Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Winzip, 7zip, WinRar - Zip Utilities Review

This seems to be a recurring question with Windows Users. What is the best free zip program/utility?

Having been a Microsoft Windows user since Windows 3.1 here are a couple I use consistently, any of them should solve your needs.

7zip Overview
If you're looking for something that has good compression as well as covering most of the zip formats out there:
Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR
Unpacking only: RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS

I've been using this one off/on for quite awhile and the proprietary compression format it uses, 7z, is one of the best.

Website:
Main Site

WinRAR Overview
WinRAR is another acceptable tool and works fine however something about it has just never really got me. I download the newer versions from time-to-time just to check it out but I just can't seem to get motivated to use it frequently but it is a fine tool. It does cover some of the non-Windows based zip format however which can be nice if you’re not running something like cygwin.
Unpacking only: CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ and TAR.GZ, BZ2 and TAR.BZ2, ACE, UUE, JAR (Java Archive), ISO (ISO9660 - CD image), 7Z, Z (Unix compress)

Website:
Main Site

WinZip Overview
What recommendation of zip/unzip tools would be complete without including the granddaddy of them all, WinZip. The only issue I have with WinZip are the constant nag screens (unless you purchase) and the fact if you're using for commercial purposes without purchasing you're violating the license.

Website:
Main Site

4 comments:

EditorPinoy said...

I have just made a simple test between 7-zip, winrar and winzip. ^_^

Joseph said...

Good job on your review Pinoy.

EditorPinoy said...

Thanks! ^_^

Unknown said...

actually theres a new windows app called "Bitser" that uses 7z but with a much better user interface to the norm.