Convert ZIP to TAR
Free, fast and secure — convert ZIP to TAR right in your browser.
Convert ZIP to TAR for wider compatibility
Converting ZIP to TAR gives you a more widely supported file that opens cleanly across more devices, apps and platforms — handy when ZIP will not play nicely everywhere.
How to convert ZIP to TAR
- 1 Drop your ZIP file into the converter above.
- 2 It is converted to TAR automatically — no settings to fiddle with.
- 3 Download your new TAR file instantly.
ZIP vs TAR
| Feature | ZIP | TAR |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| MIME type | application/zip | application/x-tar |
| Best for | Sharing and sending collections of files that must open anywhere without extra tools. | Bundling files on Linux and macOS, ready to be compressed as a .tar.gz or .tar.bz2. |
About the formats
ZIP archive
ZIP is the world’s most common archive format, bundling many files and folders into one compressed container. Every major operating system opens it natively, with no extra software.
Strengths
- Opens on Windows, macOS and Linux out of the box
- Bundles many files and folders together
- Fast, lossless compression
Limitations
- Compresses less tightly than 7z
- Weak built-in encryption
- No solid-archive mode
Best for: Sharing and sending collections of files that must open anywhere without extra tools.
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.