We all work with compressed files on a daily basis. Not only do compressed files take up low storage space, but they also reduce transmission times over the internet.
WinRAR is one of the most helpful compression programs ever designed. This tool allows you to compress and archive files, lock files, split files, extract them to your computer, and even lock them.
Other tools like PeaZip, B1 Free Archiver, Zipware and also help in file compression but the best free WinRAR alternative is 7-Zip. The tool supports multiple file formats and operating systems. What’s more, 7-Zip is 100% secure and very easy to use.
Why should you explore WinRAR alternatives?
Although WinRAR may compress file data to some point and improve the efficiency of transferring it over the internet, it has some shortcomings. First, it’s a premium tool, and most users can’t afford the fee.
The compression and decompression speed of WinRAR may vary depending on the machine’s capabilities. Besides, you may have significant difficulty when you don’t know what to do while working with hardware constraints.
When working with WinRAR, handling some computers’ hardware resources can be challenging. Additionally, operating with three or four archives at the same time can be a bit overwhelming for slower pcs.
Thus, if you require compression-decompression software but discover that WinRAR doesn’t match your needs, the most acceptable free WinRAR alternatives are worth considering.
With tons of file compression tools out there, selecting one that meets your needs can be challenging, so, we created this guide to make the whole process a piece of cake.
Free WinRAR Alternatives
1. PeaZip
PeaZip is a valuable alternative to WinRAR. For various output formats, including PEA, ARC, ZIP, and 7Z, the PeaZip application can create password-protected archives using 256-bit AES encryption.
The scheduling feature of PeaZip makes it simple to schedule file archives using the Windows Task Scheduler. Users may effortlessly back up files to another associated drive and have the program compress files on the fly to save space on the hard drive.
PeaZip is a small program that allows you to open and produce compressed files. A password manager is one of the software’s best features, allowing you to create a master password for all files.
The application has compression tools, allowing you to open and compress over 150 different types of files. 7Z, ARC, and BZip2 are some of the formats that are supported by this program.
PeaZip is more than adequate in terms of file size and performance. It uses only 10MB of your computer’s storage space so that it can run on older machines and laptops.
Additionally, this program has quicker processing speeds for different file types than WinRAR. PeaZip allows two-factor authentication for security purposes, unlike WinRAR, which lacks this incredible security feature.
PeaZip includes an archive conversion feature, safe deletion after archiving, a simple interface for building the archive layout, and the ability to view, alter, and store the command line for a task.
Compared to WinRAR, PeaZip may also edit the available RAR archives, add or delete files, and modify existing files within the archive, thanks to the Rar.exe backend.
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2. 7-Zip
7-Zip is a cross-platform program that allows you to compress and decompress files with ease. This open-source tool is free to download and use, and it gives you a lot of versatility.
The program, like WinRAR, is designed to create and open archives, so you can trust it to handle any archive. 7-Zip is said to provide 10% greater compression than the WinRAR software.
7-Zip is preferable to WinRAR because it supports more file formats, is simpler to use, and integrates the right-click context. The software can also be used to open RAR files.
Compressing files can help you save space on your hard drive while also making them easier to move. If you want to quickly zip or unzip most compressed file formats, including 7z, GZIP, TAR, ZIP, RAR, and others, 7-Zip is all you need. It’s compatible with the operating systems Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
Unlike WinRAR, which requires a license fee, 7-Zip is open-source software that is free to use. What else can this program do? When you compress a folder to a 7-Zip format using this program, you will obtain up to 70 percent compression.
Compressing files can help you save space on your hard drive while also making them easier to move. This program will compress your files and save them as a 7-Zip archive.
The 7-Zip comes in a system format that supports easier compression. Surprisingly, other software and platforms now support this format.
Finally, 7-Zip is exceptionally light, weighing in at less than 1MB. Furthermore, it uses system resources rather than importing external materials, which slows down your machine.
If you’re seeking a free WinRAR alternative for Mac OS, 7-Zip has a WinRAR equivalent called Keka, the official 7-Zip for Mac.
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3. B1 Free Archiver
If you want an excellent utility with basic features, B1 Free Archiver is the program for you. The app works well with various operating systems, including Linux and Windows, unlike WinRAR, which works on Windows only.
It also works correctly on Android so that you may install it on your mobile device. B1 Free Archiver can open the most common archive formats, including B1, 7Z, ZIP, RAR, GZIP, BZ2, GZ, TAR, and ISO. Besides, it can create .b1 and .zip archives.
On the other hand, WinRAR only supports ZIP, RAR, 7Z, CAB, LZH, ZIPX, ISO, TAR, XZ, BZ2, GZiP, Z, UUE, GZ, 001, ARJ, and JAR files.
The application also creates split archives, which are made up of many pieces of varying sizes and password-enabled archives encrypted using the reliable 256-bit AES method.
With this program, your privacy is guaranteed since it does not gather personal details. On top of that, it does not bring malicious software to your PC.
B1 Free Archiver supports both online and offline archivers for maximum convenience. Additionally, this tool is 100% free compared to the pricey WinRAR.
As if that’s not enough, this program can be used on any computer, and it’s easier to use without comprehensive guides or manuals. The tool also works at a very high speed with both extensive archives and numerous files.
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4. Zipware
Zipware makes compressing and decompressing easier and more efficient. Its user-friendly interface is better than WinRAR’s, making Zipware suitable for beginners.
It contains bright, colorful buttons with all of the settings you’ll need. The fact that this program is entirely free to download and use, compared to WinRAR, is highly remarkable.
Zipware is compatible with a variety of archive formats, including rar, rar5, and 7zip. It also works with Linux archive formats like tar and gzip.
The program is built to provide consistent and quick performance, allowing you to work with extensive archives efficiently. Thankfully, Zipware is a lightweight program with a file size of only 3.0MB.
Zipware is more secure than Winrar. Unlike WinRAR, which calls for the installation of antivirus software, Zipware can automatically scan for viruses. The highlight element helps you keep your computer healthy and free of viruses.
This app is good news for Windows users since it was created exclusively for this platform. That said, ensure that your PC is runs Windows XP or above.
Comparing this tool with WinRAR, it is certainly worth a try as it includes several helpful security and customization features. Not to mention, it’s ultra-fast and reliable.
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5. Hamster Zip Archiver
For Windows systems, Hamster Zip Archiver is one of the top WinRAR alternatives. Hamster Zip Archiver is a powerful and easy-to-use file compression and archiving application for the Windows operating system.
It contains features like different compression levels, password protection for archived files and folders, and even file splitting for data compression.
To offer the most pleasing results, this robust archiver uses your entire computer’s resources. It uses an updated ‘Very Fast Zip’ algorithm for zipping and archiving files, achieving a good mix of storage space savings and time savings. These are features you won’t find in WinRAR.
The program has a simple design and more user-friendly navigation than WinRAR. Hamster Zip Archiver brings tons of features to improve your compress-decompress experience.
Generally, Hamster Zip Archiver is a useful free tool to download, especially when you don’t want to use your money on WinRAR.
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6. The Unarchiver
The Unarchiver is a proprietary freeware data decompression software that supports more formats than Mac’s built-in archive unpacker program, WinRAR (previously known as “BOMArchiveHelper).
It can also handle filenames with different character encodings produced with operating systems that support such encodings. Mac OS X Lion or later is required for the newest version.
The related command-line programs, Unar, and lsar are free (libre) software licensed under the LGPL and run on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and MacOS.
Unlike WinRAR, the Unarchiver’s ability to support various ancient formats, such as StuffIt, AmigaOS disk images, and LZH / LZX archives, is a crucial feature.
And unlike WinRAR, which only supports Windows, The Unarchiver works with Windows and Mac operating systems, making it more versatile.
Credited in the source code is the use of libxad, an Amiga file format library. Agren also reverse-engineered the proprietary StuffIt and StuffIt X formats, and his code was one of the most thorough open-source implementations of these formats.
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7. Ashampoo Zip
When seeking a WinRAR alternative, Ashampoo Zip should be considered. Compared to WinRAR, this small and powerful compression program can build and extract archives in over 60 distinct formats, including arc, rar, zip, xpi, and many others.
With the multi-core capability for quicker processing, the software is known for its rapid and stable performance that’s better than Winrar’s. Fortunately, the ZIP engine is ideal for both starters and advanced users.
Ashampoo ZIP Free supports the AES 256 bit standard for archive encryption. Individual files in an archive can be password-protected while the rest of the archive is left unprotected, or the entire archive can be password-protected.
For Windows 7 and Windows 8, Ashampoo ZIP Free offers convenient features such as jump lists and progress display on taskbar icons.
The user interface is tile-based, similar to Windows 8, and provides easy access to all vital functions. Files can also be adjusted for customization, just like in Windows 8.
It not only has standard functions like opening and generating archives, but it also can construct self-extracting files. It can fix corrupted archives, which is an incredible feature that WinRAR lacks.
The latest version has cloud browsers that make it simple to transfer files to services like Google Drive, One Drive, and Dropbox. The preview option is yet another fantastic feature provided by Ashampoo Zip.
It lets you preview archive files without having to extract them to your computer, and it only works for the first five files.
Fast speed, 4K display support, and no additional software are further prominent aspects. Generally, Ashampoo Zip is an excellent compression tool compared to WinRAR.
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8. Bandizip
Are you seeking a file compression tool that will help keep your device more secure? Bandizip might be an excellent choice to download, and it’s one of the most fantastic WinRAR replacements.
This tool enables you to scan for viruses before opening, ensuring file safety to save your machine from getting infected. This makes it better than WinRAR, which doesn’t automatically scan for viruses.
Bandizip is a compression, decompression, browsing, and editing archiver all in one package. It also offers extraction for more than 30 formats such as RAR5, RAR, 7Z, and ZIP compared to WinRAR, which only supports a few file formats ZIP, RAR, 7Z, CAB, LZH, ZIPX, ISO, TAR, XZ, BZ2, GZiP, Z, UUE, GZ, 001, ARJ, and JAR files.
This tool compresses archives with multi-volume and passwords. Additionally, with the help of a multi-core, fast compression quickly takes place.
This application is compelling and provides a lightning-quick processing speed. Bandizip is free compared to WinRAR, which is a premium tool.
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9. ExtractNow
ExtractNow can be used instead of WinRAR by experienced Windows users. This is because the program is compatible with Windows 98 and later versions of Windows. You should check your Windows version before downloading it.
The tool is entirely free, and there is no paid version available. It does, however, compress and decompress files and folders quite well.
This application also allows searches across folders for archives. Unlike WinRAR, ExtractNow keeps track of archive directories and extracts them automatically.
This tool excludes a list of files that should not be extracted. It also conducts integration with Windows Explorer via file type associations and context menus.
Lua programming in the software is used to allow for extensive customization. The software gives support for multilingual user interfaces too.
ExtractNow is an excellent pick for learners because of its clean, straightforward, and simple design. This program supports the most common ZIP formats.
You simply need to compress a file is drag and drop the files and let the program handle the rest. Alternatively, you may right-click the file in Explorer and select ExtractNow from the context menu.
This program has a lot of beautiful things to offer. It not only supports a variety of ZIP files but also has several valuable functions.
The program allows you to create an automatic folder in which any extracted files will be saved. Alternatively, you can choose the path manually.
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10. BreeZip
BreeZip is a powerful unarchiver with ultra-fast processing speed. It lets you open, view, browse, and extract archive files.
You can simply create archives using the GUI, which looks like a file explorer, and create password-protected archives.
BreeZip is an excellent alternative to WinRAR if you’re working with popular archive formats. This program supports popular compression formats, including tar, rar, gzip, 7 zip, and zip.
Not only that. BreeZip also works at faster processing speeds than WinRAR.
The app also extracts archive files seamlessly. The tool also manages and unzips compressed files as well. BreeZip comes with plenty of utilities to make compressing and decompressing hassle-free.
In addition to producing and opening archive files, the program has other features such as browsing, viewing, and extracting files.
BreeZip can open RAR formats and convert RAR to ZIP. When you open a BreeZip archive, the contents are displayed. This allows you to select the files and folders you would like to extract.
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Wrapping Up
Finding the right software that aligns with your needs can prove challenging. This is precisely why you need to be careful while downloading any program.
Some of them will bring unpleasant results to your laptop, like installing malware on it. You will not want to have your details lying behind after filling some forms.
The 7-Zip tool has excellent features compared to WinRAR and the other alternatives. One of these is that it allows two-step verification, which is a bonus for your security.
The presence of a Windows Task Scheduler makes it easy to schedule file archives. This helps in the effortless backing up of files to any associated drive!
Compressing files will help save space on your hard disk and make the files easier to transport. Your files will be compressed and saved as a 7-Zip archive using this application.
7-Zip is all you need to swiftly zip/unzip compressed file formats such as 7, ZIP, GZIP, RAR, TAR, and others. It works with Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 operating systems.
The good news is that this program is easy to use whether you are a beginner or an expert!
