RAR to TAR Converter

Convert RAR to TAR online for free. Fast, secure archive conversion that preserves folder structure and file integrity. No software installation required.

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RAR vs TAR: Side-by-side

Technical comparison of the two formats — useful for deciding which to use, or for confirming what changes during conversion.

Property	RAR	TAR
Full name	Roshal Archive	Tape Archive
Year introduced	1993	1979
Developer / standard body	Eugene Roshal	AT&T Unix
MIME type	application/vnd.rar	application/x-tar
File extension	.rar	.tar
Compression	RAR (proprietary)	None (often paired with gzip → .tar.gz)
Color / data depth	N/A	N/A
Max dimensions / size	Unlimited (RAR5)	8 EB file size
Transparency	No	No
Animation	No	No
Standard / specification	RAR (proprietary, WinRAR)	POSIX / IEEE 1003.1
Best for	Better compression than ZIP, password protection, recovery records	Unix / Linux backups, source-code distribution

About the RAR Format

RAR (Roshal Archive) is a proprietary archive format created by Eugene Roshal in 1993. It uses a proprietary compression algorithm and offers several advanced features including solid compression, which compresses multiple files together as a single data stream to achieve better compression ratios than compressing each file individually. RAR is particularly popular for large file distribution across the internet.

RAR supports built-in recovery records that allow damaged archives to be partially or fully repaired, as well as multi-volume splitting for distributing large archives across multiple smaller files. Creating RAR archives requires WinRAR or compatible licensed software, though many free tools like UnRAR can extract them. While RAR is being gradually supplemented by open alternatives like 7Z, it remains common for file distribution due to its robust error recovery and strong compression capabilities.

RAR to TAR FAQ

Quick answers about compatibility, quality, metadata handling, and the most common reasons to convert RAR files to TAR.

How do I convert RAR to TAR without extracting files manually?

Upload your RAR file to iFormat and click Convert. Every file and folder inside is extracted and re-packaged as TAR with the folder structure intact — no need to extract, reorganise, and re-compress yourself. It's free and needs no account.

Does converting RAR to TAR keep my folder structure?

Yes. All files, nested folders, and the hierarchy inside your RAR archive are preserved when they're re-compressed into TAR, so the contents open exactly as they were organised.

Why convert RAR to TAR?

RAR is the WinRAR archive format good for multi-part archives. TAR is a Unix archive container best for Linux and server backups. Convert when the recipient's software opens TAR more easily, or when you need its compression or compatibility.

Are the files inside the archive changed during conversion?

No — the individual files are only re-compressed, not modified. A document, photo, or spreadsheet inside your RAR archive is byte-for-byte identical after it's re-packaged as TAR.

Can I convert RAR to TAR on Mac, Windows, or Linux?

Yes. iFormat works in any modern browser on any operating system — no need to install WinRAR, 7-Zip, or any other desktop tool. Upload the RAR archive, convert to TAR, and download.

Is there a file size limit for RAR to TAR conversion?

The free plan supports files up to 50 MB, which covers the large majority of RAR files. For longer or higher-resolution files, Starter raises the limit to 100 MB, Plus to 1 GB, and Pro to 5 GB.

Why convert RAR to TAR?

For Linux/Unix environments where TAR is the standard. TAR archives are expected by package managers, build systems, and deployment scripts. RAR is uncommon in Linux workflows.

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