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Best Free File Archiver-Zip Utility
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Introduction
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Utilities that compresses one or more files into one smaller file have been around since the first personal computers were introduced. These archive or zip file utilities were known by various names such as arc, pkarc and pkzip and they were run from a command line. Considering that most personal computers back then didn't have a hard drive larger than 10 MB (if they even had one at all) and were only connected via modem speeds up to 1200bps, these compression utilities were essential for saving space and shortening upload and download times. Even though today's computers have much more storage space and faster connection speeds, compression utilities are still incredibly useful for saving time and hard disk space. Through their modern graphical interfaces, drag and drop capability, support for multiple compression formats, security features and much more, they are also easier than ever to use. |
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Discussion
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7-Zip supports 7z, zip, gzip, bzip2, tar, arj, cab, chm, cpio, deb, dmg, hfs and much more . It has a strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats and has powerful integration with Windows Shell.Even though it handles fewer archive types than some other programs, it is a fantastic program that will fulfill 99% of all your file archiving needs.
It runs on 32 and 64 bit Windows as well as various Linux distributions. It's open source, portable and a great little program. It is however currently bundled with OpenCandy. PeaZip can extract most of archive formats both from Windows and Unix worlds, ranging from mainstream 7Z, RAR, TAR and ZIP to experimental ones like PAQ/LPAQ family, currently the most powerful compressor available. For archive creation, PeaZip supports a wide range of compression and encryption standard, from fastest to most powerful ones, and allows to export job definition as scripts to bridge the gap between GUI and console applications, and let the user pick the best of the two worlds.PeaZip has secure deletion feature, can verify file checksum and hash, and supports multiple strong encryption standards, optionally using two factor authentication (password and keyfile) for increased security
If you already use WinZip you'll find either 7-Zip or IZArc make excellent companion products. They can read just about all the major archive formats, including the widely used RAR. Note: Despite saying this on their website: "IZArc is 100% virus free and it doesn't contain any spyware or adware.", this program is bundled with OpenCandy (See this article for more information.). If you want to do away with OpenCandy, you have to add a switch, for example C:\IZArcSetup.exe /NOCANDY, when installing the program.
B1 Archiver unpacks ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, as well as its own B1 format. However, with B1 you can create only ZIP and B1 archives. My basic testing showed that compressing into B1 format goes a little bit faster than into other formats and delivers the same or better compression ratio. But you should remember that if you create a B1 archive you will be able to unpack it only with its native utility which is B1 Free Archiver.
B1 Archiver has a handy online version which is the best solution in case you cannot, don't want or are not allowed to download any software to your computer but still have to unpack an archive. The process is really easy - you click the big blue button, choose the file from your computer and then wait few seconds. Unpacked files appear on the website, after than you can download them to your computer.
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Non-English languages are supported. The portable version is available here.
Is multilingual. Can create password-protected archives.
Can encrypt files using Rijandael - AES (256-bits) encryption
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Editor
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This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Victoria Ivonne. Registered members can contact the editor with any comments or questions they might have by clicking here. |
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Tags
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archive file, zip file, unzip file, best free archiver, best free zip tool, zip utility |
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Comments
*Bandizip*
[http://www.bandicam.com/bandizip/]
Just tried to install IZArc 4.1.7 - it now INSISTS on installing a new search toolbar (Babylon) .. it's not possible to continue without installing it .. even with the /NOCANDY command line option.
Did you not read my post ?
It all went to hades after 4.1.6
See my post (right next to yours) and get 4.1.6
I have IZarc 4.1.6 on my PC, and I don't recall having the problems that some of you are experiencing with the latest version.
The old versions web site lists 4.1.6 and also older versions -
http://www.downloadoldversion.com/izarc.html
Also I am thrilled to say that I can use that program to create a Self Extracting EXE, that will 'silently' (no interaction with user) extract it's contents into the same folder that the EXE is in.
To do this you right click a zip file, and choose -
IZarc -> Create Self-Extracting (.EXE) File
I leave all the defaults in the wee dialog untouched, except I tick - 'Create an Autorun SFX'
When later, the user double clicks that EXE it will -
- Silently extract it's contents into the same folder as the EXE.
- It does not create a sub folder
It just does what I told it to do.
HaoZip and jZip are missing. This section needs updating. See also post 94602.
jZip will not be included because their website has a poor WOT (Web Of Trust) rating. MC - Site Manager.
Peazip have clean version, look: http://sourceforge.net/projects/peazip/files/4.8/peazip-plain-4.8.WINDOWS.exe/download
Clean version have "plain" in the installer
If I email files compressed with P zip or 7 zip will users of Winzip be able to unzip them easily?
& if I receive winzipped files will I be able to unzip them?
To do so firstly save the sent file to your hardware. then you can easily extract the zipped file with any of the unzipping tools you have.
I hope this would help!
On web page http://www.izarc.org/download.html there is a download for IZArc advertised as "version 4.1.7 from 20.07.2012".
Downloading results in a file called "IZArcInstall.exe".
I've run "IZArcInstall.exe /nocandy".
Installer offers promotional software "Browser Manager" and "Babylon Toolbar".
I've unchecked permission to download and install this software.
Yet, the installer downloaded and installed this software as well as something called "bProtect".
It also attempted to install other software but the firewall was triggered and I was able to deny access.
At some point, a file called "au_.exe" was downloaded in a temporary folder and the antivirus blocked access to this file.
A task was scheduled for "Browser Manager" using schtasks.exe.
In the end, IZArc was not installed :( but I had to lose some time to remove all of the above.
So, I recommend to avoid installing IZArc.
Sadly I have to confirm IZArc v4.1.7 tries to install unrequested software and for some reason it succeeded installing Incredibar. The first drawback was a crash of Internet Explorer and it took some time to remove all the software from the PC (in the 'Uninstall a program' page was split in several applications). Last problem was version 4.1.7 does not work at all on my Win Vista 64. Very sad indeed as I always considered IZarc my favorite piece of software. Now I don't if I have to reinstall v4.1.6 or it is time to change.
Cool suggestions Aleron
By the way Haozip 3.0 has been released. Its my first preference over 7zip. :-)
I have few free file archievers to offer you for a test:
1. HaoZip: HaoZip is a great freeware alternative to commercial archiver WinRAR. It's interface and feature-set are very much similar to WinRAR. One will find it very easy to move from WinRAR to HaoZip. Like WinRAR it has a powerful self extracting archive creator. HaoZip also comes with some handy tools like image viewer, image converter, md5 checksum calculator, batch renamer etc.
http://www.haozip.com/Eng/index_en.htm
2. TUGzip: TUGZip is a powerful award-winning freeware archiving utility for Windows® that provides support for a wide range of compressed, encoded and disc-image files, as well as very powerful features; all through an easy to use application interface and Windows Explorer integration.
http://www.tugzip.com/Home.html
3. FreeArc: FreeArc is a modern general-purpose archiver. Main advantage of FreeArc is fast but efficient compression and rich set of features.
FreeArc works 2–5 times faster than best other compression programs.
http://freearc.org/
4. Bitser: Bitser is free windows software for managing archives and backups similar to Winzip, 7-zip and Winrar but with an alternate user interface. Bitser's interface is built around the file system with explorer style views and features similar to those found in backup applications. All underlying archiving functions are performed using the open source 7-zip compression software and therefore all major archiving formats are supported. Bitser also provides a password manager and a MD5/SHA checksum calculator to verify file identity.
http://www.bitser.org/
5. Zipeg: Zipeg is a universal free file opener for .zip and .rar files. With just a click you can open a file and see what is inside. Find exactly what you are looking for and extract it. Zipeg is for everyone!
http://www.zipeg.com/
6. Bandizip: Bandizip is 100% free Archiver for home and office.
It handles the most popular compression formats, including Zip, ZipX, 7z, and RAR files for free!.
http://www.bandicam.com/bandizip/
I hope you will test some of these apps.
Best regards
I certainly can not speak for anyone but myself... however freearc has a beautiful website, comparing differing compression algorithms also varying dictionary sizes. Source code is free also (for those who wish to tinker or just learn). This is my new default compressor replacing 7zip... also note a command line version is included for those who write batch files.... Ty for the info !!!
I notice in the screenshots for freearc, there is a context menu option to add to (create) an EXE
Is that creating a self extracting EXE ?
I have been praying and begging for a simple way to do that for years.
BUT now to the possible deal breaker(s) -
When I double click the EXE, I want it to extract the contents into the folder that the EXE is in.
I don't want it asking "am I sure"
I don't want it asking me where to put the extracted files
I don't want it creating a folder out of thin air, and placing the extracted files into there, because that means I have to move the files out of that sub folder and back into the folder where the EXE was. And I have to delete the useless folder that it decided to create out of nowhere.
Rob
PS I actually purchased the most well known zipping program, because it now can create self extracting EXE's
I tried it once and gave up, as it does some of what I described above.
New version is released this program rocks...more and more functionality. I have not compared stats with new version of 7zip however.
Thanks for the suggestions.
At this time, the category does not have any editor. So, these suggestions will be taken up only when a new editor takes over this category.
Does anyone know of a program that would allow me to double click a zip file, and it will extract the contents into the same folder that the zip was in ?
Say I had a folder called -
C:\Temp
and I had placed a zip file in there.
That zip file contained NO folders, just a .txt file and a .exe file.
After double clicking the zip file, I would end up with three files in C:\Temp
.zip
.txt
.exe
There would have been NO sub folder created out of thin air.
I know that 7Zip can do that with a right click, and an 'Extract here' click.
I would like to avoid even that, and just double click the zip file.
This was highlighted on dottech recently, FastUnzip Snack. Haven't tried it as yet myself, may well be what you're looking for. Link is....
http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=30797.msg286530#msg286530
Thanks,
You might see a few posts from me there.
From Locutus' description, it sounds like it creates a sub folder (using the name of the zip file, as a folder name), and places the contents into the sub folder.
This then means I have to move the contents back up to the parent (original folder where I first placed the zip file), and delete the sub folder.
I have also written on the author's thread at Donation Coder, and I am still not 100% sure whether it creates that useless sub folder.
Can anyone help me as I forgot the password of .CAB File ??? How i can Recover it.
thanks
This category currently has no editor and we are unable to provide individual support in the comments sections. Please post your query in our forum.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/general-computer-support/
Having now abandoned Winzip, I'd really like to use 7-zip for my main backup/archiver, but I can't seem to figure out how to use it to backup only files with the archive bit set (and then clear the bit).
All I seem to find on the web for doing this involves 3rd party programs, etc. I would have thought that this basic operation would be possible with 7-zip stand-alone. Anyone have any clues?
Thanks.
Here's a new software for you to review Haozip. Very promising
Indeed. According to FreewareGenius HaoZip should at least be in the top 3 (instead of IZArc I presume)
(cf. freewaregenius.com/2012/03/05/the-best-free-compression-zip-program-a-comparison)
btw, there's a typo: "Rijandael" should read "Rijndael"
Try also Bandizip: http://www.bandicam.com/bandizip/
I started to use this and first positive thing in this archiever is high speed of compression and decompression of files.
7-zip is great except for two things:
1. On my Acer Travelmate 6293 with Win7 Pro, it refuses to register the filetypes it manages. So, I would have to register each one individually. No thank you.
2. The context menus are bonehead. If you right-click on a zip, 7-zip still shows the option to "Add to Zip".
After looking through the comments here, I tried Haozip and it rocks!
The icons look good, the context menu is smart and configurable and it supports the file types I need. That's all that matters to me in a file archiver.
Yay for Haozip :)
well, the regular or standard edition of 7 zip do have problems while registering file types.i would suggest you to use the beta edition. it works well and also registers itself as default archive handler :) without any trouble.
it also has the feature to manually change read/write settings for individual user.
7-zip doesn't register file associations properly in Windows 7, I suspect because the installer does not have the correct user access. To fix the problem, run the 7-zip File Manager as Administrator, then go to Tools -> Options and associate 7-zip will all the available file extensions.
I found Kuaizip recently. For those wanting to take a look: http://www.kuaizip.com/en/index.html