Convert TAR to Gzipped TAR Online Free
Compress an uncompressed TAR archive to the smaller TAR.GZ format. Upload your TAR file to ChangeThisFile — our servers repack it with gzip compression and delete the file immediately after.
To convert TAR to TAR.GZ, upload your TAR file to ChangeThisFile. Our server uses 7-Zip to extract the TAR and repack its contents with gzip compression into a TAR.GZ archive. Files are encrypted in transit and automatically deleted after conversion.
Convert TAR to Gzipped TAR
Drop your TAR file here to convert it instantly
Drag & drop your .tar file here, or click to browse
Convert to Gzipped TAR instantly
TAR vs Gzipped TAR: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | TAR | TAR.GZ |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | None (container only) | gzip compressed |
| File size | Same as contents | Significantly smaller |
| Streaming | Fully streamable | Streamable with gzip |
| Tool support | Native Unix/Linux | Native Unix/Linux |
| Random access | Sequential only | Sequential only |
| Standard | POSIX standard | POSIX + RFC 1952 (gzip) |
| Best for | Archive without compression | Compressed distribution and backup |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
Reducing archive size for transfer
Add gzip compression to an uncompressed TAR to significantly reduce file size before uploading to servers or sharing over the network.
Software distribution packaging
Open-source projects and package maintainers typically distribute source code as TAR.GZ rather than uncompressed TAR. Convert your TAR to standard distribution format.
Backup compression
Compress TAR backup archives created by backup scripts that produce uncompressed output, saving significant disk space without changing file structure.
Server log archiving
System administrators often bundle log files as TAR. Convert these to TAR.GZ to cut storage costs while retaining the ability to extract specific files.
How to Convert TAR to Gzipped TAR
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1
Upload your TAR archive
Drag and drop your TAR file onto the ChangeThisFile converter or click to browse. It uploads securely over HTTPS to our conversion servers.
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2
Server adds gzip compression
Our server extracts the TAR archive using 7-Zip and repacks the contents as a TAR.GZ file with gzip compression applied.
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3
Download your TAR.GZ
Download the compressed TAR.GZ archive. Both the original TAR and output file are automatically deleted from our servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
TAR is a container format that bundles files together without compression. TAR.GZ (also called .tgz) adds gzip compression to the TAR, reducing file size significantly.
Compression ratios vary by content. Text files and source code compress very well (70-90% smaller). Already-compressed files like images or videos see little reduction.
Yes. All file transfers use HTTPS encryption. Files are automatically deleted from our servers immediately after conversion is complete.
Yes. File permissions, timestamps, and directory structure stored in the TAR are preserved in the TAR.GZ output.
The conversion API accepts files up to 50MB. Larger TAR archives may need to be split or compressed locally using command-line tools.
Yes. Windows 10 and 11 natively support TAR.GZ extraction. You can also use 7-Zip or WinRAR on older Windows versions.
Use the command: tar -xzf filename.tar.gz to extract a TAR.GZ archive on Linux or macOS. Add -v for verbose output to see files as they extract.
Yes. ChangeThisFile offers this conversion completely free, with no account, no watermarks, and no hidden limits beyond the 50MB file size cap.
TAR.GZ offers the best balance of compression speed and ratio for most use cases. TAR.BZ2 and TAR.XZ achieve better compression but are slower. TAR.GZ is the most widely supported.
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