Convert TAR.GZ to TAR.BZ2
Free, fast and secure — convert TAR.GZ to TAR.BZ2 right in your browser.
Convert TAR.GZ to TAR.BZ2 for wider compatibility
Converting TAR.GZ to TAR.BZ2 gives you a more widely supported file that opens cleanly across more devices, apps and platforms — handy when TAR.GZ will not play nicely everywhere.
How to convert TAR.GZ to TAR.BZ2
- 1 Drop your TAR.GZ file into the converter above.
- 2 It is converted to TAR.BZ2 automatically — no settings to fiddle with.
- 3 Download your new TAR.BZ2 file instantly.
TAR.GZ vs TAR.BZ2
| Feature | TAR.GZ | TAR.BZ2 |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| MIME type | application/gzip | application/x-bzip2 |
| Best for | Distributing source code and backups across Linux and macOS systems. | Archiving and distributing files on Unix systems when smaller size matters more than speed. |
About the formats
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.
bzip2-compressed TAR archive
TAR.BZ2 is a TAR archive compressed with bzip2, which packs tighter than gzip in exchange for slower speed. It is common for source releases and archival on Unix-like systems.
Strengths
- Smaller files than TAR.GZ
- Preserves Unix permissions and structure
- Widely supported on Linux and macOS
Limitations
- Slower to compress and extract
- Not native to Windows
- Superseded by xz for new projects
Best for: Archiving and distributing files on Unix systems when smaller size matters more than speed.