GZ File Opener. Open GZ Online, Free

Extract and view .gz and .gzip files directly in your browser. Download individual files or export as ZIP. Files never leave your device.

Plain .gz and .tar.gz supported · Free up to 200 MB · No software install

Drop a .gz or .gzip file here

or click to select from your computer

Files never leave your device. 100% in-browser

GZ and GZIP archives · Free up to 200 MB

Need to open a .tar.gz? Open tar.gz Online Need to open a .7z archive? Open 7z Online

How it works

This tool uses libarchive compiled to WebAssembly to decompress GZ archives entirely in your browser. The same engine handles plain .gz files (a single compressed file) and .tar.gz bundles (multiple files in a tarball). No server, no upload, no software to install.

For .tar.gz and .tgz files, the dedicated Open tar.gz Online tool is also available. For .xz archives (LZMA2), use XZ File Opener. For .7z archives, see Open 7z Online. Read the full guide at How to Open GZ Files Online.

GZ on Linux: common use cases

GZip compression is ubiquitous on Linux and Unix systems. You will encounter .gz files in many situations: compressed log files (e.g. /var/log/syslog.1.gz), database exports (mysqldump.sql.gz), software source tarballs (linux-6.9.tar.gz), and package manager artifacts. This tool lets you inspect those files from any device without needing a terminal or running gunzip locally.

GZ vs BZIP2 vs XZ: compression comparison

GZip is fast and widely supported, making it the default choice for web servers (HTTP gzip encoding) and Linux tools. BZIP2 (.bz2) compresses better but is slower. XZ (.xz, using LZMA2) achieves the best compression ratios, which is why Linux kernel tarballs and many package managers prefer it. This tool supports GZ; for XZ use the XZ File Opener.

Frequently asked questions

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. Everything happens 100% in your browser using WebAssembly. Your .gz files never leave your device and are never uploaded to any server.

Is it free to use?

Yes. Extracting .gz files up to 200 MB is completely free. No signup required.

What is the difference between .gz and .tar.gz?

GZip (.gz) is a compression algorithm that compresses a single file. A .tar.gz (or .tgz) combines two steps: TAR bundles multiple files into one archive, then GZip compresses it. This tool handles both. For a dedicated .tar.gz tool with the split-hero UI, also try Open tar.gz Online.

Why can't macOS open .gz files natively?

macOS can open .tar.gz via the built-in Archive Utility, but plain .gz files (a single compressed file) are less reliably handled. This browser tool removes the ambiguity and works on any OS without installing anything.

Can I open .gz files from Linux servers?

Yes. GZ is the standard compression format on Linux and is commonly used for log files, database dumps, and software packages. Download the file to your machine and drop it here to inspect the contents.

Is there a file size limit?

The free plan supports .gz files up to 200 MB. For larger archives, a one-time 24-hour Day Pass ($2.99) removes this limit instantly.