With the right file compression software, sharing and archiving files is easy. The ever-growing size of hard drives means the need to reduce file sizes when storing data has been reduced, but SDDs still cost significantly more per gigabyte than traditional spinning hard drives, so compressing files can still be very useful.
Compression is also very helpful when you want to send several files via email and keep them within the attachment size limit, share them via a service like WeTransfer, or send them to a remote cloud server.
That's not all – in addition to reducing file sizes, compression software offers plenty of extra features to take into consideration. Perhaps the best feature of compression tools is the ability to encrypt files and protect them with a password – something you'll find in all the tools we've picked here.
The most commonly used compression format is ZIP, but there are various other available. You never know which type you may encounter when downloading and sharing files, so it makes sense to have a program on hand that can handle more than one type. Here we take a look at a selection of the best tools, taking into account ones that offer the highest compression rates, and those that support the largest number of file types.
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1. Hamster Zip Archiver
A smart looking file archiver that makes advanced compression easy
It might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of file compression software, but Hamster Zip Archiver has a very healthy following thanks to its thoughtfully designed interface, excellent format support, and because it offers all this for free.
What makes this program interesting is its incredible ease of use. Even someone who is unfamiliar with the idea of file compression and decompression should find it easy to achieve the results they want.
Best mac tool for s3. Creating and extracting archives to one of a range of formats is reduced to a simple drag and drop process, and there's cloud support as a handy extra. What this means is that you can, in one quick and easy operation, create a compressed file, upload it to Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive or Yandex Disk and have a shareable link created automatically.
If you're compressing files to share them, this is a brilliant option. If you're not a fan of the drag-and-drop interface, you can use the Windows context menu to take care of everything – the choice is yours.
The only drawback is that Hamster Zip Archiver is only available for Windows. Mac and Linux users, read on..
Download here: Hamster Zip Archiver
2. WinZip
The original file compression tool, and still one of the best
One of the most famous names in the world of software utilities, WinZip is still going strong. Hearing the name feels like something of a blast from the past, and you may be astonished to learn that this venerable file compression software has reached version 21.
At £31.14, US$35.94, AU$47.94 for the standard version, you may wonder if you can justify spending money on a compression tool when there are so many free alternatives available. Ultimately it depends on your priorities, but you do get a lot of extras for your money.
Best mind mapping tool for mac. In addition to support for a wide range of archive formats (including ZIP, ZIPX, RAR (extraction only), 7z, TAR, GZIP, VHD and XZ), WinZip offers integration with a number of programs including Office for easy zipping as you work.
Other bonus features include the splitting of large zip files to fit different media, advanced file sharing options, cloud support and an advanced zip management system that rivals Windows Explorer. The interface adapts to suit mouse and keyboard setups or touchscreen devices, and there are backup and security options thrown in to protect your files.
WinZip is an incredibly useful tool to have in your software arsenal, and it's flexible enough to work in the way that suits you best – you can create and extract via the program interface, or using the program window.
Buy a subscription here: WinZip
3. WinRAR
The only file compression software that can create RAR archives
As famous as WinZip in certain circles, WinRAR created a name for itself thanks to its proprietary RAR format, which offers incredible levels of compression.
Most compression programs can extract RAR archives, but only WinRAR can (officially) create them. This exclusivity comes at a price – £35.90, US$46.54, AU$58.45 to be precise.
Of course, WinRAR can be used to compress files into many other compressed formats, and the program benefits from the fact that it is available for just about every platform imaginable. The interface is not the most pleasant to look at, and even if you opt to use the Explorer context menu to create or extract archives, beginners may well feel overwhelmed by the number of options and settings on display. That said, there is a wizard mode that take the hard work out of most tasks. WinRAR's killer feature is undoubtedly full RAR support, but its encryption, speed, self-extracting archive creation and themes (if you're into that sort of thing!) mean it's well worth taking a look at the trial version to see if this is the compression tool for you.
Buy a subscription here: WinRAR
4. PeaZip
A free file compression tool that works on its own or together with WinRAR
Another free compression program, PeaZip (for Windows and Linux) is simple looking but surprisingly powerful.
In addition to regular compression and decompression options, you can also use PeaZip to convert archives between formats. For the security conscious, this file compression software also offers AES256-based encryption and two-factor authentication, as well as a password manager.
As with the other compression tools in this roundup, you can make use of the main program interface, or fall back in love with the right mouse button and use the context menu.
PeaZip is one compression tool that can, sort of, create – as well as extract – RAR files. If you have WinRAR installed (be it the full version or the trial) PeaZip can make use of the software to gain full RAR support. Although no warning message will be displayed, you're not really supposed to use WinRAR after the end of the trial period, either on its own or through PeaZip.
Review and where to download: PeaZip
5. 7-Zip
A free app with great format support and the ability to compress huge files
The final free option in this roundup, 7-Zip is another program with an excellent reputation. It can handle pretty much any compressed file format you care to throw at it.
A real stalwart of the compression world, 7-Zip boasts its own compressed file format, 7z. This not only lets you compress truly gigantic files (up to 16 billion gigabytes, according to its developers), but also has an incredibly high compression rate. However, this does mean making speed sacrifices; 7z can use 'solid compression' to achieve tiny file sizes, but it can be very, very slow.
7-Zip's interface is far from attractive, and the number of context menu entries the program creates can be a little unnerving. Thankfully, if you venture into Options within the program, you'll find that it's easy enough to get rid of the options you don't need.
The look of this file compression software won't be to everyone's taste, but if you can get past this, you have a rock-steady and reliable utility on your hands.
Review and where to download: 7-Zip
There is a built-in archive utility for Mac that works well. But when you search for an unarchiver for Mac, not easy to find one. There are dedicated Mac unarchive apps to unzip compressed files with nice features. If you are looking for free solutions to unzip or compress files on Mac, there a few good quality apps to accomplish file compression.
We listed the best unarchive apps for Mac that is available for free and paid Mac unzip apps coming with premium features.
Winzip
Winzip can zip or unzip on Mac, and open .7z file on Mac. This Winzip app on Mac support email and share files to Dropbox and Google Drive directly with WinZip on Mac. WinZip for Mac is packed with tools to maximize your productivity and minimize file sizes. You can use Winzip to zip and unzip files instantly on Mac, protect confidential data with strong AES encryption, share directly to Dropbox and Google Drive.
This unarchiver app can back up photos and projects and fit more onto CDs or DVDs using the ‘Zip and Burn’ feature. You can use Mac’s ‘Quick Look’ tool so you can browse the contents of a Zip file before you decide whether to unzip it. WinZip Mac Edition helps you over the hurdle of sharing or receiving compressed folders or archives from PC users. WinZip keeps files completely secure with strong, 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption for password protected files.
Key Features: Password protection with AES-256 | View contents without Extract | Modify Existing Archives | Search within Archives | Selective File Extract | Cloud support to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive
Extract File Formats: RAR | 7Z | BZ2 | LHA | LZH | CAB | ISO | IMG | TAR | GZ | TAZ | TGZ | TZ | Z | Uuencoded | XXencoded | MIME | BinHex | Zipx | Zip
Download From:Website $29.95 | Mac App Store $29.99
Related: 6 Best All In One Security Software for Mac
Entropy
Entropy has been designed specifically for Mac to archive files on Mac. This dedicated Mac unzipper app supports OS X specific technologies like extended file attributes and resource forks, and also directly reads and writes archives.
You can preview RAR files on Mac without extracting the ZIP file and modify existing archives without extracting and re-archiving files. Entropy protects data with industrial strength encryption technology. This app has a built-in password manager and filters out unnecessary files that clutter archives.
Key Features: Password protection with AES-256 | View contents without Extract | Modify Existing Archives | Search within Archives | Selective File Extract
Archive To: 7z, APK, ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, CRAMFS, DEB, DMG, FAT, FLV, GZIP, HFS, ISO, JAR, LZH, LZMA, MSI, NTFS, RAR, RPM, SIT, SQUASHFS, TAR, UDF, VHD, WIM, XAR, XPI, XZ, Z, ZIP, ZIPX, Etc.
Download From:Website $19.00 | Mac App Store
Related: 5 Built-in Mac Security Software you Never Knew in OS X
Better Zip
BetterZip 2 is a powerful archive manager for MAC. If you only need a few files or folders from a larger archive like RAR Mac file or any other compressed file format, you don’t have to extract the whole thing. Mac photos export all. Just drag the files you need from the BetterZip window to any Finder window or the desktop.
BetterZip allows opening archives without extracting. You can just drag files and folders from your hard drives, disks, or network places into a new compressed file. No longer have to copy all the files into a temporary folder first and can split large archives. You can add new or updated files to existing archives or remove any file or folder from an archive, or even move files around inside the archive as if it were a normal folder. BetterZip can protect your data with a password and create WinZip compatible AES-256 encrypted archives.
Key Features: Password protection with AES-256 | Modify Existing Archives | Remove File from Archive | Drag and Drop Archive
Unarchive From: ZIP, SIT, TAR, XAR, XZ, GZIP, BZip2, RAR, 7Zip, CPIO, ARJ, LZH/LHA, JAR, WAR, CAB, ISO, CHM, RPM, DEB, NSIS, BIN, HQX, DMG, EPUB, ZIP To: ZIP, TAR, GZip and BZip2, TAR, XAR, 7-ZIP, RAR | Archive To: ZIP, TAR, GZip and BZip2, TAR, XAR, 7-ZIP, and RAR
Download From:Website $19.95
Archiver
Archiver app makes reducing the file size by compressing files, extracting archives and splitting files on your MAC. With Archiver 2 you can take a sneak peek and preview archives and extract only the files you need with just a drag and a drop.
Archiver 2 can protect sensitive files by packing them in a compressed file, encrypted and password-protected archives by entering the password. With Archiver 2 you can create split archives by selecting a size of each chunk.
Key Features: Password protection | Preview Archive Content | Drag and Drop Archive | Split and combine | Cloud support to Google Drive, OneDrive, DropBox, Box, Yandex. Disk
Unarchive From: 7z, RAR, zip, tar, GZ and bz2 formats | Archive To: 7z, zip, tar, GZ, and bz2 formats.
Download From:Website $19.99 | Mac App Store $19.99
Related: iOS Autofill Passwords: How to Set up on iPhone and Use?
iZip
iZip is a simple to use, the efficient and powerful utility built for Mac with compression and encryption technology. iZip allows you to zip, unzip, secure and share your files. You can save documents directly to a zip file or even drag-and-drop files between archives. iZIp allows browsing photos and videos in Cover Flow mode, viewing a slideshow and also playing videos – all without having to extract anything from the file you sent them.
iZip features up to 256 bit AES zip encryption so you can rest assured unauthorized users will not be able to view any of confidential information. With iZip, you can share your archive in a few clicks using the tight integration with the wonderful, fast and secure files.com file sharing service. Securely send and receive files amongst your friends and colleagues – even those running Windows or Linux.
Key Features: Password protection with AES-256 | Preview Archive Content | Drag and Drop Archive
Unarchive From: ZIP, ZIPX, RAR, TAR, TAR.GZ, and 7ZIP.
Download From:Website
Keka
Keka can compress files with just drag and drop your desired files and folders to Keka in the Dock. You can drop as many as you want at once, and all of them will be archived into one compressed file.
Keka main window lets to choose your desired format to compress like 7z, Zip, Tar, Gzip or Bzip2. If you’re compressing a big file, you can split it into parts just selecting the size you want, in Bytes (B), Megas (MB) or Gigas (GB). With 7z and Zip, you will have the opportunity to create password-encrypted files to protect your privacy better. You can create archives that look clean in non-Mac systems, like Linux or Windows.
Unarchive From: RAR, 7z, Lzma, XZ, Zip, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, ISO, EXE, CAB, PAX | Archive To: 7z, Zip, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, DMG, ISO
Download From:Website $0.00 | Mac App Store $1.99
iPack
iPack is a archives manager integrated with Finder that can compress and decompress files in Finder directly. iPack supports quick preview files without extracting them and can achieve a quick decompression by dragging files to the drop basket. iPack offers full support of password-protected archives, drag and drop archive, multi-volume archives, and allows to search file names inside archives with fancy highlight effect.
Archive To: 7z, zip, jar, rar | Unarchive From: 7z, zip, jar, rar, cab, deb, iso, arj, gz and bz2 archives.
Download From: Website | Mac Apple Store $3.99
Related: 10 Best Video & Photo Editing Software for Mac Professionals
Screenshot Tool For Mac
The Unarchiver
The Unarchiver is a small and easy to use program that can unarchive many different kinds of archive files. Unarchiver app will open common formats such as Zip, RAR (including v5), 7-zip, Tar, Gzip, and Bzip2. It will also open many older formats, such as StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ, and ARC. It will even open other kinds of files, like ISO and BIN disc images, some Windows.EXE installers. The list is much longer – see the program homepage for the full list.
Download from:Mac Apple Store
StuffIt Expander
StuffIt Expander opens files created with WinZip®, 7zX, iShrink, SimplyRAR, Rarify, Rucksack (formerly iArchiver), BetterZip, RarMachine, GUI Tar, CleanArchiver, Springy, TarPit, RAR, Ez7z, Keka, and the compression utilities built into recent versions of Windows and Mac OS X.
Download from: Mac App Store
RAR Extractor Free
RAR Extractor Free is a specialized application program which aims at Rar, Zip, Tar, 7-zip, Gzip, Bzip2 files, and you can use it to extract archive files conveniently, fast and safely. This app can extract files from Rar, Zip, Tar, Gz, Bz2, 7z files, support extracting password-protected archive files and also batch extracting.
Download from: Mac App Store
Apps to Unarchive/Archive Files on Mac
There are a couple of paid Mac unachiver apps in Apple Store those can decompress or compress file even with a password cost between $0.99 and $29.99 depends on the features. Most of these paid Mac Unzip apps are feature-rich and well supported by the developer. There are a couple of paid Mac unachiver apps in Apple Store those can decompress or compress file even with a password cost between $0.99 and $29.99 depends on the features.
Folder Compression Tool
Most of these paid Mac Unzip apps are feature-rich and well supported by the developer. There is no need to unzip the files all the time to see the contents of the compressed files. Most of these apps support Preview Mode and Finder Search that help you to preview the archive file without decompressing. Another advantage of using these apps is most of these app various formats to archive and unarchive files. These apps support 256 bit AES zip encryption for your password zip files.
Free File Compression Mac
There are dedicated Mac apps to archive unarchive files with more features. Even if the Mac has a built-in option to an archive file. These Mac archiver apps are offering premium features such as password protection, drag and drop archive, etc. The unarchiver apps for Mac are available both for free and paid with additional features.