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4 days ago · For ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip; Strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats; Self-extracting capability for 7z format; Integration with Windows Shell; Powerful File Manager; Powerful command line version; Plugin for FAR Manager
Jun 7, 2024 · As a leading compression software, 7-Zip supports a wide range of formats and offers many advanced features. Guide: Using 7-Zip for File Compression and Extraction. Key Features of 7-Zip. High Compression Ratio: Achieves high compression using LZMA and LZMA2 algorithms. Supported Formats: Packing / Unpacking: 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP, WIM
- Compression
- Cross-Platform
Mar 17, 2024 · 7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver with a high compression ratio, making it an excellent choice for both personal and professional use. It supports a wide range of compression formats, including its native 7z format, as well as popular formats like ZIP, RAR, and TAR.
Dec 4, 2023 · 7-Zip is a renowned open-source file compression and archive utility software for Windows-based PCs. It has garnered a strong following due to its robust performance, wide range of supported archive formats, and a user-friendly interface.
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- Utilitiesapplication
- Overview
- The best file compression software of 2024 in full:
- 1. WinZip
- 2. WinRAR
- 3. 7-Zip
- 4. Zip Archiver
- 5. PeaZip
- Which file compression software is best for you?
Best
By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson
last updated 16 February 2024
The easiest way to create and extract compressed file archives
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•Best overall
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Reasons to buy
+ Supports many file types + Split large files + Advanced management tools
Reasons to avoid
- Paid only One of the most famous names in the world of software utilities, WinZip is still going strong after nearly 30 years, and is still one of the best file compression tools around. However, you may wonder if you can justify spending money on a compression tool when there are so many free alternatives available. Ultimately it depends on your priorities, but you do get a lot of extras for your money. In addition to support for a wide range of archive formats (including ZIP, ZIPX, RAR (extraction only), 7z, TAR, GZIP, VHD and XZ), WinZip offers integration with a number of programs including Office for easy zipping as you work. Other bonus features include the splitting of large zip files to fit different media, advanced file sharing options, cloud support and an advanced zip management system that rivals Windows Explorer. The interface adapts to suit mouse and keyboard setups or touchscreen devices, and there are backup and security options thrown in to protect your files. WinZip is an incredibly useful tool to have in your software arsenal, and it's flexible enough to work in the way that suits you best – you can create and extract via the program interface, or using the program window. And if you'd rather not pay money, we've featured the best free alternatives to Winzip. Read our full WinZip review. •^ Back to the top
Reasons to buy
+ High compression rate + Works with multiple formats + Create RAR files
Reasons to avoid
- Paid only As famous as WinZip in certain circles, WinRAR created a name for itself thanks to its proprietary RAR format, which offers incredible levels of compression. Most compression programs can extract RAR archives, but only WinRAR can (officially) create them. This exclusivity comes at a price that is similar to WinZip. Of course, WinRAR can be used to compress files into many other compressed formats, and the program benefits from the fact that it is available for just about every platform imaginable. The interface is not the most pleasant to look at, and even if you opt to use the Explorer context menu to create or extract archives, beginners may well feel overwhelmed by the number of options and settings on display. That said, there is a wizard mode that take the hard work out of most tasks. WinRAR's killer feature is undoubtedly full RAR support, but its encryption, speed, self-extracting archive creation and themes (if you're into that sort of thing!) mean it's well worth taking a look at the trial version to see if this is the compression tool for you. Read our full WinRAR review. •^ Back to the top
Reasons to buy
+ Free software + Own format + Great for huge files The first free option in this roundup, 7-Zip is another program with an excellent reputation. It can handle pretty much any compressed file format you care to throw at it. A real stalwart of the compression world, 7-Zip boasts its own compressed file format, 7z. This not only lets you compress truly gigantic files (up to 16 billion gigabytes, according to its developers), but also has an incredibly high compression rate. However, this does mean making speed sacrifices; 7z can use 'solid compression' to achieve tiny file sizes, but it can be very, very slow. 7-Zip's interface is far from attractive, and the number of context menu entries the program creates can be a little unnerving. Thankfully, if you venture into Options within the program, you'll find that it's easy enough to get rid of the options you don't need. The look of this file compression software won't be to everyone's taste, but if you can get past this, you have a rock-steady and reliable utility on your hands. Read our full 7-Zip review. •^ Back to the top
Reasons to buy
+ Free software + Good interface + Drag and drop + Supports many formats
Reasons to avoid
- Windows only It might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of file compression software, but Zip Archiver has a very healthy following thanks to its thoughtfully designed interface, excellent format support, and because it offers all this for free. What makes this program interesting is its incredible ease of use. Even someone who is unfamiliar with the idea of file compression and decompression should find it easy to achieve the results they want. Creating and extracting archives to one of a range of formats is reduced to a simple drag and drop process, and there's cloud support as a handy extra. What this means is that you can, in one quick and easy operation, create a compressed file, upload it to Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive, and have a shareable link created automatically. If you're compressing files to share them, this is a brilliant option. If you're not a fan of the drag-and-drop interface, you can use the Windows context menu to take care of everything – the choice is yours. There are dozens of compressed file formats, but Zip Archiver can handle them all. The only drawback is that Zip Archiver is only available for Windows. Read our full Zip Archiver review. •^ Back to the top
Reasons to buy
+ For Windows and Linux + Convert archive formats + Security tools Another free compression program, PeaZip (for Windows and Linux) is simple looking but surprisingly powerful, and offers plenty of security options In addition to regular compression and decompression options, you can also use PeaZip to convert archives between formats. For the security conscious, this file compression software also offers AES256-based encryption and two-factor authentication, as well as a password manager. As with the other compression tools in this roundup, you can make use of the main program interface, or fall back in love with the right mouse button and use the context menu. PeaZip is one compression tool that can, sort of, create – as well as extract – RAR files. If you have WinRAR installed (be it the full version or the trial) PeaZip can make use of the software to gain full RAR support. Although no warning message will be displayed, you're not really supposed to use WinRAR after the end of the trial period, either on its own or through PeaZip. Read our full PeaZip review. •^ Back to the top We've also featured the best PDF compressors.
When deciding which file compression software to download and use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free platforms may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, free and budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes ...
Sep 5, 2024 · File compression is a crucial process for managing and sharing large files efficiently, saving storage space, and reducing download times. With numerous compression tools available, selecting...
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7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver, a utility used to place groups of files within compressed containers known as "archives". It is developed by Igor Pavlov and was first released in 1999.
