Transferring loads of data files online involves using a lot of mobile data which means higher internet charges. You can spend less by compressing the files which reduces the size. WinRAR is the most popular file compression tool on the internet with more than 500 million users.
Aside from compressing file sizes, WinRAR also ensures secure and efficient file transfer via encryption. It’s also an archive extractor tool and supports various archive file formats.
WinRAR is a paid software but you can use it free for 40 days before paying. After the trial period, you can continue using the file compressor for free but with limited features. The software price – $29 – is one of the reasons people opt for alternatives.
If you own a Mac computer, I’ll be listing out the 15 best WinRAR alternatives in this post.
Best WinRAR Alternatives For Mac
1. Bandizip
Bandizip is a freemium WinRAR alternative for Mac. Tagged the “all-in-one archiver for your Mac,” it supports MacOS 10.12 and higher versions; it’s available for only 64-bit processors and is specially optimized for Mac computers with M1.
This archiver tool works for file compression, decompression, browsing, and editing. It supports more than 30 different formats including ZIP, 7Z, ZIPX, TAR, TGZ, and GZ. Notably, it allows file modification for ZIP files.
With Bandizip, you can compress files of up to 4GB in size and use Unicode or MBCS filenames for ZIP files. Like WinRAR, Bandizip supports military-grade AES256 encryption technology for privacy and security.
Bandizip comes with a more intuitive interface than WinRAR; a more graphical interface. This allows easy viewing and extraction of files. From the archives, you can view image thumbnails without decompression.
The file integrity test feature checks for damages. In addition, the tool integrates with Finder Services Menu and supports code-page change features.
There are two Bandizip versions – Bandizip and Bandizip 365 – and both require payment. You pay a one-time fee for Bandizip but monthly subscriptions for Bandizip 365. Bandizip costs $21.99 while Bandizip 365 costs $0.99 per month.
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2. WinZip
WinZip is another widely used file compressor tool. It’s often mistaken for WinRAR, and vice versa, due to the name’s similarity. So far, the tool has garnered over one billion downloads.
If you work with very large files, WinZip is an ideal WinRAR alternative to use. It lets you zip and unzip files speedily and secure files using AES encryption. You can compress up to 100 different file types.
A feature of interest is file sharing. WinZip lets you share files to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and ZipShare, from within its environment.
WinZip is more than a file compressor or archiver tool; it also works as a productivity tool. There are productivity features like the Mac Optimizer to free up space and boost PC performance.
WinZip is a tool you can also use on your iPhone and iPad. WinRAR doesn’t support iPhone or iPad; it only supports Android for mobile.
You can download a free trial WinZip version for Mac. It doesn’t expire but comes with perpetual limitations unless you upgrade. You pay a one-time fee to purchase WinZip. The price starts at $29.95, almost the same as WinRAR’s, but you get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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3. B1 Free Archiver
The file description says it all, this is a free WinRAR alternative. It’s available for Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks, and Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, and Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
B1 Free Archiver is described as the “most friendly and simple free file archiver.” The tool is indeed simple to use and with a friendly interface. It supports about 40 formats which is just as many as WinRAR’s.
Notably, this tool uses an improved compression algorithm which produces a better speed to compression ratio. Both WinRAR and B1 Free Archiver employ the 256-bit AES encryption algorithm to secure files.
The main difference between B1 Free Archiver and WinRAR is that the former is 100% free while the latter. However, being 100% free comes with limitations. For example, you cannot compress files of more than 500 MB with B1 Free Archiver.
As a result, this is a recommended alternative if you work with not-very-heavy files like word documents, spreadsheets, etc.
Another patent difference between both tools is that the B1 Free Archiver is open source. Open source tools allow room for improvements.
4. BetterZip
BetterZip, a tool from Macitbetter, is an exclusive file archiver for Mac computers. The tool comes with some advanced features hence why it’s tagged “the next generation of archiving.” You can use the tool to create & update, open & extract, and find & share archive files.
When compressing files, you can choose the compression strength for most file formats. Like other alternatives, BetterZip password-protect files using strong AES-256 encryption. In addition, it comes with a password manager and a password generator.
Aside from file archiving and compressing there are some extra BetterZip features. For example, extract sounds and images from Flash and PDF files and join split files. In addition, you can automate the tool using AppleScript.
Despite all its advanced features, BetterZip is cheaper than WinRAR although pricing is bound to change from time to time. A BetterZip license costs $24.95 and you can use one license for up to five Mac computers. WinRAR supports one computer per license.
5. Archiver
Archiver is a lightweight tool for Mac OS; it supports MacOS 11.1 or later but works best with MacOS 11 Big Sur. Like WinRAR, you can extract all popular archive formats including RAR, StuffIt, Zip, and 7zip.
The tool is easy to use thanks to the Drag & Drop support. To compress and archive files, simply drag and drop them into the app’s window and it does the rest.
If you need a WinRAR alternative you can customize to your preference, you’ll want to check out Archiver. You can set the default output folder, choose compression levels and formats, remove archives automatically after unzipping, and more.
Notably, the tool uses a native compression format for images and audio files. You’ll appreciate the Archive Preview feature that allows you to check out the archive content before extracting it. In addition, you can preview archives using QuickLook.
With Archiver, you can split and combine large files and archives. For security, the tool allows encrypted, password-protected archives.
While Archiver and WinRAR are both paid tools, you pay about $10 less for Archiver; the tool costs $19.99. Similar to WinRAR, there are no recurring subscriptions.
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6. Express Zip
Here’s a simple file compression tool from NCH Software. The tool has four basic functions – zip, unzip, compress, and extract. It features a free version – with some limitations – for non-commercial use only.
Express Zip supports as many formats as WinRAR including ZIP, RAR, CAB, TAR, 7Z, ISO, GZIP, and MULTIDISK to name a few. However, the tool has more support for ZIP. It’s fast to use, features a drag & drop interface, and lets you password-protect ZIP files.
Using this tool, you can split large ZIP files into smaller parts with the Multi-Part Slip feature. It also features Right-click menu options so you can extract and compress files via your file browser. With support for PAR2 recovery files, you can easily repair corrupt file archives.
In terms of price, there’s not much to differentiate WinRAR and ExpressZip. Pricing for ExpressZip for Home Use starts at $25 while that of Commercial Use starts at $30. However, with ExpressZip, you have the option to pay recurring subscriptions starting at $1.38 per month.
You need at least Mac OS X 10.5 to use this tool.
7. Smart Zipper
Smart Zipper might be a paid WinRAR alternative but it’s a very affordable one. It’s a compression and decompression tool and supports up to 20 different file formats for extraction.
For compression, however, Smart Zipper only supports five file formats including Zip, Tar, Bzip2, Gzip, and 7z. Notwithstanding, you have five compression levels to choose from – fastest compression, normal compression, high compression, fast compression, and maximum compression.
With Smart Zipper, you can compress multiple files and folders at a time and the tool supports drag and drop. It’s yet another tool on this list that supports passwording archive files for security. However, some users complain that you can’t copy or paste into the password field.
Like with compressing, you can also decompress multiple compressed packages using Smart Zipper. You’ll only need to enter one password to unlock all encrypted compressed packages if they have the same password. Furthermore, Smart Zipper lets you browse through files in archives without extracting them.
As mentioned earlier, Smart Zipper is a paid but affordable WinRAR alternative. The tool costs just $2.99, a one-time purchase, very cheap when compared to WinRAR’s 29 starting price.
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8. SecureZIP
If you need a WinRAR alternative for enterprise use, SecureZIP is a tool to check out. PKWare created this tool to protect enterprises and businesses against data breaches.
Hence, unlike WinRAR, SecureZIP isn’t only for file compression, extraction, and encryption. The tool also lets you monitor your files – where they are used, stored, and shared.
SecureZIP helps enterprises of all sizes decrease data storage and transmission costs while adhering to internal and external security regulations.
SecureZIP compresses files with PKWARE’s native compressing technology. This ingenious compressing technology can reduce the file size by about 95%. The tool employs file-level encryption which is more reliable than archive-level encryption.
You can encrypt files using passwords or certificates – WinRAR only supports password-based encryption. SecureZIP further supports X.509 & OpenPGP Encryption and two-factor authentication using smart cards or tokens.
As an enterprise-level encryption and compression software, SecureZIP is expensive, more expensive than WinRAR. SecureZIP for Mac OS costs $59.95 per copy. Note that you can use SecureZIP free, on trial, for 30 days.
9. YemuZip
YemuZip is another exclusive WinRAR alternative for Mac. It’s a simple tool for making Zip files and is available for free with some limitations. You need Mac OS X 10.9 or later to use this tool.
Using YemuZip, you can create zip files quickly and easily. The process is as simple as dragging and dropping your files into a folder and naming the archive.
Notably, YemuZip allows you to use either a PC-friendly or Mac-friendly format. When you create PC-friendly zip files, for example, you can share and open them on Windows computers without any problems.
This is unlike zip files you create with Mac OS X’s built-in compress feature that is more or less unusable when you open them with a PC.
Furthermore, YemuZip keeps track of the directories you use as destination folders for easier output. You can save zip files locally on your MacBook, send them to iCloud, or Dropbox, or attach them to emails with a few clicks.
To access all YemuZip features, without limitations, you need to purchase the tool. From the Apple App Store, the tool costs $4.99 which is very cheaper compared to WinRAR.
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10. FastZip
Don’t want to pay a cent for a file compression tool? If yes, then this is a tool of interest. FastZip is described as a “powerful MacOS compression and decompression tool.” It’s a more user-friendly option than WinRAR with its intuitive UI.
FastZip supports three types of file compression – encrypted compression, volume compression, and solid compression.
It supports both encrypted compression and decompression; it also supports archive-level and file-level encryption for extract security.
Volume compression lets you split large files into smaller sizes – smaller volumes. It comes in handy if you have a single file upload limit. You can set any single file and compressing size you deem fit.
Solid compression has to do with the compression ratio. In other words, solid compression increases the compression ratio which means a significantly reduced file size. It’s a useful feature when compressing many small files.
Other features available in this tool include multi-threaded compression, right-click compression, decompression, and preview and right-click function customization. Notably, FastZip is optimized for Apple M1 and Intel chips.
With all of these features, it’s surprising that FastZip is free.
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11. Keka
Keka is popular as a MacOS file archiver. It’s a simple yet strong app you can replace WinRAR with. You’ll need Mac OS X 10.10 and higher versions to use Keka.
To use Keka, simply drag and drop files you want to compress in the tool window or dock icon.
The tool supports the extraction of more than 30 file types including RAR, TAR, 7Z, GZIP, BZIP2, ZIP, ZIPX, and XZ among others. However, you can only create compressed files in 14 file formats.
If you’re dealing with very large files, you can split them into smaller sizes.
Keka, like many other WinRAR alternatives, ensures security and privacy. It supports AES-256 encryption and Zip 2.0 legacy encryption for 7z files and Zip files respectively.
One reason why you may choose Keka out of the other alternatives is support for Legacy versions. As mentioned earlier, you need Mac OS X 10.10 and higher to use the tool; but that’s for the latest version.
There are old Keka versions that you can use on older Mac versions. The tool is 100% free to use but you can tip the developers from time to time.
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12. The Unarchiver
Built exclusively for Mac computers and now a part of MacPaw, this is a very fast-performing archive tool. It works best with RAR files which makes it one of the best WinRAR alternatives.
The Unarchiver was previously an open-source software as a property of Circlesoft. After the acquisition by MacPaw, it became a proprietary tool.
Unlike WinRAR, The Unarchiver is free to use; it’s also easy to use with support for a range of file formats. You can extract and compress multiple files at a time and password-protect archives.
The latest version came with some major UI upgrades, making the tool a lot friendlier than ever. Also, there are new features such as hardened runtime, and support for WARC 1.1 and Apple M1.
A commendable feature of this tool is the ability to read foreign characters. It allows you to work with archives that have non-Latin character names and archives created using different operating systems.
Natively, The Unarchiver supports 18 different languages. The latest version works with MacOS 10.7 or later versions. Notably, there are earlier versions you can use on older Mac versions.
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13. iZip
iZip is described as “the best way to manage archives on Mac OS X.” It’s another exclusive archiver tool for Mac and one with special support for MacOS Monterey, MacOS Catalina, and Big Sur.
If you need an easy-to-use WinRAR alternative, you’ll enjoy using iZip. After launching, the tool appears in your OS X finder like a removable disk. Hence, you use it as you would regularly use Finder.
The tool has three main functions – compress, encrypt, and share. However, it doesn’t support as many file formats as WinRAR; it only supports ZIP, ZIPX, RAR, TAR, TAR.GZ, and 7ZIP files.
To compress files, you either save them directly as a Zip file or drag and drop and drop them into an archive folder. With Cover Flow Mode, you can browse images and videos without extracting them.
One of the pros of using iZip is secure sharing. The tool partners with Files.com for secure free file sharing. In addition, you can password-protect files using 256-bit AES ZIP encryption.
iZip is one of the best free WinRAR alternatives. No payment, no limitations, no ads, or anything that’ll affect performance.
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14. Mr. Zipper
Here we have a powerful compression and extraction software and a recommended WinRAR alternative if you need personalization options.
It supports a wide range of popular file formats. For compression, however, Mr. Zipper only supports Gzip, Tar, 7Z, Zip, and Bzip2.
You’ll find this tool simple to use as you can simply drag and drop files – including entire directories – to compress or extract. With the system default app, you can quickly overview files.
Notably, Mr. Zipper supports two compression and extraction modes – manual mode and automatic mode.
With manual mode, you choose your preferred files from the file list, then compress or extract them by clicking the corresponding button.
On the other hand, with automatic mode, the tool will auto-compress or uncompress files as soon as you drag them into the app window.
Like many other tools on this list, Mr. Zipper protects data using passwords and supports splitting large files.
Furthermore, you have three options for personalizing the output folder including Always Custom, The Same Path as the Original File, and Use Default Path.
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15. Oka Unarchiver
Last on this list is Oka Unarchiver, an easy-to-use tool for Mac with which you can archive and unarchive a wide range of archive files. You can also compress and password-protect files.
The tool works best with ZIP and 7Z files. You just have to drop files in the icon or main window to extract them and you can split large archives into smaller volumes.
With Oka Unarchiver, you can archive multiple files in a list by just clicking the archive button. Similarly, the tool automatically recognizes which files can be extracted when you click the extract button.
Notably, it integrates with Finder so you can compress, uncompress or preview a file via the right-click menu. Also, Oka Unarchiver is one of the WinRAR alternatives that support the Apple M1 chip in the latest Macs.
Oka Unarchiver is a freemium tool. The free version is worthwhile but to get the whole package, you need to upgrade to VIP.
Pricing starts at around $9.99 which is cheaper than WinRAR. Note that you can purchase the tool for a lifetime or pay recurring monthly or yearly subscriptions.
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Bottom Line
There you have them! The best alternatives to WinRAR.
Ultimately, the alternative you should go for depends on the features you prioritize. Overall, Bandizip and WinZip are the top alternatives to go for.
