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About 7-Zip
7-Zip is a free, open-source file archiver, written by Igor Pavlov, and the default choice for many Windows users. It created the 7z format, whose LZMA and LZMA2 compression usually beats ZIP on file size, and it also packs ZIP, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ and WIM while extracting dozens more, including RAR, ISO, DMG and disk images. It adds AES-256 encryption for 7z and ZIP, self-extracting archives, Explorer context-menu integration, a plain file manager and a full command-line tool. It's free for any use, including in companies, with most code under the LGPL. The graphical app is Windows-only; Linux and macOS get official command-line versions, and many Mac and Linux GUIs use its engine. The interface is dated and spartan, and it can't create RAR files.
Best for: Windows users who want a fast, free archiver with strong compression and no nagging.
Pros and cons
What works
- Excellent compression with the 7z format
- Free for personal and commercial use, no registration
- AES-256 encryption and self-extracting archives
- Small, fast and scriptable from the command line
Why people leave
- Graphical app is Windows-only
- Dated, bare-bones interface
- Can extract RAR but can't create it
Top 7-Zip alternatives
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Why people left 7-Zip
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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7-Zip: common questions
Is 7-Zip free?
Yes. 7-Zip is free, open-source software.
Is 7-Zip open source?
Yes.
What platforms does 7-Zip run on?
7-Zip is available for Windows, Linux and macOS.
What are the best alternatives to 7-Zip?
The highest-ranked 7-Zip alternatives right now are PeaZip, WinRAR and Keka. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.