Convert TAR to TAR.GZ
Free, fast and secure — convert TAR to TAR.GZ right in your browser.
Convert TAR to TAR.GZ for wider compatibility
Converting TAR to TAR.GZ gives you a more widely supported file that opens cleanly across more devices, apps and platforms — handy when TAR will not play nicely everywhere.
How to convert TAR to TAR.GZ
- 1 Drop your TAR file into the converter above.
- 2 It is converted to TAR.GZ automatically — no settings to fiddle with.
- 3 Download your new TAR.GZ file instantly.
TAR vs TAR.GZ
| Feature | TAR | TAR.GZ |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| MIME type | application/x-tar | application/gzip |
| Best for | Bundling files on Linux and macOS, ready to be compressed as a .tar.gz or .tar.bz2. | Distributing source code and backups across Linux and macOS systems. |
About the formats
TAR archive
TAR (tape archive) bundles many files into a single uncompressed stream, preserving Unix permissions and structure. It is the backbone of Linux and macOS packaging, usually paired with gzip or bzip2 compression.
Strengths
- Preserves Unix permissions and symlinks
- Universal on Linux and macOS
- Ideal base for compressed tarballs
Limitations
- No compression on its own
- Not native to Windows
- No random access to members
Best for: Bundling files on Linux and macOS, ready to be compressed as a .tar.gz or .tar.bz2.
gzip-compressed TAR archive
TAR.GZ is a TAR archive compressed with gzip — the default way to distribute software and back up files on Linux and macOS. It combines TAR’s bundling with fast, widely supported gzip compression.
Strengths
- The Unix standard for packaging and backups
- Good compression with fast decompression
- Preserves permissions and structure
Limitations
- Not native to Windows
- Compresses less than 7z
- Must decompress fully to read
Best for: Distributing source code and backups across Linux and macOS systems.