Convert CBZ to CBR Online Free
Convert Comic Book ZIP (CBZ) to Comic Book RAR (CBR). Powered by Calibre to re-archive your comic images from ZIP to RAR for legacy app compatibility.
ChangeThisFile converts your CBZ comic book archive to CBR using Calibre on our secure servers. Both formats contain identical sequential comic page images; CBR uses RAR compression instead of ZIP. Converting to CBR ensures compatibility with older comic readers or software that requires the RAR format. Your file is encrypted during transfer and auto-deleted after conversion.
Convert Comic Book ZIP to Comic Book RAR
Drop your Comic Book ZIP file here to convert it instantly
Drag & drop your .cbz file here, or click to browse
Convert to Comic Book RAR instantly
Comic Book ZIP vs Comic Book RAR: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | CBZ (Comic Book ZIP) | CBR (Comic Book RAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | ZIP compression | RAR compression |
| Open Standard | ZIP is an open standard | RAR is proprietary (RARLAB) |
| OS Native Support | Built-in ZIP support on all OS | Requires RAR software to extract |
| Comic Reader Support | Universal support across all apps | Widely supported but some apps exclude RAR |
| Creation Tools | Any ZIP utility | Requires WinRAR or compatible tool |
| File Contents | Identical sequential image files (JPG/PNG) | Identical sequential image files (JPG/PNG) |
| Compression Ratio | Comparable for image files | Slightly better for some file types |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
Compatibility with Legacy Comic Software
Older comic management software and some hardware readers may only support CBR files and not recognize CBZ. Converting to CBR ensures your comics work with legacy tools that have not been updated to support ZIP-based archives.
Upload to Platforms Requiring CBR Format
Some comic sharing platforms or device firmware specifically expects CBR files. Convert your CBZ collection to CBR to meet format requirements for upload or transfer to these specific systems.
Maintain Consistency in a CBR-Based Library
If you have an established comic library organized around the CBR format and receive new comics as CBZ, converting to CBR keeps your collection in a single consistent format for easier management and browsing.
How to Convert Comic Book ZIP to Comic Book RAR
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1
Upload your CBZ file
Click the upload area or drag and drop your .cbz comic book archive. Files up to 50MB are supported.
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2
Start the conversion
Click Convert. ChangeThisFile sends your file to our server where Calibre extracts the images from the ZIP archive and re-archives them as a CBR RAR file.
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3
Download your CBR file
Once conversion is complete, download your .cbr file. The original file is automatically deleted from our servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
CBZ uses ZIP compression and CBR uses RAR compression. Both contain the same sequential image files (JPG, PNG) for comic book pages. The formats are functionally identical; only the archive container differs.
CBZ is generally preferred because ZIP is an open standard. However, some older comic readers, embedded device firmware, or specific comic platforms may only accept CBR files. Converting to CBR resolves these compatibility issues.
Yes. The image files are extracted from the ZIP archive and placed into a RAR archive without any re-encoding or modification. Image quality and content are preserved perfectly.
Yes. Calibre preserves the alphabetical/numerical order of image filenames from the CBZ archive when creating the CBR, maintaining the correct comic reading order.
Yes. ChangeThisFile also supports CBR to CBZ conversion, which is the more common direction since CBZ has broader compatibility.
No. Your file is automatically deleted from our servers immediately after conversion. We do not store comic book archives or personal data.
ChangeThisFile supports files up to 50MB. If your CBZ is larger, consider splitting it into volumes before converting.
If the CBZ contains a ComicInfo.xml metadata file, Calibre should include it in the CBR output. However, this depends on how Calibre handles the specific archive. Verify the output in your comic manager after conversion.
Most comic readers detect the format automatically from the file extension and content. No reconfiguration is needed. If your reader was set to a specific folder that filtered by extension, update the filter to include CBR files.
CBR has been the traditional comic format for longer and some older tools have CBR support without CBZ support. However, in 2024, CBZ has equal or better compatibility in most modern software. The main reason to use CBR today is legacy device or software requirements.
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