Utility • Updated on July 27, 2020
Winzip can zip or unzip on Mac, and open.7z file on Mac. This Winzip app on Mac support.
- Zip (Windows): 7zip remains one of the most prominent compression tools which stepped on a.
- Commander One is an archiver Mac software that can compress or extract files. This file manager is the best choice if you searching for something like 7zip Mac utility, how to unzip files Mac, how to open RAR files on Mac, extract or open ZIP files on MacBook.
- B1 Free Archiver for Mac OS. B1 Free Archiver for Mac is a software for creating archive folder and extracting archive file on Mac. It is extremely simple to operate. There is no need for you to consult comprehensive manuals or guides. You can extract compressed archive files, as well as view the content without extracting them to a new folder.
Editor’s note (July 27, 2020): Recently Betterzip turns 5. The big upgrade we have tested, and we are confident it’s still our top pick!
Wait. What? Archiving files? Easy peasy, right? Compressing / decompressing files and folders is a time honored routine for us.
And archive utilities are so common and widely used that every OS has something built-in.
The case is no different for macOS either. You can find an Archive Utility on every Mac that is shipped.
But the question is, is it enough?
Jump to…
Is the native Archive utility on macOS enough?
I mean, if you are someone who sends an email once a month with a few attachments, it would be. However, there are times when you have to really compress files, you know. You want to squeeze it so tight that you want to save as much space as possible. This is where the issue begins.
We are not saying that the native Archive Utility is bad. It’s just not enough for people who need a bit more control over the compression process. While Archive Utility integrates so well with macOS, it does not offer any kind of control.
You can’t even change the format of the archive. By default, it becomes an Archive.zip file. And, what’s more, you can’t even think of changing the compression ratios. As we said earlier, sometimes, you need a tougher compression even if it takes time.
Now, these are just some reasons why you need third-party macOS apps for archiving and unarchiving files.
Choosing the best archive/unarchive app for Mac
Hands down, we all need control over the compression process. But, it does not mean compromising every other value-adding thing. So, we used a simple yet effective framework to pick the best Mac apps to archive and unarchive files.
- We needed the file archive app to have an Intuitive User Interface. This means the user can use the tool without being a coder or anything.
- The archiver/unarchiver app should offer Different Levels of Compressiontechniques and formats. It’s a great feature while choosing between time and performance.
- Integration with macOS is also essential. We want to have quick-access actions in Finder and in the Services menu — so that archiving/unarchiving wouldn’t require us to open the app.
- Additional Features like compression testing, presets, and integration with other apps also add value to the overall user experience.
- The best archiver/unarchiver app for macOS should also support Different Levels of Encryption. We also appreciate an option to password-protect compressed files with ease.
- The archive utility should support Various File Types. It should be able to read not just those standard files like ZIP and RAR, but also unique ones like TAR and 7zip.
With these ideas in our mind, we have chosen some of the best Mac apps you can count on. Don’t worry — we have included both free and paid options from the market.
Disclosure: We sometimes use affiliate links which means that, at zero cost to you, we may earn a commission if you buy something through our links.
The pick — BetterZip 5
Free Archiver Mac
We think BetterZip 5 is the synonym for a powerful archive utility for Mac. It packs many features that you wish the in-built Archive Utility on Mac had. It also checks all the central boxes when it comes to integration, features, security, and more. However, there is more to BetterZip 5 than simple archiving and unarchiving. These additional features are one of the reasons why BetterZip 5 topped our list.
Compared to the native utility on Mac, you get a variety of features and advanced compatibility. These are some of the reasons why a lot of people go for BetterZip. With the latest version, the developers have brought an even better integration and other elements into the package.
What Makes BetterZip 5 Great?
Let’s have a look at some features that make BetterZip 5 the best archiving tool for Mac.
Intuitive UI
Unlike the macOS Archive Utility, BetterZip 5 comes with a fully-fledged interface. When combined with system-wide integration, you can archive/unarchive files through different methods. You can drag and drop to-be-compressed files into the interface. In a single click, BetterZip 5 would compress the data and save the archive file. This interface is excellent if you want to create a ZIP file by bringing files from different locations. It is also easier to manage when you have to create subfolders, arrange related data, etc.
Advanced Compatibility
According to the developers, BetterZip 5 can open and archive more than 30 types of archive files. Some of the additional features may vary, but the basic tasks work fine. We don’t want to put the full list here. Though it’s not a dedicated tool, you can use BetterZip 5 for opening and editing ePub files as well. You can get a peek into the ePub file and make smaller edits.
Encryption Option
As we said, BetterZip 5 offers complete support for enterprise-level encryption. If you want to email a file or upload it to cloud services, you should consider encrypting the data using BetterZip 5. It uses the best level of encryption — AES 256. To make the processes useful and intuitive, the developers have also added a built-in password generator and manager.
BetterZip is so intelligent that it can suggest strong passwords as you create an encrypted document. It will also save these passwords and apply them when you open that file again.
Presets
Presets are perhaps the best thing you would find in BetterZip 5 while managing multiple archived files. You can set up different sets of actions to happen when you open a ZIP file. If you choose the particular preset while opening, the actions would go according to the command. And, BetterZip 5 Presets also work with the other automation/productivity apps out there.
Integration & Productivity
As you may have noticed earlier, BetterZip 5 integrates very well with the macOS system. You can access quick archive/unarchive commands from the BetterZip submenu from the contextual menu. Besides, BetterZip 5 lets you place your presets on the Finder window. This means you can do the compression in a single click — without even opening the actual software. BetterZip 5 also works fine with other productivity apps like Alfred, LaunchBar, DropZone, and Hazel.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Performance-friendly User Interface
- Well-integrated with macOS
- Plenty of Customization, Control, and Features
- Third-party integration options
Cons
- The UI could be simpler
- Lacks cloud-based sync features
Availability & pricing
BetterZip 5 is available for macOS devices only. It works fine with almost all the Macs out there, and it works fine on macOS Catalina as well.
BetterZip 5 costs $24.95 for the full version, but you can always download the free variant.
What’s more, it’s also available on Setapp.
The verdict
We’d stick to what we said in the beginning: BetterZip 5 is the best Mac app to archive and unarchive files! It blends some of the best features and an intuitive UI, providing the best experience. In a showdown, the reasons to recommend BetterZip 5 outweigh the reasons not to.
So, on any day, BetterZip 5 will be a better alternative to the native Archive Utility.
Also great — WinZip for Mac
If you recently shifted from Windows to macOS, you’d have heard of WinZip. Before OSs started including their utility software, WinZip was the best way to create and extract archived files. As it turns out, WinZip for Mac is an excellent app for archiving and unarchiving files too. Let’s have a quick look.
Just like we saw in the case of BetterZip 5, it’s incredibly easy to set up and start using WinZip for Mac. The whole installation process takes just a few seconds. One problem is that we could not find the quick access entries in the Services menu. It means that you have to open WinZip for Mac every time you have to archive files. You can, however, open archived files using the Open With menu.
Good Archiver For Mac Windows 7
To unarchive files, you can open the file using WinZip for Mac or drag the file into the interface. There are a few advantages: the software automatically unzips the file and shows you a preview. So, you can know which file you are saving even before you do. Once you finish previewing the file, you can simply extract the files. Or, if you are trying to make a new archive, hit Save to proceed.
On a related note, however, we loved the User Interface. It’s great for moving files between the archive and different directories on your Mac.
What Makes WinZip 5 Great?
WinZip for Mac does not have as many customization options as we’ve seen in BetterZip. Still, it’s somewhat good to go.
Format support
WinZip for Mac supports only three major compression formats when it comes to archiving. You can choose between ZIP, ZIPX and LHA, depending on the intensity of compression you need. You can also pick one from 128-bit and 256-bit Encryption tech. Unlike BetterZip, however, WinZip for Mac does not have any advanced options while archiving. You can, however, use the app to open a wide variety of archived files.
Direct cloud upload
An impressive feature we found in WinZip for Mac was the ability to upload compressed files directly to the cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and ZIPShare. You have to connect the accounts once, and everything else goes like clockwork. Another advantage with WinZip for Mac is that the files you archive here would work seamlessly on PC as well.
Additional tools
We also spotted a few additional tools inside the WinZip for Mac interface. For instance, you can watermark, encrypt and resize files from the main interface itself. These are quite handy when you want to email a ZIP file or do something else for the web. Unlike other tools we’ve seen, WinZip for Mac also lets you pick from multiple viewing options.
The compatibility factor
This is one of the areas where WinZip for Mac has to improve drastically. While the application can extract almost all types of archived files, it doesn’t offer many choices when it comes to archiving. You’re restricted to just three models. That is, even if you need a relatively higher form of compression, there is nothing to do about it in WinZip for Mac.
Integration
We also think the Integration part of WinZip for Mac could be better. Of course, you can open files using the app but creating an archive must have a simple alternative option. It’s the lack of integration that actually removes some of the crucial features from the package, we think. During the review, we found no support for third-party productivity apps either.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Simple UI
- Archives work well with Windows PCs
- Useful features are built-in
Cons
- Not that Compatible
- Integration could be better
- Lacks customizability
Availability & pricing
WinZip is available for macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows. You can choose as per your needs and enjoy the same UI everywhere.
WinZip for Mac costs $35.34, but there is an evaluation version that you can try for an extended period.
Verdict
As we said, WinZip for Mac is also great, but it’d never be a replacement for our top pick. You should go for WinZip if you need a tool that you are familiar with. There are obviously some downsides such as the lack of customization, but it’s still a worthy consideration.
Other paid options
Obviously, BetterZip and WinZip are not the only archive/unarchive tools for macOS. If you are ready to pay, you can consider some of the following options too.
Archiver 3
Are you looking for an inexpensive, easy to use archiver app for macOS? Then, you should definitely consider something like Archiver 3. Despite the small footprint, Archiver 3 is quite powerful. For instance, you will be able to archive files into 8 different formats, including RAR that requires a third-party tool.
In addition to powerful compression, Archiver 3 also offers the options for encrypting your archive. If you’ve selected all these, however, everything else is simple enough. Compared to other tools in the market, it has a super-fast compression process. Also, it lets you export or locate the archived file once it has been saved.
The only limitation here is that you don’t have Services support. Every time you need to create an archive, you will have to open the tool, which is a kind of a bummer. On the bright side, however, Archiver 3 offers a bunch of options like Archive Preview, Split & Combine etc. You would also love the snappy UI of Archiver 3, which makes things rather interesting.
Archiver 3 costs $19.99 but it’s available on Setapp as well.
StuffIt Deluxe Mac 16
StuffIt Deluxe Mac 16 is another great option if you are looking for a paid archiver tool for Mac. It’s actually a package that consists of Stuffit Archive Manager, Stuffit Destinations and Stuffit Magic Menu. Designed for a corporate environment, there are some super-useful features as well.
Stuffit Archive Manager would help you create and extract ZIP, RAR, TAR and Stuffit X archives. In addition to this, this archive management software provides ample control over the process as well. At the very same time, Stuffit Destinations is automating the whole process.
By creating certain destinations, you can compress, set up and send compressed files in a single click. It even shows you notifications when the action has been completed. Apart from these, StuffIt Deluxe Mac 16 also offers tight integration with cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive. So, you can ensure that the compressed file reaches the right place.
StuffIt Deluxe Mac 16 is available for macOS and costs $19.95.
Free Mac app options
This may be something you all have been waiting for. You don’t necessarily have to pay something in order to get an archive manager for Mac. And, here are some of the best free tools you can try.
The Unarchiver
Are you fine with a tool that lets you unarchive files? Then, you should consider The Unarchiver. This tool is now being owned by MacPaw, a developer behind several awesome software solutions. One thing to be noted here is that you cannot archive files using this tool. For that, you need something else. If you can live with that limitation, The Unarchiver is a great choice.
On the bright side, The Unarchiver has a really simple interface. You can get started with the tool in no time, thanks to the easy installation process. On any day, The Unarchiver will be more powerful than the native Archive Utility app. On top of this, there is unparalleled compatibility as well. As it happens, The Unarchiver does a better job than paid software when it comes to extracting certain file types.
The Unarchiver is available for macOS and is completely free to use.
Keka
Keka is what I call the ultimate free app for archive management. It offers an amazing level of compatibility, features and performance than some of the so-called paid apps. Most importantly, Keka integrates quite well into the macOS system. You can access the actions from the Services menu and make the preferences by launching the app.
Keka will be able to archive content to 9 types of archive files and extract content from 20+ formats. It simply means that you won’t need another archiving tool if you have Keka. But, that is only if you are fine with the basic life. It seriously lacks some advanced features like filtering or pre-sets. On the other hand, if you just need clean compression, you should go for Keka.
Keka is available for macOS and is completely free to use.
iZip
In the simplest terms, iZip is an old-school Mac app for archiving and unarchiving files. It comes with one of the oldest UIs we have seen and offers a wizard-like process for creating the compression. Despite the huge nature of it, the program does not offer any scope for customization either. Even then, we would suggest it if you are going for something basic.
Despite the wizard, iZip doesn’t seem to have unnecessary steps. In each step, you can add the files, decide whether you need encryption and a few other questions. At the end of the day, you will have the standard ZIP file in the preferred location. And, that we think matters the most in this process. In addition, iZip does not take up much space either.
iZip is completely free to use and is available for macOS.
Archiving and unarchiving files with ease
Archiver Software
We have tried to present before you a diverse collection of Mac apps to archive and unarchive files. The idea was to provide you with enough choice that you can make the right decision.
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.
Also note that due to sandboxing requirements with the Mac App Store, some Unarchiver apps require authorization the first time you extract an archive. If that step bothers you, you can download a non-Mac App Store (and, thus, non-sandboxed) version of the app or get third-party pro-level apps we tested above. Google calendar download for mac.
If you are ready to pay for cool features and productivity, you should go for BetterZip. On the other hand, if you are okay with some limited features, you have some free apps to choose from as well. We hope this article helps you choose the best.
No matter how powerful your computer is and how much room there is on your hard drive, be sure you still need an archiver. Because as soon as you open your email and decide to send a batch of files you’ll realize that sending them as they are will require you to attach every file one by one. After that you will have no choice but to resort to using an archiver. Compressed files are easier to share, irrespective of the sharing medium.
So here it is once again. No matter how rich you are and how often you light a cigar with a banknote, it is still a sheer waste of money to pay for commercial archivers if there are plenty of free tools on the market which will do the job for you. So in the name of sanity and good sense, I’ve come up with an overview of top 10 free archivers with all their pros and cons.
1. 7-Zip (Windows)
7zip remains one of the most prominent compression tools which stepped on a thorny path of being a free compression software for everyone. 7zip supports most popular formats (like ZIP, 7z, RAR, GZIP, TAR) and has proved itself to to be fast and effective. With the help of this tool you can create self-extracting archives – just pack files and you are free to send them even to someone who doesn’t have any compression software installed on his computer. Such an archive unpacks automatically as soon as you click it.
Geeky lads will appreciate plugins for Total Commander and FAR Manager. However, 7zip has one very noticeable drawback – its interface looks like some crazy programmer’s paradise. So if you really don’t want nothing more from software but just a 1-minute interaction from time to time – prepare to fight.
2. B1 Free Archiver (Windows, Linux, Mac and Android)
B1 Free Archiver is a relatively new piece on a great checkerboard of free archivers but continues to make its way towards checkmate, especially with its Android version. B1 pleases us with its online archiver which quickly unpacks your files and automatically deletes them in an hour in case you forget to do it yourself. It works with the most popular formats as well as with its own B1 format.
Zip Archiver Mac
Unlike its preceding colleague, it has an exceptionally friendly user interface and is very handy – most actions are performed in 2-3 clicks. B1 has localizations for most popular languages. Its high speed is achieved due to “Smart” compression mode which chooses the best method of compression for each piece of data depending on its type. The “cons” part is that B1 can create archives only in ZIP and B1 formats, which is enough for most users though.
3. BandiZIP (Windows, Mac OS)
BandiZIP is quite popular among free software admirers and unlike most other compression utilities it offers a nice portable version of its archiver. This means you can carry BandiZIP along on any portable device and use it on any computer without prior installation. BandiZIP unpacks around 30 file formats.
Following the pace of 7zip its Settings window is stuffed with checkboxes and tabs which offer you lots of choice, which may seem that it’s making you think too much. However if you are the one who knows exactly what he wants from software you will appreciate BandiZIP benevolent intentions towards better customization. For example, users can manually choose to use multi-core processor function to increase compression speed on their own. They can choose practically everything if they are familiar with terminology.
4. FreeArc (Windows and Linux)
FreeArc is an open source project distributed under GNU General Public License. FreeArc doesn’t yield to none of its competitors in speed or efficiency. Software authors proudly talk of their smart file sorting technology which they call a key success of FreeArc’s high speed. It can test archives before and after any operation which saves your time significantly.
The program can also choose files by their size, time of creation, name and attributes. So practically FreeArc could be almost perfect. Unfortunately the archiver’s market is too real to be a fairy tale. FreeArc’s weakness lies within its really poor design and interface in general.
5. HaoZip (Windows)
HaoZip archiver never gets tired of telling everyone about its enormous popularity in China. So now it’s kind of expanding its market. Whether it’s true or not, HaoZip indeed copes with all basic archiving functions. It supports compression into 7z, zip and tar formats, decompresses archives of practically all popular formats.
The archiver has a built-in image viewer and image converter which means you don’t need any image-viewing software on your computer to see images in archives. HaoZip has custom skin support which you can enjoy to the full, only if you are connected to Internet though. And, about the approaching a traditional “bad” part: a lot of declared features are available only through connection to Internet.
6. IZArc (Windows)
IZArc has its popularity share already, it supports many formats and CD image files. You can archive any type of data and encrypt archives with the help of one of 4 encryption algorithms the program offers (provided you know the difference between all of them, of course). Another pleasant feature of IZarc is that it can convert archived files from one format to another.
It means you don’t need to unpack an archive in order to pack it again in desired format. According to the software authors you can configure IZarc so that each time you open an archive an antivirus scanner will check the files in the archive. You can choose the antivirus scanner according to your taste. But without antivirus installed on your computer the antivirus scanning function doesn’t work.
7. jZip (Windows)
jZip archiver provides complete support for the work with Zip, TAR, RAR and 7-Zip archives. The most surprising feature of jZip is that it has a version for Symbian OS – it unpacks zip archives on smartphones which work under UIQ. jZip for Symbian is able to perform practically all necessary functions with zip archives: it can open archives, create new ones, add files (with path name) or whole folders, extract files one by one or all together and delete from archive. After such a nice and exotic feature we are persistently moving to our fly in the ointment: beware of malware which downloads together with the program from time to time.
8. PeaZip (Windows, Linux)
PeaZip is a cute compression software with a witty name. Just like BandiZip it pleases its users with a portable version. PeaZip can also act as a graphic frontend for other archivers though the intent of this feature is hardly understandable. PeaZip supports data encryption, creation of multi-volume archives, works with several archives at once and is available in console.
The program has its own Pea format which supports compression of multi-volume archives and modern encryption system as well as integrity control. However beware of the fact that it requires special attention during installation process. PeaZip default installation settings lead to installation of AVG Security Toolbar and change your homepage and search functions to AVG Secure Search. So ensure that you uncheck those options.
9. TugZip (Windows)
TugZip supports a variety of archive formats and CD images. It is also able to create self-extracting and encrypted archives. TugZip has a multilingual interface with a decent choice of languages. As for weak points, it’s rather clear from what has been already said – the program, development of which stopped 5 years ago, cannot provide any timely help or customer support.
10. ZipGenius (Windows)
The last but not the least is ZipGenius – compression tool which works with more than 20 compression formats (we’ve already reviewed it in the past). It provides 5 levels of compression, integrates completely with Windows Explorer, has its own FTP-client. ZipGenius flawlessly creates self-extracting exe-files, enables the preview of graphics contained in an archive just as its HaoZip colleague.
But every user’s smile may fade away as he turns the program down and than sees multiple and really unnecessary shortcuts the program has left on his desktop. Actually those are the most extraordinary shortcuts one may ever come across – like “Follow ZipGenius on Facebook”, “Follow ZipGenius on Google+” and so on. So harness your willpower and be ready to fight against intrusive nature of the software. If you do, it won’t disappoint you.
Conclusion
In fact you’ll hardly find any software – be it an archiver or anything else – that could be absolutely good, though its not so hard to run across absolute crapware. The point is you should think on your own what features are the most important for you and thus make your choice basing on it.
If you are an advanced user who is never frightened away by rough-and-ready interface and unpretentious software design – you can bravely opt for such compression tools as 7-zip or FreeArc. The users who like challenges posed by malware which they can get when downloading some software can go for PeaZip or jZip. Those who like to use the same archiving utility on several devices will find B1 Free Archiver very useful. Free compression tool market of today can offer choice for practically everyone.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Also See#file compression #linux
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