In fact, it is almost impossible to find the best archiver, like any other software - it is much easier to come across software that is absolutely useless for you personally. The main point is that you should decide which functionality is most important to you and make a choice based on these preferences.
For an advanced user, it may be important which archiver compresses better, and it is absolutely uninteresting how friendly the user interface is to it. A beginner, on the contrary, wants simplicity and intuitiveness without a lot of unknown settings. Someone needs the same archiver to work on all the devices that he has. In any case, the modern software market is likely to have already taken into account all these needs.
WinRAR: familiar and familiar
WinRAR has been and remains the best Windows archiver in the post-Soviet space for many years. However, its geography of use is much wider: more than 500 million users around the world choose WinRAR. No wonder: this archiver is a powerful compression tool, and the number of users proves the high efficiency of the software.
WinRAR allows you to compress files for efficient and safe transmission over the network, quick sending by e-mail and organized data storage. It supports the following archive formats: proprietary proprietary RAR format, providing a compression ratio of up to 70%, public ZIP, as well as the less popular formats CAB, ARJ, LZH, ACE, TAR, GZip, UUE, ISO, BZIP2, Z and 7z.
The program also allows you to split archives into separate volumes, which makes it possible to write them to different disks. At the request of the user, WinRAR also provides archive protection for secure transfer. For this, 256-bit encryption, password protection and authenticated signature technology are used.
The program is available in more than 50 languages. WinRAR is shareware: you can use the fully functional version without purchasing licenses, but the program will never get tired of reminding you that it is better to buy it.
Visitors and the editors of CNET, the largest software portal, rate the archiver solidly “excellent”. Among the pluses is the speed of unpacking archives, comparable in speed to the opening of a regular folder, as well as a full range of functions. The main minus is the conditional free of charge program, which, according to the CNET audience, simply does not make sense.
It is difficult to work on a computer with Windows and sooner or later not to download WinRAR. When you start looking for programs for compressing files, one way or another, he is at the top of the list (and for good reason). And such a generous trial period of use leaves no reason not to try. The 32-bit version of the application will also work on a 64-bit system, although, of course, it is better to download a compatible one.
CNET
7-Zip: Free and Effective
7-Zip - one of the most famous compression tools, unlike the previous one - is definitely free. This compression tool provides a high compression ratio due to its own free 7z format. In addition, it supports packing files in XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP and WIM formats and unpacking more than 30 archive formats.
One of the famous features of 7-Zip is the ability to create self-extracting archives. The user can pack the files into such an archive and send it to anyone, even if no archiver is installed on the destination computer. It is enough for the recipient to click on the archive, and it will unpack by itself.
The archiver is popular among advanced users due to its integration with the Windows command line, which allows you to automatically create a large number of archives using shell scripts. In addition, the archiver offers its own file manager and integrates with the popular Total Commander.
7-Zip supports AES-256 archive encryption for secure file transfers. The program is localized in 87 different languages.
At CNET, the archiver holds a rating of “excellent”, mainly due to the fact that users highly value the number of supported archive formats and a good balance between accessibility for beginners and a wealth of features for advanced users. Dissatisfaction is caused only by the speed of archiving, as well as the high consumption of system resources during compression.
7-Zip is completely free to download and use, and its many advantages far outweigh the small flaws. If you are looking for an alternative to WinZip or any other program, this is a great option.
CNET
WinZip: modern and native
Users of the latest versions of Windows (8 and 10) do not need to go far behind the archiver at all: WinZip is built into their systems. Perhaps he can be called the best archiver for Windows 10, given that he has more than a billion active users.
WinZip is a much more advanced tool than just an archiver. The program is able to unpack all popular archive formats, such as ZIP, ZIPX, RAR, 7z, TAR, GZIP, VHD, XZ and many others. The program also supports encryption to protect information in the archive.
The main advantage of WinZip is its tight integration with cloud services: Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, MediaFire, SugarSync, CloudMe. It allows you to send archives, ensure their protection, manage them and create backups. WinZip provides search, discovery, editing, moving and collaboration with files on a computer, within a network, or in a Windows-based cloud. Thus, the answer to the question of which archiver is better for Windows 10 lies in the system itself.
The editors and users of CNET disagree about the archiver: the former consider it excellent, the latter are not so enthusiastic. The capabilities of synchronization with Microsoft cloud services provided by the archiver, its native appearance in new versions of Windows, as well as security are noted. Users often get confused in the interface of the archiver and cannot find the necessary functions in a heap of menu items and tabs.
WinZip demonstrates how far the archiver can go from simple compression and decompression. The new WinZip has something to love: a native interface, integration with various cloud services, powerful file encryption. If you need to manage all the data stored in the cloud through a single interface, WinZip is a great choice.
CNET
PowerArchiver: a tool for the pros
PowerArchiver is a professional file compression utility that can work with all archive formats that currently exist. If you seriously wonder which archiver is better, perhaps you should look towards this solution.
In addition to the ability to compress and decompress all popular archive formats, PowerArchiver provides powerful encryption and backup of archives. For those who are interested in the degree of compression, it should be noted that the utility is able to reduce the file size in some cases by almost 90%.
If when creating an archive it is required to read a folder that is accessible only to the administrator, the program itself can temporarily raise its level of access rights to administrator. The archiver also works closely with the Windows Shadow Copy Service (VSS), which is useful when compressing databases.
PowerArchiver does not impose any restrictions on the size of the archive, the files inside the archive and the number of files in the archive. Thus, archiving can be done even on an industrial scale.
It’s easy to guess that the program is commercial: you have to pay for the enterprise level.
The editors and audience of CNET agree: the archiver is outstanding. Among the main advantages are support for many types of archives (both packaging and unpacking), a well-ordered interface, encryption, FTP client, as well as batch file archiving. However, it is noted that the program begins to "slow down" already in the queue of 100 files. Also, users do not really like to update the program too often.
PowerArchiver is a powerful and fairly reliable program for archiving, compression and encryption. Given its current development, PowerArchiver is best suited for users who need a single, reliable center for compressing any files.
CNET
B1 Free Archiver: Cross-Platform and Intelligent
B1 Free Archiver is a relatively new phenomenon on the market of free archivers, but curious already because the authors emphasized the maximum cross-platform. Whether you are looking for the best archiver for Windows 10 or for Windows XP - it doesn't matter, because B1 does not need to be installed at all.
The archiver has an online version that can quickly unzip archives in 45 supported formats and provide a list of files for download. After that, files can be deleted manually, but even if you forget to do this, they will be erased without a trace in an hour.
The online version is intended only for unpacking files, but the archiver also has desktop versions for Windows, Linux, Mac and Android. Unfortunately, you can hardly name it the best archiver for Android and other systems, if only because it can create archives in only two formats - ZIP and native B1 format. However, this is enough for most users.
The B1 format, so far little known and little supported, by the way, is very intelligent. When compressing in B1 format, the program “on the go” changes the compression algorithm for each file depending on its type to ensure the maximum compression ratio.
The desktop version of the program has a nice interface, all actions are performed in a few clicks. The program has been translated into a number of popular languages.
CNET's audience is still evaluating the archiver at the Quartet. The program is praised for its excellent context-sensitive help, password protection functions and breaking archives into volumes, and also for integration with Explorer. Minus - of course, not enough compression formats.
B1 Free Archiver is great software if you are looking for an easy way to create and extract archives. However, if you are looking for something advanced and powerful, this free application will seem to you rather limited in functionality, especially for creating archives.
CNET
PeaZip: ten archivers in one
PeaZip is a free, open source archiver for Windows and Linux. Calling it an archiver is not entirely correct, because it is rather a graphical shell for several archivers that are collected inside the program, as in the package.
PeaZip is a user interface under which the utilities 7z, PAQ8, LPAQ, QUAD, BALZ, BCM, GNU strip, UPX, UNACE and the author's utility Pea are hidden. The combination of several utilities allows PeaZip to pack and unpack more than 180 different archive formats - almost all existing at the moment (unlike PowerArchiver, absolutely free).
The program also includes a full-featured file manager and strong security features - archive encryption, a secure password manager, secure file deletion and hashing. At the same time, the user interface of the utility is very friendly and intuitive.
The editors and users of CNET agree with this, where the archiver has a rating of "excellent". The application interface is highly appreciated, as well as the convenience of choosing archiving options and optimizing the compression formula.
PeaZip is a free and easy to use program for users who do not work with RAR files. Many Windows users install several compression tools, but I want to return to PeaZip because of its simplicity and balanced settings. This is a useful addition to any Windows system.
CNET
Ashampoo ZIP FREE: aesthetics archiver
At first glance at Ashampoo ZIP FREE, you can say that this is the best archiver in terms of graphic design. The interface is very well organized, intuitive and seems to fit perfectly into some Windows Metro theme.
Moreover, the utility quickly and easily creates and decompresses ZIP, 7z, CAB, TAR (TAR, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, TAR.XZ) and LHA archives. The archiver provides AES 256 encryption , as well as an unlimited archive size, the size of files inside the archive and the number of files in the archive - however, only for ZIP and 7z formats.
An interesting feature of the archiver is the integrated preview of files in the archive. You do not need to unzip the archive to see what's inside. Ashampoo's preview tool is able to display archive contents, including text files, pictures, and more.
Another thing that you do not expect from such a lightweight bright utility is the built-in Repair ZIP Tool, which allows you to restore ZIP files. With Ashampoo ZIP FREE, you can even unpack a damaged archive, which other archivers reject indignantly.
CNET users give the utility unexpectedly little attention, although the few reviews are generally positive. It is even mentioned that the utility has more functions than WinRAR.
Ashampoo ZIP is not a simple ZIP program, it is a whole set that has everything you need to compress, extract, send and encrypt your files. A total of 8 modules cover everything from file compression and encryption to data backups.
CNET
Zipware: archiver with antivirus
Zipware is a free archiver that is very easy to use. It supports all major archiving formats, including the new RAR5 format, and quickly and stably processes both small and large archives.
Zipware integrates with Windows Explorer, which allows, for example, adding files to the archive using drag and drop. But the most interesting function of the archiver is the item added to the context menu that allows you to scan the archive through the VirusTotal.com service. That is, before unpacking the archive, you can skip through about 50 different antiviruses to 100% make sure that it is not infected.
This functionality, however, is underestimated by the user audience. Basically, RAR5 support is noted as a plus of the archiver.
Zipware is a simple and free software for Microsoft Windows that supports all major archiving formats, including the new RAR5 format. Zipware was designed to be simple, fast and stable when processing both small and large archives with millions of files. It also supports many Linux archive formats such as Tar and Gzip.
CNET
IZArc: archiver converter
IZArc may not be the best archiver, but it already has its share of popularity. It supports many formats, not only archives, but also CD image files. The utility allows you to archive data of any type and encrypt archives using one of the 4 encryption algorithms that the program offers (provided that you know the difference between them, of course).
However, the main feature of IZarc is that it can convert archive files from one format to another. This means that you do not need to unpack the archive in order to pack it into another format again. Open the archive with the program, and it converts it to another format on its own.
CNET editors praise the utility for having a portable version (which does not require installation), a flexible interface for configuring the interface, and the ability to convert self-extracting archives to regular ones. On the other hand, poor functionality is noted.
IZArc can serve as the main tool for compressing ZIP, but it is much more convenient to keep it in a portable toolbox for a PC or on a USB drive. However, when you use it, IZArc is a decent tool with no frills.
CNET
jZip: for lovers of old smartphones
The jZip archiver provides full support for working with the Zip, TAR, RAR, and 7z archives. The most amazing feature of jZip is that it has a version for Symbian OS - it decompresses Zip archives on smartphones that work under UIQ.
jZip for Symbian can perform almost all the necessary actions with ZIP archives: it can open archives, create new ones, add files (with a path) or entire folders, extract files one at a time or all together and delete files from the archive.
A pleasant and exotic feature of the archiver is seriously spoiled by a fly in the ointment: beware of malware, which often loads with the program.
CNET users put the utility lazy "C grade". And the authors of the utility, on the contrary, are so worried about their brainchild that they convinced CNET to remove the download link.
Bandizip: Fast and Lightweight
The small Bandizip utility creates archive files in various formats, and can also open and unzip them. Without claiming to be the best archiver, it is nevertheless constantly evolving and improving.
The main advantages of Bandizip are its light weight, as well as a very fast ZIP-compression and extraction algorithm that uses the functionality of multi-core processors. In addition to Windows, the utility has versions for Apple computers and is slowly competing for the title of best archiver for Mac OS with native Apple archivers like Keka or The Unarchiver.
At CNET, the utility has already earned a "very good" mark and has been praised by the editorial staff for its wide range of customization options and a clean, well-understood interface. However, the novelty of the utility implies the presence of unsophisticated software errors that have not yet been fixed by the developers.
Bandizip is a free utility, and it is a powerful tool for performing all kinds of processes with various archive formats. The program was generally performed quite well, and it offers a good set of parameters for customizing the user interface.
CNET
In conclusion: a few more archivers to note
- HaoZip is the most popular archiver in China. Handles the unpacking of all popular formats and creates ZIP, 7z and TAR archives. It also includes a file preview function, in particular images. And a purely eastern feature - a lot of bright beautiful “skins” for the graphical interface, which can be downloaded from the Internet.
- FreeArc is an archiver for sincere lovers of open source software. The archiver is in no way inferior to the most popular competitors in speed and functionality, but, like many open applications, it has a rude design and many complex settings, which significantly affects popularity.
- TugZip is a good archiver that supports a lot of archive formats and disk images, capable of creating self-extracting and encrypted archives. The only problem is that the author of the program abandoned the project back in 2008. Despite this, the download counter on the program’s website continues to spin even after 10 years.
- ZipGenius - supports more than 20 archive formats, 5 compression levels, integration with Windows Explorer, self-extracting archives, file previews, and also has its own FTP client. And everything would be fine if it weren’t for monstrously aggressive marketing - having installed the program, get ready for the fact that your desktop will be littered with useless shortcuts suggesting to “follow” the program on Google+.