Create and Extract TAR Archives
Pack files into TAR archives or extract existing .tar files. No compression, pure file bundling. Free, instant, and browser-based. No server uploads. Your files stay private.
Drop an archive or click to browse
Supports .tar files
What a TAR file actually is
TAR stands for "tape archive" — the format dates back to storing files sequentially on magnetic tape, and it still works that way conceptually: files are bundled one after another with a small header for each, with no compression applied at all. That is the key difference from ZIP: a TAR of ten 1MB files is roughly 10MB, not smaller, because bundling and compressing are deliberately kept as separate steps in the Unix toolchain.
That separation is why TAR is almost always paired with a compressor — most commonly gzip, producing a .tar.gz. If your goal is a smaller file rather than just a single bundled one, use the TAR.GZ tool instead; this page bundles and unbundles TAR archives without touching their size.
When you actually want plain TAR over TAR.GZ
Uncompressed TAR is the right choice when the files inside are already compressed — video, audio, JPEGs, or another archive — since compressing already-compressed data wastes CPU time for little or no size reduction. It is also common in developer and sysadmin workflows (container images, backup pipelines) where compression is handled separately or not wanted at all.
This tool extracts and creates plain .tar archives entirely in your browser via a WebAssembly build of libarchive — nothing is uploaded, and it works the same on Windows, macOS, and Linux even though TAR originated as a Unix-only format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a TAR file?
TAR (Tape Archive) bundles multiple files into a single archive without compression. It is commonly used on Unix/Linux systems and often paired with gzip (.tar.gz).
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. TAR creation and extraction happens entirely in your browser. Your files never leave your device.
Does TAR compress my files?
No. TAR only bundles files together without reducing their size. For compression, use TAR.GZ which applies gzip compression on top.
Can I create TAR archives?
Yes. Switch to Create mode, drop your files, choose TAR as the output format, and download the resulting archive.