TAR vs ZIP
A quick, plain-English comparison of the TAR and ZIP file formats — and how to convert between them, free and in your browser.
| TAR | ZIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | archive | archive |
| Extension | .tar | .zip |
| MIME type | application/x-tar | application/zip |
| Converts to | 6 formats | 6 formats |
| Direction here | read & write | read & write |
Convert between TAR and ZIP
TAR vs ZIP: frequently asked questions
What's the difference between TAR and ZIP?
TAR — an uncompressed bundle of files (the Unix tape archive). ZIP compressed archive.
Should I use TAR or ZIP?
Both are archive formats — the right one depends on compatibility, quality and file size for your use. Whichever you have, you can convert it to the other below in seconds.
How do I convert TAR to ZIP?
Open the TAR-to-ZIP converter, drop your TAR file in, and download the ZIP. We auto-detect the real format from the file's bytes, so a mislabeled file still works.