Are my BZ2 files uploaded anywhere?

Yes — this conversion needs software that cannot run in a browser, so the file is uploaded over an encrypted connection. It is deleted as soon as the job finishes, and the result is removed after 60 minutes.

Is converting BZ2 to TAR free?

The free plan covers three server conversions a day, for files up to 25 MB. There is no watermark on the result.

Does converting BZ2 to TAR lose quality?

No. TAR stores the same content without discarding anything, so the result is identical in quality to the original. The files come out byte for byte. What does not survive is anything the container held about them rather than in them — a password, and on some formats the original permissions and timestamps.

Do I need to install anything to open TAR files?

No. The conversion runs on our side and gives you a finished TAR file; opening it needs whatever software normally handles Tape Archive.

BZ2toTAR

Convert BZ2 to TAR

Up to 3 files at once, 100 with Pro. Mixed formats are fine.

You can convert BZ2 to TAR free and without an account: drop the file above and the TAR is ready to download in a second or two. The file is sent over an encrypted connection, converted on our server and deleted as soon as the job finishes.

What BZ2 and TAR are for

Compresses better than GZ and takes noticeably longer doing it.

Bundles files without compressing them. The Unix packaging step, usually paired with GZ.

How to convert BZ2 to TAR

Drop your BZ2 file onto this page, or click to pick one.
Choose TAR as the target and start the conversion.
Download the finished TAR file.

BZ2 vs TAR: what changes

BZ2 compared with TAR
	BZ2	TAR
Full name	Bzip2 Archive	Tape Archive
File extension	.bz2	.tar
Media type	application/x-bzip2	application/x-tar
Compression	Lossless — nothing is discarded	Uncompressed

Quality: Nothing is lost. The result holds exactly the same picture, text or data as the original.
Where it runs: This conversion runs on our server, because it needs software a browser cannot run.
What can be lost: The files come out byte for byte. What does not survive is anything the container held about them rather than in them — a password, and on some formats the original permissions and timestamps.

BZ2 to TAR: common questions

Are my BZ2 files uploaded anywhere?: Yes — this conversion needs software that cannot run in a browser, so the file is uploaded over an encrypted connection. It is deleted as soon as the job finishes, and the result is removed after 60 minutes.
Is converting BZ2 to TAR free?: The free plan covers three server conversions a day, for files up to 25 MB. There is no watermark on the result.
Does converting BZ2 to TAR lose quality?: No. TAR stores the same content without discarding anything, so the result is identical in quality to the original. The files come out byte for byte. What does not survive is anything the container held about them rather than in them — a password, and on some formats the original permissions and timestamps.
Do I need to install anything to open TAR files?: No. The conversion runs on our side and gives you a finished TAR file; opening it needs whatever software normally handles Tape Archive.