new archives from your files or folders.

What is an archive converter?

An archive converter changes a compressed archive from one format to another — for example ZIP to TAR.GZ, GZIP to ZIP, or 7Z to ZIP — by extracting the contents and repackaging them in the target format. The files inside are never re-encoded; only the container and its compression change, so conversion is lossless.

This tool reads ZIP and its family (JAR, APK, AAB, WAR, EAR), TAR, TAR.GZ/TGZ and GZIP, and writes ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ and GZIP — entirely in your browser using JSZip, the native CompressionStream API and a built-in TAR engine. Proprietary and heavy formats (7Z, RAR, BZIP2, XZ, ISO, DMG and more) are handled through the server API, which has the native codecs.

Why convert archives?

Converting an archive gives you the right format for the job. The most common reasons:

Better compression — switch to 7Z/TAR.GZ at a high level to shrink the file.
Better compatibility — convert to ZIP so it opens on any operating system.
Smaller file sizes — re-compress, remove duplicates and drop empty folders.
Faster transfers — a smaller archive uploads and downloads quicker.
Easier sharing — one well-compressed file is simpler to send than many.
Platform fit — TAR.GZ for Linux servers, ZIP for Windows, GZIP for single files.

Convert an archive in 3 steps

Upload your archive

Drag in a ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ or GZIP file (or import from a URL). It is analysed instantly — format, files, folders, compression ratio, duplicates and health — entirely in your browser.

Choose output format

Pick the target format (ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ, TGZ or GZIP) and a mode (Fast, Standard, Maximum Compression, Maximum Compatibility or Recovery). Optionally set a password, compression level and optimisation.

Convert & download

Convert, or explore the archive to extract specific files, remove duplicates, repair damage and create new archives. Download the result, share it or grab a ZIP — all on your device.

ZIP vs RAR vs 7Z

These are the three formats people compare most. ZIP is the universal standard; RAR adds recovery records but is proprietary; 7Z compresses the smallest with strong encryption. The table below summarises the trade-offs.

Feature	ZIP	RAR	7Z
Compression ratio	Good (DEFLATE)	Better	Best (LZMA)
Speed	Fast	Medium	Slower (high ratio)
Encryption	ZipCrypto / AES	AES-256	AES-256 + filename hiding
Compatibility	Universal (built into every OS)	Needs WinRAR/7-Zip	Needs 7-Zip-compatible app
Recovery records	No	Yes	No
Open / proprietary	Open standard	Proprietary	Open (LZMA SDK)
Best for	Sharing & compatibility	Recovery & medium size	Smallest size & security

Best archive format

There’s no single “best” — it depends on whether you’re optimising for compatibility, size or platform. Here’s when to use each.

ZIPBest compatibility

Opens on every OS without extra software — the safe default for sharing.

RARBalanced + recovery

Good compression with recovery records (proprietary; creation via API).

7ZMaximum compression

Smallest size and strong AES-256 — needs 7-Zip-compatible software.

TAR.GZLinux & servers

Preserves Unix paths/permissions; the standard for source & backups.

GZIPFast single-file

Quick compression for one file (use TAR.GZ for multiple files).

Supported archive formats

ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ, TGZ, GZIP and ZIP-family formats convert in your browser; the rest are supported via the API.

ZIP

RAR

TAR

GZIP

BZIP2

CAB

ISO

DMG

APK

JAR

Privacy, security & data handling

Your archives stay yours. The conversion, extraction, encryption and repair all run in your browser — your files are read, processed and downloaded locally, and nothing is uploaded or logged. Password-protected ZIPs are decrypted on your device with the password you provide.

There is nothing to store on our side, and files are released the moment you close the tab — supporting GDPR-compliant handling of confidential archives by design. For very large archives, proprietary formats and server-side malware scanning, the developer API offers the same engine with streaming, batch jobs and team controls.

Archive Conversion API

Automate at scale with the Archive Conversion API: convert, extract, compress and analyse archives, including 7Z, RAR, BZIP2 and XZ, with async jobs, webhooks, API keys, team accounts and usage analytics — backed by native codecs and streaming for multi-gigabyte files.

Pricing scales from a Free tier for prototyping to Pro, Business and Enterprise plans that add AES-256 and filename encryption, multi-volume and self-extracting archives, malware scanning, scheduled processing, cloud sync and SLA-backed support.

Free

$0/mo

100 operations / mo
ZIP · TAR · TAR.GZ · GZIP
Extract, explore & repair
Community support

Start free

Popular

Pro

$19/mo

10,000 operations / mo
7Z · RAR · bzip2 · xz
AES-256 encryption
Async jobs & webhooks

Go Pro

Business

$69/mo

100,000 operations / mo
Multi-volume & SFX
Malware scanning
Team accounts & API keys

Choose Business

Enterprise

Custom

Unlimited volume & SLA
Scheduled processing
Cloud archive sync
Storage-optimisation suite

Contact sales

Frequently Asked Questions

An archive converter changes a compressed archive from one format to another — for example ZIP to TAR.GZ, or 7Z to ZIP — by extracting its contents and repackaging them in the target format. This tool reads ZIP, JAR, APK, TAR, TAR.GZ/TGZ and GZIP entirely in your browser and writes ZIP, TAR, TAR.GZ and GZIP. Nothing is uploaded.

Troubleshooting guide