One .rar in, one .zip out
Add a single RAR archive and get back a single ZIP. In our test the download had a random identifier as its name and ended in .zip, so rename it before you send it on.
RAR to ZIP Converter
You get a standard ZIP that Windows and macOS open by double-click, with your folders and files inside.
To convert RAR to zip, add the .rar file, keep ZIP as the output and download the result. indox unpacks the RAR on its server and packs the files into a new ZIP. In our test a 192.2 KB RAR5 archive became a 204.3 KB ZIP in 3.3 seconds, and all 20 files matched the originals. A password-protected RAR failed, and a file name with accented letters came out garbled.
Transfers use HTTPS, and files converted on the free tier are deleted after 24 hours, so the result is not a long-term archive. Quality depends on the source file, so open the ZIP file once before you share it.
FromRARLossless
RAR (Roshal Archive)
A proprietary archive format from RARLAB that usually compresses harder than ZIP. RAR 5.0 uses AES-256 encryption with PBKDF2 key derivation, can encrypt file names, and can keep a solid dictionary across files. Large sets are split into volumes named .part1.rar, .part2.rar and so on. Archives can be unpacked with free tools, but only RARLAB's software creates them.
ToZIPLossless
ZIP (PKZIP archive)
The archive format that Windows and macOS open without extra software. It stores each file as its own entry, so a recipient can browse the folders, pull out one file or unpack everything, and almost every mail system, upload portal and phone file manager accepts it.
A RAR5 archive of 20 files in 6 folders made by us, converted on indox.org
- Unpackedthe 20 files and 6 folders inside the archive
- 826.9 KB
- ZIPfrom indox, 6.3% larger than the RAR; PNGs stored, text deflated
- 204.3 KB
- RARthe original, RAR5 made with rar 7.01
- 192.2 KB
Why use indox to convert RAR to ZIP?
Folders and dates carried over
The top folder, the nested folders, an empty folder and the file times (1 October 2026, 12:00 on our samples) were all present in the ZIP.
Contents checked file by file
We compared the SHA-256 hash of every extracted file against the original. All 20 matched, and unzip -t reported the ZIP as OK.
Nothing to install
The conversion runs from a web page, so a locked-down work PC or a phone needs no unarchiver. The files are uploaded to indox for the conversion.
What happens to your archive
Stays
- Every file and its contents, checked by hash
- The folder structure, including an empty folder
- The file times
- Your original RAR, which is not touched
Changes
- The archive format: RAR becomes ZIP
- The size, usually a little larger
- Recovery records, solid compression and comments, which are dropped
- Accented file names, which may be garbled
- Passwords, which stop the conversion
How do I convert RAR to ZIP online?
- 1
Add your RAR file
Drop the .rar on the box or choose it from your device. It must be one complete archive without a password. Keep the original until you have opened the ZIP.
- 2
Keep ZIP and start the conversion
Check that ZIP is the output format, start the conversion and wait for it to finish. In our test the 192.2 KB archive took 3.3 seconds from the click to Completed.
- 3
Download the ZIP and open it
Save the ZIP, open it in your file manager and look through the folders. Pay attention to any file name with accents or non-Latin letters, and rename the download if you need to.
What do I get from indox's RAR to ZIP converter?
Add a RAR and download a ZIP that Windows and macOS open without extra software. Nothing is installed. Before you upload, the page lists what failed in our test: password-protected archives, volume sets and accented file names.
- A ZIP that opens by double-click on Windows and macOS
- Nothing to install on a PC, Mac or phone
- Results measured on a real RAR5 archive
- The failures stated up front
What are the limits for RAR to ZIP?
Size
The upload box shows the live size limit before you add a file. Signing in raises it; a paid plan does not change it.
Formats
RAR in, ZIP out. Pick another output on the converter if you need a different format.
Privacy
Files are encrypted in transit over HTTPS and processed on indox infrastructure.
Deletion
Free-tier files are kept for 24 hours after the job finishes, then deleted automatically.
Limits worth knowing
- A password-protected RAR does not convert. Our RAR5 test archive with an AES-256 password and encrypted file names showed Failed about 2.6 seconds after the click, produced no ZIP and offered no place to type a password. Remove the password with the software that made the archive first.
- A multi-part set such as .part1.rar, .part2.rar is untested as a set. The converter takes one file per row. We made a 10-part set, but we did not convert it, so merge the parts into one archive first.
- We could not test RAR4. The current rar tool cannot write that version, so our proof is for RAR5 only.
- Accented and non-Latin file names may come out garbled in the ZIP. The file contents were fine in our test.
- There are caps on the unpacked size and on the number of files in an archive. The numbers are not published on this page. An archive over a cap fails.
- Your archive is uploaded to indox for the conversion. If the files must not leave your device, unpack the RAR on your own computer instead.
When the result is not what you expected
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The conversion shows Failed | The RAR may be password-protected, damaged or over a size or file-count cap | Remove the password with the original software, test the archive there, or split the content into smaller archives |
| Only part of the content comes out, or it fails | The archive may be one volume of a multi-part set | Merge all parts into one archive on your computer and upload that |
| File names look wrong in the ZIP | Accented and non-Latin names were not stored in the ZIP as UTF-8 in our test | Rename the files in the ZIP, or rename them in the RAR before converting |
| The ZIP is larger than the RAR | RAR usually compresses harder than ZIP | Expect a small increase; it is normal |
| The download has a random name | In our test the file was named with an identifier and ended in .zip | Rename it before you send it |
| Your archive is 7z, gz or xz | This page is for RAR | Use 7Z to ZIP, GZ to ZIP or XZ to ZIP |
What do the free and paid plans add?
Free
- All converters
- Daily credit refresh
- Email support
Basic
- Access to all features
- AI Extract
- Priority conversions
- Email support
Highest priority
Premium
- Everything in Basic
- Highest priority queue
- Priority support
Pay-As-You-Go
- No subscription
- Credits never expire
- Opt-in auto-refill
- Access to all features
Which conversions are close to RAR to ZIP?
RAR vs ZIP: what is the difference?
| Compared on | RAR | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | RARLAB, a proprietary format | Phil Katz, now maintained by PKWARE |
| Compression | Usually higher than ZIP | DEFLATE by default, each entry on its own |
| Encryption | RAR 5.0 uses AES-256 and can encrypt file names | Not covered on this page |
| Opens natively on Windows and macOS | No | Yes |
| Who can create it | Only RARLAB's software; free tools such as 7-Zip can unpack it | Almost any archive tool |
| Size limits | Large sets are split into volumes | ZIP64 lifts the 65,535-file and 4 GB limits |
Who can use a RAR to ZIP converter?
When to use it
- Opening a RAR you downloaded on a Mac that has no unarchiver installed.
- Sending a project folder that you received as a RAR to a colleague who uses Windows Explorer.
- Uploading the contents of a RAR to a portal that only takes ZIP files.
- Turning a plain, single-part RAR5 archive into a ZIP on a phone through the browser.
Where can I read more about converting files?
Sources
- RAR technical note (RAR 5.0 archive format)RARLAB
- RAR Archive Format (FDD 000450)Library of Congress
- ZIP File Format (PKWARE) (FDD 000354)Library of Congress
- 7-Zip home page7-Zip
Facts checked on November 4, 2026
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RAR to ZIP FAQs
How do I convert RAR to ZIP?
Add the .rar file to the converter in your browser, keep ZIP as the output and download the result. The files are unpacked and packed again, so there is nothing to install. In our test a 192.2 KB archive took 3.3 seconds.
Can I convert a password-protected RAR to ZIP?
Not here. In our test a RAR5 archive with a password and encrypted file names failed about 2.6 seconds after we started it. The page has no password field, so remove the password with the original software first.
Does a multi-part .part1.rar archive work?
We did not test a volume set as a set. The converter takes one file per row. Merge the parts into one archive on your computer first, then upload that single file.
Will the ZIP be bigger than the RAR?
Usually, yes. RAR normally compresses harder than ZIP. In our test the ZIP was 6.3% larger, at 204.3 KB against 192.2 KB. Pictures that are already compressed gain nothing from either format.
Are RAR and ZIP the same, and which is better?
They do the same job with different designs. RAR is a proprietary format that usually compresses harder and can encrypt file names. ZIP is more widely supported and opens on Windows and macOS without extra software. For sharing, ZIP is the safer choice.
Is there a file size limit?
There are caps on the unpacked size and on the number of files. We do not publish the numbers on this page. In our test with a small archive no limit, quota or paywall message appeared, and we were not asked to sign in.
Does it work on a Mac or an iPhone?
It runs in the browser, so no program is installed. Our test used a desktop browser, and we did not test a phone. The ZIP it produces opens with the file manager that Macs and iPhones already have.
Are my files private?
The archive is uploaded to indox for the conversion, unlike tools that work inside the browser. If a file must not leave your device, unpack it locally instead.
Do file names with accents survive?
Not reliably. In our test a name with accented letters was stored in the ZIP with garbled characters, while the content hash was unchanged. Rename such files in the ZIP or avoid accents in the source.
Can I convert ZIP back to RAR?
No. indox writes .7z, .tar, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2 and .zip archives but not RAR, and only RARLAB's own software creates RAR files.