Best Free File Archiver Or Zip Utility

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Introduction

Utilities that compress 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.

Rated Products

7-Zip

A fantastic program fulfills 99% of all your file archiving needs

Our Rating:
5
License: Free (Open source)
Easy to install, gives meaningful error messages, capable of uncompressing from multiple embedded files.
User interface is minimalistic.
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B1 Free Archiver

A freeware compression utility that works on Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and online

Our Rating:
4.5
License: Free (Limited features)
Smooth and intuitive user interface; greatly customizable; across most platforms.
Support fewer formats than other archivers; bundled with unwanted components;
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PeaZip

Support most archive formats from Windows and Unix worlds

Our Rating:
4.5
License: Free (Open source)
Supports many file types, cross-platforms.
n/a
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IZArc

Support most compressed and encoded files, with powerful features and tools

Our Rating:
4
License: Free
Handles nearly 50 different compression formats.
Large file download and memory footprint; the installer is bundled with OpenCandy.
Read full review...

Other File Archivers Or Zip Utilities

  • Bandizip, handle most popular compression formats including Zip, ZipX, 7z and RAR files.
  • HaoZip, build Zip, 7z and Tar compressed files directly, decompress 50 formats, support virtual CD-ROM mounting and extract the disc image, etc.
  • FreeArc, fast but efficient compression, create SFX (self-extracted) archives and installers and many other features, with console and GUI versions for both Windows and Linux.
  • TUGZip, a powerful archiving utility supporting for a wide range of compressed, encoded and disc-image files, create self-extracting encrypted archives, repair corrupted ZIP and SQX archives, etc.
  • Zipeg, decrypts password protected .zip and .rar files, combines and opens multipart .zip and .rar files, shows content of archives and allow you to select what to extract, and more.
  • Bitser, free windows software for managing archives and backups similar to WinZip, 7-zip and WinRAR but with an alternate user interface.

Related Products and Links

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Editor

This software review is copy-edited by Ian Richards. Please help edit and improve this article by clicking here.

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Comments

*Easy 7-Zip*

An improved version of 7-Zip based on the latest 7-Zip version!

[http://www.e7z.org/]

In December 2013 I downloaded & installed IZArc 4.1.8. I did notice the OpenCandy EULA, but was not offered any additional programs and/or toolbars. I cannot find any trace of OpenCandy on my PC - not under Windows XP or Windows 7. A few minutes ago, I again downloaded IZArc 4.1.8 & scanned the setup file with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. OpenCandy is not included - Malwarebytes did detect OpenCandy in the setup file of AXCrypt. I did contact Ivan Zahariev, IZArc's publisher, who has not yet replied. I will share his reply.
In the mean time, the setup file is 5.23 MB, not 160 KB.

I have been reading comments about bundled software in the ZIP products.
I have discovered that when installing these products in Win 8.1 (March2014) that the presence of 'bundle ware' is more insidious than the article indicated. Several products had in excess of 4 of these additions. And there was no choice - just take it or leave it. [7-Zip even insisted on attempting to update all of my drivers!!!] So I have ignored 7_Zip and IZArc that I have used on Win XP for years.
I did finally get 7-Zip in but my virus scanner got in the way - such that I could not set the file associations correctly.
Then I tried "B1 Free Archiver". No problems; no 'bundle ware'. My virus scanner was silent although it will have checked the download. This program does what I want with ease - which is selective recovery of BackUp files from ZIP archives. It also eliminates the way File Explorer in Win 8.1 regards files in a ZIP archive just as more files - which I find irritating as it loses clarity. "B1 Free Archiver" has a helpful approach to configuration.
It is a pity that good, well known utilities, put themselves beyond the pail by forcing unacceptable takeover of part of the users desktop. I would rather pay a small fee to use their software.

I've used 7-Zip for years in XP and W7 and never had any unwanted bundling such as you describe.

I can't imagine it would be that different in W8 but I'm not a user so can't be certain. The only issue I've ever had with setting it as the default archive handler is when running it with limited user access.

Like sicknero, I too have never encountered any bundleware with 7-zip. It's an excellent, clean software. And 7-zip has nothing to do with drivers either. So, if you faced any issues with 7-zip like you describe... either you downloaded a rogue copy of 7-zip, or a fake 7-zip program.
This is not the first time fake copies of this program have been circulating. MC - Site Manager. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/507988/email-attachments-being-... http://sourceforge.net/p/sevenzip/discussion/45797/thread/cae1e240
Ah yes! True. Thanks for the links MC.
Have to say too for general reference that this same situation applies to a lot of the popular programs, or has done in the past. Not so long ago for instance there was a fake VLC app for Windows 8 in the Windows Store. http://www.neowin.net/news/videolan-team-to-get-fake-vlc-windows-8-app-r... Users should always download from the vendor's own website (assuming a green WOT - Web Of Trust rating) or a reputable third party source (not cnet!!) and check the integrity of their download before installing it. MC - Site Manager.

Thanks for all of your comments. I fear that, initially, i decided to locate a source of 7-Zip using Google - i cant remember which site i used for the download. I decided, belatedly, to go to TechSuppAlert. From there i did use the vendor's own site. I have just repeated this to refresh my memory. I downloaded the .msi version (for 64bit). The download was fine. So was the install. However, i still can't get the file associations to be sticky. Perhaps others might like to research both 32 and 64 bit versions on Win 8.1. There might be a bug.
I have also repeated IZArc. I used the vendor's site as recorded on TechSuppAlert. Download ok but the install was halted by my virus scanner. The setup had displayed a window requiring me to also accept a product called SNAP.DO. This is the install that then follows with ever more 'bundle-ware' all of which must be accepted to continue. This was from the vendor's site as per TechSuppAlert. I never got as far as /NOCANDY. (I do not see where to put the NOCANDY switch.
So i accept the comment of only using the vendor's site. But even this might be insufficient. It also shows how important using TechSuppAlert is.
So i'm staying with B1 Free Archiver.

Here at TSA, the editors take care to mention about the bundleware, or any extras in the software, and also link to home sites, but still, it does depend on the user to practice caution while downloading and installing. About the file associations of 7-zip, you need to run the exe of 7-zip as an administrator, once it's installed. Then, under options, set the associations, and press OK. The key thing is to run 7-zip as administrator, if you want the associations to stick. It's not a bug.

I'm new to Win 8 so I'm unsure about some of its security aspects.
So far I only have one User - which is therefore an Administrator a/c. I notice that when I copy/delete some files I get a dialogue which requires me to press 'Administrator'. I do not understand this.
So I was using 7-Zip>Options in administrator as far as I can see. Is there some other setting that I need?
I also have UAC turned off. It was far to voluble. I'm leaving my Virus scanner to prevent inappropriate changes to my PC. AS suggested by MidnightCowboy, I have now turned on HIPS in my Firewall. On my previous PC (under Win XP) I had been advised to turn HIPS off because it consumed too many PC resources.

Windows 8 is not much different from Windows 7. If you are deleting system files, or files from system folders like Program Files, etc, then administrator privileges are required. To run 7-zip as administrator, I meant, right click on the 7-zip program, and then click on "Run as administrator". Please do not turn of UAC. It's an important security feature. The security topic is out of scope of this article and therefore, please post your queries in the forum, which is the proper place for the discussion. http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/security/

Thanks. That worked, so simple. I have never used Win 7. So 7-Zip is now my default for 7-Z and ZIP. B1 Free Archiver for any other compressed formats.

On your advice I have turned UAC back to full, to see its impact. I shall explore it later. I had turned it off when I began setting up Win 8.1 - everything was new then.

The unwanted component options are mostly designed to be confusing in terms of what to opt out of, or opt in to. Installers laced with OpenCandy will also offer different components per machine based on what it sees from it's scan of your installed programs. There's an information page here about how to avoid these things. Hope you find it useful. http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/what-else-have-you-just-download... File associations can be prevented/interfered with depending on how your security settings are configured. This applies to your system security, such as UAC, and/or if you have third party software installed containing a HIPS component. MC - Site Manager. http://www.7-zip.org/faq.html

Thanks for the link to "what have you also downloaded". I shall need to study this carefully and adjust my practices.

I would recommend a look at Haozip.

It supports do many formats and since using it I have never had to use any other similar utility.

Well firstly, peazip just sucks. I mean aside from the fact it is infected with opencandy, there are just too many things that render it a pain in the ass to use, especially if you like downloading a lot of stuff and they're always in archives, which you want to easily right click on and either choose "extract to____" so that you can select multiple different archives to each extract into separate folders for each one, with the same name, in that directory, which takes less than 2 seconds and requires no further input, and also the fact it was a pain in the ass trying to extract multiple archives in general, no matter how I wanted to do it, but especially if I wanted to name the folder myself from the UI. I can't remember what else, but I do remember I hated peazip within the first week of using it and went on to find 7zip, which I find absolutely perfect for what it's supposed to do. Honestly, the "boring" or "old" damn UI shouldn't factor into the rating or whatever, especially considering there are quite a lot of us who LIKE that kind of user interface, especially people with Windowsblinds or at least a classic theme, not to mention the fact people have been building unbelievably HIDEOUS and completely unusable user interfaces for all kinds of good software as of late and completely DESTROYING them and all of their functionality. Regardless, it needs to WORK for everyone. I found 7zip to be the most awesome utility I've ever had, in fact. I really appreciate the work done on it, and they've kept it simple & effective.

Still, any software, no matter how free, that installs crap like adware, babylon toolbar and more nonsense, does NOT deserve to be on a list like this, nor to get anything above a 1-star rating. If they really need to do advertising to get paid for their free software, they should put actual ads in their software. Don't infect our computers and change shit around to screw us over. It's just despicable, infuriating, disgusting and stupid.

Peazip has been updated to version 5.0

It would be helpful if you gave a brief synopsis of why you are recommending it.
If you don't, then some of us, have to go to the site, and rummage around to work out why it is good, and what features are present and lacking.
More likely, you will find that the majority of us, say WTH (What The Heck), and think it is too much trouble, and don't check it out.

Not all people use the software they recommend. Sometimes, they come across it, or it's a new software. So, nothing wrong in suggesting it without saying why it's being suggested. Looking at the program, and testing it out, is the job of the editor, to see if it's good. Of course, it would be an added help if the users do share their experience, because it's not always possible to review a software immediately.
Bandizip has got a 5 star rating at CNET and Softpedia 4.5 stars at SnapFiles and plenty of positive comments at their website
One thing I noticed is that Bandizip tries to install itself in %AppData% folder, and not Program Files which is strange. It doesn't support LZMA and BZip2 compression methods (only Deflate) unlike Haozip, so I'll still keep using Haozip for the time being.

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

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