The Best WinRAR AlternativesTop File Archivers & File Compressors like WinRAR

WinRAR is described as 'Compress and encrypt files with versatile software, supporting multiple formats for secure data transfer and offering efficient storage options' and is a leading File Archiver in the file management category. There are more than 50 alternatives to WinRAR for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone apps. The best WinRAR alternative is 7-Zip, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like WinRAR are PeaZip, WinZip, Bandizip and NanaZip.

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WinRAR alternatives are mainly File Archivers, but if you're looking for File Compressors or File Managers you can filter on that. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to WinRAR.
WinRAR iconWinRAR
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Compress and encrypt files with versatile software, supporting multiple formats for secure data transfer and offering efficient storage options.

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WinRAR alternatives page was last updated Apr 11, 2025
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  1. 7-Zip icon

    7-Zip

     4700 likes
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    Feature-rich archiving software with top-tier compression in 7z, integration in Windows Shell, AES-256 encryption, and multi-format support, including TAR, ZIP, RAR. Offers strong file management tools and a command line version for Linux/Unix systems.

    110 7-Zip alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • RU flagRussia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • ReactOS
    Main Window

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  User friendly
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  File Archiving
    3.  File Compression
    4.  Portable
    5.  AES Encryption
    6.  Works Offline
    7. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    8.  Shell integration
    9.  Built-in File Manager
    10.  Benchmark
    11.  Context Menu extension
    12.  Installer extraction

    7-Zip VS WinRAR

     
    Comments about 7-Zip as an Alternative to WinRAR
    Comment summary: 7-Zip, as an open-source alternative to WinRAR, receives praise for its faster compression, better compression algorithms (such as LZMA2), and broader format support. Users emphasize its simplicity, absence of ads, and free availability. It is particularly noted for delivering better performance with features such as self-extracting archives, solid compression, and a command-line interface. However, one noted downside is the lack of automatic file association within Windows Explorer.
    Top Positive Comment
    KuboFHromoslav
    May 15, 2017
    34

    7-Zip is highly efficient, open source archiver.

    Most Recent Comment
    Alex Rumbera
    Positive Oct 9, 2024
    0

    7-Zip offers open-source and free usage, better compression, wider format support, more features like self-extracting archives, solid compression, and a powerful command-line interface, and regular updates. 7-Zip often delivers better performance

    Jason Brown
    Positive Aug 22, 2023
    1

    Open-source. Huge eyes-on code audience. Much, much simpler for new users.

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    3 of 25 comments
    WinRAR Icon
    7-Zip icon

    • Almost everyone thinks 7-Zip is a great WinRAR alternative.

    • 7-Zip is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to WinRAR.

    • 7-Zip is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to WinRAR.

    • 7-Zip is Free and Open SourceWinRAR is Freemium and Proprietary
    • 7-Zip is LightweightWinRAR is not according to our users
  2. PeaZip icon

    PeaZip

     630 likes
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    PeaZip is free file archiver utility, based on Open Source technologies of 7-Zip, p7zip, FreeArc, PAQ, and PEA projects, for Linux, macOS and Windows.

    95 PeaZip alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    PeaZip

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  File Compression
    2.  File Archiving
    3. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    4.  Drag and Drop
    5.  Built-in archiver
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  AES Encryption
    12.  Portable

    PeaZip VS WinRAR

     
    Comments about PeaZip as an Alternative to WinRAR
    Most Recent Comment
    don1
    Positive Feb 19, 2017
    3

    It is fast, has many file extensions and always updated.

    Ricky Santoso
    Positive Jul 5, 2018
    2

    I think the extract time faster than winrar, also support many file extensions. One of the lightest file manager & archiver that I use.

    G Downs
    Positive Feb 3, 2019
    0

    I've been using PeaZip for about 8 years and during that time I've found it to be rock-solid. I've tried 7Zip and a few others during that time but keep coming back to PeaZip. On installation, PeaZip is vastly customizable and covers all the major archive formats that most people are going to use...

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    3 of 4 comments
    WinRAR Icon
    PeaZip icon

    • Almost everyone thinks PeaZip is a great WinRAR alternative.

    • PeaZip is Free and Open SourceWinRAR is Freemium and Proprietary
    • PeaZip is LightweightWinRAR is not according to our users
  4. WinZip icon

    WinZip

     73 likes
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    A versatile file archiver offering compression and decompression, native ZIP/ZIPX support, encryption, and extensive sharing via email, cloud, social media, integrating with various platforms and formats.

    104 WinZip alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • ReactOS
    WinZip screenshot 1
    WinZip screenshot 2
    WinZip screenshot 3

    WinZip Features

    1.  Supports Zip files

    WinZip VS WinRAR

     
    Comments about WinZip as an Alternative to WinRAR
    Guest
    Positive Jan 17, 2020
    1

    similar and friendly interface.. cool!

    Guest
    Positive Nov 22, 2019
    0

    The most similar interface to WinRar.

    WinRAR Icon
    WinZip icon

    • Most users think WinZip is a great WinRAR alternative.

    • WinZip is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to WinRAR.

    • WinZip is the most popular commercial alternative to WinRAR.

    • WinZip is Paid and ProprietaryWinRAR is Freemium and Proprietary
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    WinZip icon
    WinZip

    A versatile file archiver offering compression and decompression, native ZIP/ZIPX support, encryption, and extensive sharing via email, cloud, social media, integrating with various platforms and formats.

    http://www.winzip.com
    Learn More
  6. Bandizip icon

    Bandizip

     169 likes
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    Bandizip is a powerful archiver which provides an ultrafast processing speed and convenient features. Available free of charge, and its paid editions support a variety of advanced features.

    93 Bandizip alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • KR flagSouth Korea

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Main screen

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  File Compression
    2.  File Archiving
    3.  Fast speed
    4.  Command line interface
    5. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    6.  Multiple languages
    7.  Supports RAR files
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Supports Zip files
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  Portable
    12.  No registration required

    Bandizip VS WinRAR

     
    Comments about Bandizip as an Alternative to WinRAR
    Most Recent Comment
    ichimitch
    Positive Nov 14, 2021
    0

    Supports compressing and decompressing a wide variety of formats and itegrates with the Windows context menu

    yarko
    Positive Dec 23, 2018
    1

    Fast, modern, with cool features and FREE! Highly reccomended!

    Guest
    Positive Nov 11, 2019
    0

    Really fasttttttt to compress

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    3 of 4 comments
    WinRAR Icon
    Bandizip icon

    • Most users think Bandizip is a great WinRAR alternative.

    • Bandizip is Freemium and ProprietaryWinRAR is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • Bandizip is LightweightWinRAR is not according to our users
  7. NanaZip icon

    NanaZip

     43 likes
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    NanaZip is an open-source file archiver intended for the modern Windows experience.

    89 NanaZip alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • HK flagHong Kong SAR China

    Platforms

    • Windows
    NanaZip Context Menu on Windows 11

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  File Compression
    2.  File Archiving
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Context Menu extension
    5.  Checksums verification
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Dark Mode
    9. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  Supports Zip files
    12.  Supports tar files

    NanaZip VS WinRAR

     
  8. The Unarchiver icon

    The Unarchiver

     245 likes
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    The Unarchiver is a small and easy to use program that can unarchive many different kinds of archive files. It will open common formats such as Zip, RAR (including v5), 7-zip, Tar, Gzip and Bzip2. It will also open many older formats, such as StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ and...

    95 The Unarchiver alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • UA flagUkraine

    Platforms

    • Mac
    The Unarchiver screenshot 1

    The Unarchiver Features

    1.  Supports tar files

    The Unarchiver VS WinRAR

     
    Comments about The Unarchiver as an Alternative to WinRAR
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Negative Feb 12, 2016
    10

    Simple. In Winrar, you can see in the program, and copy files inside. You can only take out files with this.

    maurosoft391
    Negative Jul 15, 2023
    0

    not compatible with Windows

    Guest
    Negative Feb 29, 2020
    1

    Unarchiver does not show you the files without extracting them.

    WinRAR Icon
    The Unarchiver icon

    • Some users think The Unarchiver is a great WinRAR alternative, some don't.

    • The Unarchiver is Free and ProprietaryWinRAR is Freemium and Proprietary
  10. FreeArc icon

    FreeArc

     52 likes
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    FreeArc is a free and open source file archiver developed by Bulat Ziganshin. It uses LZMA, PPMD, TrueAudio and GRzip algorithms with automatic switching by file type, and also uses set of filters—for instance it can remove repetitions from text.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • RU flagRussia

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Main Window
    Discontinued

    Latest alpha version from August 2012 - http://freearc.org/history/changelog_full.htm

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Data Compression
    2.  Lossless Compression
    3.  Supports Zip files
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Supports RAR files
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Portable
    8. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Supports tar files
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  PNG Compression

    FreeArc VS WinRAR

     
7 of 96 WinRAR alternatives