7 Best Free File Converters for Occasionally Used Formats

Free converters for compressed, disc image, fonts, and other formats

By
Tim Fisher
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University

Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.

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Updated on June 2, 2023

The most popular kinds of file converters are video converters, audio converters, image converters, and document converters.

But, what if the file you need to convert isn't one of these types of files? There are many formats that are not video, audio, image, or document-based.

Here are several freeware file converters for several less common formats like disc images, fonts, compressed files, and more:

Most of these programs convert only certain types of files, so look through them all for one that supports the file type you need to convert.

01
of 07

ImgBurn: Disc Image Converter

ImgBurn program
What We Like

  • Self-explanatory start page.

  • Supports lots of formats.

What We Don't Like

  • No longer receives updates (2013 was the last time).

ImgBurn is a free disc image converter program that supports the majority of common disc image formats.

Input Formats: APE, BIN, CCD, CDI, CDR, CUE, DI, DVD, FLAC, GCM, GI, IBQ, IMG, ISO, LST, MDS, NRG, PDI, TAK, UDI, and WV

Output Formats: BIN, IMG, ISO, and MINISO

Actually, this program is an advanced, full-featured CD/DVD/BD disc burning and image management tool, but it works great at converting between most popular disc image file types.

To convert between disc file formats, choose Create image file from files/folders on the main screen. In the Source area, browse for the file you want to convert, and then in the Destination section, decide where to save the exported file to get a list of the output formats to pick from.

It can be used on Windows 11, 10, 8, and older versions of Windows, through Windows 95.

02
of 07

Zamzar: Compressed File Converter

Zamzar website
What We Like

  • Supports large files.

  • Accepts uploads from multiple sources.

What We Don't Like

  • Stops working after two daily conversions (unless you pay).

  • It's sometimes slow.

Zamzar is an online file converter service that supports several popular archive and compressed file formats.

Input Formats: 7Z, TAR.BZ2, CAB, LZH, RAR, TAR, TAR.GZH, YZ1, and ZIP

Output Formats: 7Z, TAR.BZ2, CAB, LZH, TAR, TAR.GZH, YZ1, and ZIP

This is also a good image converter and document converter. All the supported formats are listed here.

The 50 MB source file limit makes it ideal to use the service for bigger compressed files. However, Zamzar's conversion time is sometimes slower than other online file converters we've tested, and you're limited to converting just two files every 24 hours.

03
of 07

Convertio: Compressed File Converter

Convertio website ready to save a ZIP file to a different format
What We Like

  • Relatively large file size limit.

  • Works in your browser.

  • Transfer files to and from cloud storage.

What We Don't Like

  • You can't delete uploaded files manually.

Convertio is an online file converter that lets you upload files not only from your computer or a URL, but also through your Dropbox or Google Drive account.

Converted files can be saved back to your computer or saved to one of the above cloud storage services.

Input Formats: 7Z, ACE, ALZ, ARC, ARJ, CAB, CPIO, DEB, JAR, LHA, RAR, RPM, TAR, TAR.7Z, TAR.BZ, TAR.LZ, TAR.LZMA, TAR.LZO, TAR.XZ, TAR.Z, TBZ2, TGZ, and ZIP

Output Formats: 7Z, ARJ, CPIO, JAR, LHA, RAR, TAR, TAR.7Z, TAR.BZ, TAR.LZ, TAR.LZMA, TAR.LZO, TAR.XZ, TAR.Z, TBZ2, TGZ, and ZIP

Convertio supports lots of conversion types, including image, document, eBook, and audio file formats as well. Free users can upload files as large as 100 MB.

Just like with the online services from above, this one works on all modern web browsers and operating systems.

04
of 07

FileZigZag: Compressed File Converter

FileZigZag ZIP to 7Z conversion
What We Like

  • Works online, from any operating system.

  • Supports bulk uploads and conversions.

  • Lots of obscure formats are allowed.

What We Don't Like

  • Caps out free conversions at 10 per day.

FileZigZag is another online file converter service that will convert several compressed and archive file formats.

Input Formats: 7Z, 7ZIP, AR, ARJ, BZ2, BZIP2, CAB, CPIO, DEB, DMG, GZ, GZIP, HFS, ISO, LHA, LZH, LZMA, RAR, RPM, SWM, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TBZ2, TGZ, WIM, XAR, XZ, Z, and ZIP

Output Formats: 7Z, 7ZIP, BZ2, BZIP2, GZ, GZIP, RAR, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TBZ2, TGZ, and ZIP

The website supports files (up to 10 per day) as large as 150 MB. It functions well as a document converter and an image converter because those types of files are typically much smaller than archive files. See the Conversion Types page for a full listing of all the supported formats.

05
of 07

Filestar: CAD Converter

filestar dwf file converter
What We Like

  • Huge variety of supported file formats.

  • Works on Windows and macOS.

  • Really clean design that's easy to use.

What We Don't Like

  • Free users limited to 10 conversions per month.

  • No batch processing.

Filestar is a desktop app that can convert between loads of file formats, including CAD files.

Input Formats: CFF, CFF2, DST, DWF, DWFX, DWG, DWT, DXF, GCODE, IFC, IGES, JT, and SHX

Output Formats: BMP, DXF, GIF, HEIC, ICO, JPG, PSD, TIFF, AFM, AVIF, PCT, and lots more (not every input file supports the same output formats; these are just a few examples)

In addition to file conversions, Filestar can compress, archive, and encrypt CAD file formats.

This program runs on Windows and macOS.

06
of 07

CloudConvert: CAD Converter

cloudconvert cad file converter
What We Like

  • Converts CAD files to more common formats.

  • Supports several upload sources.

What We Don't Like

  • Only two supported input formats (for CAD files).

  • Must save all files back to your computer, even if you uploaded from elsewhere.

CloudConvert supports hundreds of file formats and, like Filestar, includes support for CAD formats. Although the supported input formats are slim, it covers the more popular ones. Plus, it works online, so you don't need to download the program.

Input Formats: DWG and DXF

Output Formats: DWG, DXF, PDF, BMP, EPS, GIF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, CGM, SVG, and WMF

As you can see, you can save your CAD drawings to not only another similar format, but also to image formats or the popular PDF format.

Files can be uploaded from your computer, a URL, or your Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive account.

07
of 07

FontConverter.org: Font Converter

FontConverter.org
What We Like

  • Hefty file size limit.

  • Runs online; no software download necessary.

  • Lots of supported formats.

What We Don't Like

  • Ad-heavy website.

  • Converts one file at a time.

FontConverter.org is, you guessed it, a free font converter. The service operates all online—no download required—and it supports just about every font format that has ever existed. Files can be up to 15 MB in size.

Input Formats:  TTF, OTF, PFB, DFONT, OTB, FON, FNT, SVG, TTC, BDF, SFD, CFF, PFA, OFM, ACFM, AMFM, CHA, and CHR

Output Formats: TTF, OTF, WOFF, SVG, UFO, EOT, PFA, PFB, BIN, PT3, PS, CFF, FON, T42, T11, and TTF.BIN

Since this is a website and not a program, it'll work on any operating system, including all modern versions of Windows, macOS, and Linux.

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