Archivers

logo WinRAR WinRAR
logo WinZip WinZip
logo Universal Extractor Universal Extractor
logo Bandizip Bandizip
logo HaoZip HaoZip
logo Hamster Free Zip Archiver Hamster Free Zip Archiver
logo PowerArchiver PowerArchiver
logo PeaZip PeaZip

An archiver is a must-have program on every computer. Almost always in the Windows boot folder, along with the main programs, there is also a standard archiver.

Such resources are mainly used to reduce the size of the information on the media. This is necessary in such cases as:

  • There is not enough space on the hard drive for the normal functioning of the device, as well as for downloading new information to it.
  • When it is necessary to transfer a large amount of data to removable media.
  • To open a folder of a downloaded application that has an archive extension.
  • To upload a large file or folder to cloud storage for your own or shared access.

This explains the need to have an archiver on your device.

A big advantage of such an application is the ability to archive a file of almost any extension. Therefore, you can compress movies, music or any other information for downloading or storing.

In addition to data size compression, archivers have a number of other features that are often necessary in the work with your computer.

  1. With any archive file, you can do things like add or delete a file from a compressed folder, restore data through archiving, create an archive that unzips without the user's help.
  2. Sometimes a password-protected file is created. This is necessary if it is in the public domain for downloading, but contains a paid program or content for restricted access.
  3. In addition, files from the archive are much easier to restore in case of a device failure.

An archiver is a program that will help make the information on your drive more compact and also protect your data from unauthorized access.

All Archivers in rating

WinRAR is a program designed to create and unpack archives. Created archives are packed in RAR and ZIP formats (user's choice), but you can extract files from other formats as well: CAB, TAR, ACE, UUE, GZ, etc. Reduces the size of files not much, but makes them easy to store and send.

Pros

    • Menu access via Windows Explorer
    • Highest backup rate
    • Fast unpacking and packing
    • AES encryption

Cons

    • Archiving is provided only in two extensions RAR and ZIP

Modern programs - archivers are actively used when justifying files by e-mail, they significantly reduce the file size and quickly create a thematic archived folder. The special utility 7-Zip can not only significantly reduce the size of the document, but also includes other useful functions when working.

Pros

    • The archiver is completely free and has open source code
    • Any files can be added to the archive by simple dragging and dropping them into the archiver window
    • No ads

Cons

    • Commands for working with archives in the context menu are not visible, they are hidden in a separate directory

To increase the productivity and speed of work with documents in different formats, various special programs are used to compress files in different formats. One of the most popular utilities is WinZip , which adapts to Windows Explorer. When installing the utility, the universal installer detects the bit mode of the user's operating system and installs the appropriate archiver.

Pros

    • High productivity
    • Fast unpacking
    • Has its own zipx format
    • Optimized for multicore systems
    • Automated backups
    • Simple intuitive interface
    • ZIP version supports 64-bit encryption

Cons

    • Not compatible with ISO, JAR files

Universal Extractor is a free tool for unpacking and extracting files from many of the most popular archive types and installers. With it we can extract the contents of compressed files in the following formats: 7Z, RAR, ZIP, ACE, LZMA, GZIP, TAR and many other less known ones.

Pros

    • Small size and simple interface
    • Context menu integration
    • Drag and drop functionality
    • EXE files can be recognized

Cons

    • The toolkit is relatively limited

Bandizip is a free file archiver. The application offers a set of features that allow you to easily read and pack data using the most popular compression algorithms. It is small in size and easy to use.

Pros

    • The program is distributed free of charge
    • Support for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10
    • Supports x86 and x64 processor architectures
    • AES-256 encryption algorithm support
    • Wide range of user-created archive formats
    • Support for files larger than 4 GB
    • Context menu functions
    • Ability to change the color design

Cons

    • Some options are available for use only with ZIP archives

HaoZip, as the name suggests, is a file compression application. It is a free "Made in China" product created by Chinese developers. Although, of course, there is an interface in Chinese (traditional or simplified) to choose from, the vast majority of non-Chinese users definitely choose the English translation.

Pros

    • Easy-to-use interface and customizable skins
    • Creating multivolume archives
    • Password protection of the archives
    • Ability to restore damaged archives
    • Support of multi-threading, allowing you to work with files at high speed
    • Drag and drop support and integration with Windows context menu
    • Preview of images
    • Ability to calculate the checksum of the file

Hamster Free Zip Archiver works with ZIP, WinZIP, 7zip and WinRAR archive formats. Most people use it instead of others because of its powerful archiving algorithm. This power helps reduce the time it takes to create archives by more than half.

Pros

    • Extremely clear interface with the ability to change the design theme
    • Convenient "mini" mode (a small window)
    • Creation of ZIP-archives
    • Support of multi-core processors
    • File splitting into parts
    • Setting a password on the archive
    • Setting the compression ratio (optimal, maximum, minimum)
    • Adding, dividing archives

Cons

    • Creates only Zip (and 7z) archives

PowerArchiver is a popular file compression program that supports the following formats: TAR, TAR.GZ, CAB,L ARJ, BH, ARC, ZOO, ACE, BZIP2, TAR.BZ2, RAR, HA (LZH), ZIP, GZ.

Pros

    • Creating, unpacking and modifying archives
    • Support for more than 60 archive formats
    • Archive combining and converting
    • Support for exclusive PA compression format
    • Multi-core fast compression and decompression
    • Robust encryption algorithms
    • Media and text preview
    • Customizable interface with skins

PeaZip is free file compression and archiving software for Microsoft Windows. It is a popular file compression utility that offers options and features found in paid programs. PeaZip supports a wide range of compressed formats. It also supports ISO and UDF images. In addition, you can also open Mac HS DMG and Linux package file formats, including SLP, RPM and DEB.

Pros

    • Can create archives in: ZIP, 7Z, PEA, UPX, 7Z-sfx, BZ2/TBZ2, etc.
    • Opens: ARJ, ACE CAB, CHM, NSIS, Open Office files, RAR, U3P, Z/TZ, WIM, SMZIP, Open Office files and others
    • Supports internal file search
    • Creates bookmarks and always find necessary data quickly
    • Encrypt with AES 256 algorithm
    • Deletes files securely without possibility of recovery
    • Generates and sets passwords

Cons

    • Stability problems in some versions
    • Does not support RAR creation

IZArc is an archiving program that allows you to unpack and create archives in many different formats ( ACE, JAR, RPM, BZA, ENC, A, ZOO, MDF, CDI, IMG, CPIO, GZA, ISO, 7-ZIP, BZ2, ARC, CAB, TBZ, BIN, PDI, TAZ, WAR). It has many advanced features, including recovery of damaged archives, searching for files inside archives, password protection of archive contents, integration with anti-virus software and automatic sending files via e-mail. The program interface is similar to that known from Windows Explorer (with which IZArc can be integrated).

Pros

    • You can download Izarc for free
    • Converts self-extracting archives into normal archives
    • Supports Cyrillic characters in RAR archives
    • Interacts with file explorer
    • User-friendly interface
    • Encrypts via AES 256-bit key
    • Automatic anti-virus scanning is possible

7z is a simple and lightweight archiver based on open-source code. In addition to advanced compression algorithms, the program allows you to check the integrity of files, protect archives with a password using ZipCrypto or AES-256 encryption.

Pros

    • free to use without advertising
    • user-friendly interface, embeds commands in the context menu of the operating system
    • contains open source code

Cons

    • no options to check the archives and restore them
    • runs faster than WinRAR due to more complex algorithms
    • takes very little space on your hard drive