Create archive files
Create archive files like ZIP, 7Z, TAR.GZ, and TAR.BZ2. Compress your files by converting them into an archive.
Every compression app in one place
Pick an app, drop your file in, and download the result. No account, no install, no watermark.
Which archive format should you choose?
All four pack your files into one archive. They differ in how widely they open and whether they can carry a password.
| Format | Best for | Password |
|---|---|---|
| ZIP | Sending files to someone else. Every operating system opens a ZIP without extra software. | Yes |
| 7Z | Packing a lot of files as small as possible, when you know the recipient has 7-Zip or a similar app. | Yes |
| TAR.GZ | Code, servers and anything Linux. The standard archive on Unix systems. | No |
| TAR.BZ2 | The same as TAR.GZ, packed smaller and more slowly. | No |
Pick the format in the settings before you start. If you are not sure, choose ZIP: it is the one that opens everywhere.
What is an archive file?
An archive file holds other files inside it, the way a folder does, and compresses them so the whole set takes less room.
The compression is lossless, so every file comes back out exactly as it went in. Nothing is thrown away and nothing loses quality, which is why archives are used for documents, code and anything else that has to arrive intact.
Folder structure is kept, so a project unpacks with its shape intact rather than as a flat pile of files.
Password protect a 7Z or a ZIP
Choose ZIP or 7Z and a password field appears in the settings. Type a password and the archive is encrypted with it, so whoever receives it needs the password to see what is inside.
TAR.GZ and TAR.BZ2 cannot carry a password. Pick either of those and the field disappears, because an archive that quietly ignored your password would be worse than one that never offered it.
Send the password separately from the archive, and pick something the recipient can retype without mistakes. Nothing can recover the contents if it is lost.
How to create an archive file
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Upload
Upload your files using the upload box and links above.
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Adjust
Choose an archive file format from the dropdown menu.
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Convert
Start the compression by clicking the "Start" button.
Create archive files FAQ
Which archive formats can this app create?
ZIP, 7Z, TAR.GZ and TAR.BZ2. Choose one in the settings before you start. ZIP is the default because it opens on every operating system without extra software.
Can this app create a RAR file?
No. RAR needs licensed software to write, so the app offers ZIP, 7Z, TAR.GZ and TAR.BZ2 instead. For sending files to someone else, ZIP does the same job and opens everywhere.
How do I put a password on the archive?
Choose ZIP or 7Z, then type a password in the settings. Those two formats can be encrypted. TAR.GZ and TAR.BZ2 cannot, so the field is hidden when you pick them.
How many files can go into one archive?
Up to 5 files without an account, and 10 once you register, which is free. Larger batches are part of the paid plans.
What is the largest file I can add?
The free limit is 50 MB per upload. If your files are bigger, compress the images or the videos first with the matching app, then archive the smaller results. The paid plans raise the limit.
Does archiving reduce the quality of my files?
No. All four formats use lossless compression, so every file unpacks exactly as it went in.
Which format makes the smallest archive?
Usually 7Z, then TAR.BZ2, then TAR.GZ, then ZIP. How much smaller depends entirely on what you are packing: text and code compress a lot, while photos and video are already compressed and barely shrink.
I just want a ZIP. Is there a simpler page?
Yes. The Create ZIP file app skips the format choice and goes straight to a ZIP, and it takes a password too.
Read more about archives
The difference between RAR and ZIP
Both pack several files into one, and only one of them opens everywhere without extra software. Which to use, and why.
Read articleMore compression apps
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