AppBreakup
Submit an app

WinRAR alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave WinRAR: paid licence after the trial, unlike 7-Zip or PeaZip, and full GUI only on Windows. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces WinRAR, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. 7-Zip currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Keka logoKekaFreeNomacOS, iOS4 of 459.6
  1. Keka logo

    1. KekaTop pick

    Best for: Mac users who want a simple drag-and-drop archiver that handles 7z and RAR

    FreemacOS, iOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from WinRAR

    Free Mac-native archiver that extracts RAR, for people who don't need to create RAR files.

    Pros

    • Simple drag-and-drop workflow from the Dock
    • Extracts RAR, 7z, ZIPX and many other formats
    • Free on the website, same build on the App Store
    • Supports split archives and AES-256 for 7z

    Cons

    • Mac and iOS only
    • Needs a separate helper to become the default extractor
    • No in-app browsing of archive contents
    Visit Keka Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Keka a good WinRAR alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Encryption
    AES-256 for 7z
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keka.io(opens source in a new tab)
    App Store version
    Same app as website build
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keka.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Extracts RAR
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keka.io(opens source in a new tab)
    System requirement
    Mac OS X 10.10 or newer
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keka.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best WinRAR alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

7-Zip logo

Best WinRAR alternative for most people

7-Zip

Free and open source, with stronger 7z compression; it extracts RAR but can't create it.

PeaZip logo

Best WinRAR alternative for a free option

PeaZip

Free, open source and cross-platform, opening RAR plus 200+ formats with a full GUI on Linux and Mac.

7-Zip logo

Best WinRAR alternative for open source

7-Zip

Free and open source, with stronger 7z compression; it extracts RAR but can't create it.

Keka logo

Best WinRAR alternative for Mac

Keka

Free Mac-native archiver that extracts RAR, for people who don't need to create RAR files.

7-Zip logo

Best WinRAR alternative for Windows

7-Zip

Free and open source, with stronger 7z compression; it extracts RAR but can't create it.

7-Zip logo

Best WinRAR alternative for Linux

7-Zip

Free and open source, with stronger 7z compression; it extracts RAR but can't create it.

WinRAR alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to WinRAR?

7-Zip ranks first right now. Free and open source, with stronger 7z compression; it extracts RAR but can't create it. PeaZip and Keka follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to WinRAR?

Yes. 7-Zip (open source), PeaZip (open source) and Keka (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to WinRAR?

Yes: 7-Zip and PeaZip.

Which WinRAR alternatives work on Linux?

7-Zip and PeaZip run on Linux.

Why do people switch from WinRAR?

The complaints we hear most: paid licence after the trial, unlike 7-Zip or PeaZip; full GUI only on Windows; interface hasn't changed much in years.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces WinRAR, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.