Software category
Archivers for ZIP, 7Z, RAR, and TAR files on Windows and Mac
12 programs reviewed · Updated August 9, 2026
Compression tools do two jobs: they shrink files so they take up less space, and they bundle many files into a single archive that is easier to move or email. Windows and macOS both open ZIP archives on their own, so the reason to install a dedicated archiver is almost always something else — RAR support, stronger encryption, split archives, or a faster multi-core compressor.
The format matters more than the app. ZIP is the universal choice when the person on the other end may be using anything. 7Z usually produces the smallest result and supports AES-256 encryption, but the recipient needs a 7Z-capable tool. RAR is a proprietary format: many tools can extract it, and only WinRAR and RARLAB tools can create it.
This hub covers the archivers we document in detail, the trade-offs between them, and the step-by-step guides that solve the specific problems people actually search for — opening a 7Z file on Windows 11, extracting RAR on a Mac, or splitting an archive that is too large to upload.
Directory
Free, open-source file archiver with the 7Z format, strong AES-256 encryption, and a fast multi-core compressor.
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Commercial Windows archiver and the only mainstream tool that can create RAR archives, with recovery records and solid archive repair.
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Open-source archiver with a modern interface, archive conversion, secure delete, and support for more than 200 formats.
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Fast Windows archiver with a clean interface, high-speed extraction, and a free edition alongside paid tiers.
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Open-source macOS archiver that creates 7Z, ZIP, and TAR archives and extracts RAR, with native Apple silicon support.
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Free macOS extraction utility that opens RAR, 7Z, and dozens of legacy formats, with strong handling of non-Latin file names.
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Long-running commercial archiver with cloud backup integrations, PDF tools, and a subscription model aimed at mainstream users.
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Free, open-source archiver built on 7-Zip's engine with a modern Windows 11 interface, Mica material, and Microsoft Store distribution.
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Free cross-platform archiver with its own .b1 format, cloud storage browsing, and a simple interface aimed at casual users.
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Lightweight, free Windows archiver with a minimal interface, wide-format extraction, and a small installer footprint.
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Commercial Windows archiver aimed at business users, with cloud backup, encryption compliance features, and PDF creation tools.
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Free, veteran Windows archiver supporting a wide range of formats with a classic, straightforward interface and no subscription.
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No. Windows 10, Windows 11, and macOS all extract ZIP archives from the file manager. You need a third-party archiver for formats such as 7Z and RAR, or for features like AES-256 encryption and split archives.
For most mixed file sets, 7Z with LZMA2 produces smaller archives than ZIP, and RAR sits between the two. Already-compressed data such as JPEG, MP4, or MP3 barely shrinks in any format.
Extracting an archive is generally safe, but the files inside are not. Treat executables, installers, and macro-enabled documents from archives you did not expect as untrusted, and scan them before opening.