saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

Cloud, Backup & PC

Best file compression software

Pack files into smaller archives, open the ones other people send you, and lock them with a password. 10 file compression programs, ranked by points out of 100.

Facts checked 9 Oct 2026 · How we score file compression programs

Not scored yet: WinZip, Express Zip.

In short

  1. 1
    PeaZipPeople who want a free archiver with file-name encryption and many formats
    95/100
    $0cost for the first year
  2. 2
    7-ZipPeople who want a free, open-source archiver with strong encryption
    91/100
    $0cost for the first year
  3. 3
    NanaZipWindows 11 users who want 7-Zip's features with a File Explorer menu
    87/100
    $0cost for the first year
  4. 4
    BandizipPeople who want a free Windows archiver with an Explorer menu
    83/100
    $0cost for the first year
  5. 5
    7-Zip ZSPeople who want 7-Zip plus newer codecs such as Zstandard
    81/100
    $0cost for the first year
  6. 6
    PowerArchiverPeople who want a one-time purchase instead of a subscription
    72/100
    $22.95/yrcost for the first year
  7. 7
    ALZipPeople who want a free Windows archiver with AES-256 passwords and support for old formats
    68/100
    $0cost for the first year
  8. 8
    WinRARPeople who need to create RAR archives with repair data
    66/100
    $33.50/yrcost for the first year
  9. 9
    Ashampoo ZIP FreePeople who want a free zip tool with a paid upgrade path
    59/100
    $40/yrcost for the first year
  10. 10
    Windows compressed foldersPeople who only need to zip and unzip files and want nothing to install
    21/100
    Not publishedcost for the first year

How the points add up

Points earned out of the points available in each part of the method.

ProductFormats
of 20		Protection
of 29		Tools
of 22		Systems
of 9		Price
of 20		Total
PeaZip18292262095
7-Zip16242292091
NanaZip18242232087
Bandizip16192262083
7-Zip ZS18241362081
PowerArchiver1624223772
ALZip12171902068
WinRAR1224196566
Ashampoo ZIP Free12171701359
Windows compressed folders8050821

Each file compression program in brief

1. PeaZip

PeaZip suits people who want a free archiver with strong encryption, hidden file names and a wide list of formats. It adds volume splitting, self-extracting archives and a Windows context menu. The catch: it cannot create RAR archives without WinRAR installed, and the download pages list no native Windows ARM64 build.

Best for: People who want a free archiver with file-name encryption and many formats. Prices, facts and sources

2. 7-Zip

7-Zip suits anyone who wants a no-cost archiver with AES-256 and open source code. It also offers volumes, self-extracting archives and a command line. The catch: it cannot create RAR or Zstandard archives, and its documentation describes recovery of damaged archives as a manual job.

Best for: People who want a free, open-source archiver with strong encryption. Prices, facts and sources

3. NanaZip

NanaZip suits Windows 10 and 11 users who want the 7-Zip feature set with a File Explorer context menu, ARM64 support and extra codecs such as Zstandard. It costs nothing and the code is public. The catch: it has no macOS or Linux builds, and its pages document few features directly, so most of the feature set is documented by 7-Zip.

Best for: Windows 11 users who want 7-Zip's features with a File Explorer menu. Prices, facts and sources

4. Bandizip

Bandizip suits Windows users who want a free archiver with AES-256, volume splitting, a console tool and an ARM64 build. The licence is commercial rather than open source, and the free edition shows ads. The catch: archive repair is Professional-only, and the feature list shows no Zstandard or recovery-record support.

Best for: People who want a free Windows archiver with an Explorer menu. Prices, facts and sources

5. 7-Zip ZS

7-Zip ZS suits people who want the free 7-Zip tool with Zstandard and other newer codecs. It encrypts with AES-256 and can hide file names. It has an ARM64 Windows build. The catch: the project's pages say nothing about split volumes or repair data, and its README says the fork will currently not be included in mainline 7-Zip.

Best for: People who want 7-Zip plus newer codecs such as Zstandard. Prices, facts and sources

6. PowerArchiver

PowerArchiver Business suits people who prefer to pay once, at $22.95, and want AES-256, file-name encryption and a portable build. It creates and reads the common formats. The catch: there is no free edition, the separate command-line tool is not in Business, and the vendor pages do not mention a Windows ARM64 build.

Best for: People who want a one-time purchase instead of a subscription. Prices, facts and sources

7. ALZip

ALZip suits people who want a free archiver that opens many old and regional formats. Its manual documents AES-256 passwords, splitting, self-extracting EXE files, repair and a command line. The catch: it creates only a short list of types, and splitting works only in its own EGG and ALZ formats. Ad-free use needs the separate AD-ZERO subscription.

Best for: People who want a free Windows archiver with AES-256 passwords and support for old formats. Prices, facts and sources

8. WinRAR

WinRAR suits people who need RAR archives with recovery records, repair and volumes. A 29.95 euro licence is perpetual, but the trial ends after 40 days. The catch: it creates only RAR and ZIP archives, is not open source, and has no Windows ARM64 build.

Best for: People who need to create RAR archives with repair data. Prices, facts and sources

9. Ashampoo ZIP Free

Ashampoo ZIP Free suits people who want a free archiver that opens RAR, 7z, ISO and CAB files, with Pro available later. The free edition names no AES-256 encryption, so the score counts ZIP Pro 4, which lists it. The catch: splitting, self-extracting archives and repair are Pro features, and the vendor pages mention no command line or ARM64 build.

Best for: People who want a free zip tool with a paid upgrade path. Prices, facts and sources

10. Windows compressed folders

Windows compressed folders suits quick zipping and unzipping when you do not want another program. It reads RAR, 7z and TAR archives on Windows 11 24H2. The catch: Microsoft says it does not support operations on encrypted archives and points users to 7-Zip or WinRAR.

Best for: People who only need to zip and unzip files and want nothing to install. Prices, facts and sources

Every fact, side by side

Each row is one rule of the method and the points it is worth. "–" means the vendor does not publish it, which earns nothing.

Rule (points)PeaZip7-ZipNanaZipBandizip7-Zip ZSPowerArchiverALZipWinRARAshampoo ZIP FreeWindows compressed folders
Archive types you can create (12)5 of 64 of 65 of 64 of 65 of 64 of 62 of 62 of 62 of 62 of 6
Archive types you can open (8)4 of 44 of 44 of 44 of 44 of 44 of 44 of 44 of 44 of 42 of 4
AES-256 encryption (12)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNo
Hides file names (7)YesYesYesYesYesYes–Yes–No
Repair of damaged archives (5)YesNo–No–YesYesYesYes–
Open source (5)YesYesYesNoYes––No––
Split into volumes (6)YesYesYesYes–YesYesYesYes–
Self-extracting archives (3)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes–
Command line (5)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes––
File Explorer menu (5)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Portable version (3)YesYesYesYes–Yes––Yes–
Systems (6)2 of 22 of 20 of 21 of 21 of 21 of 20 of 22 of 20 of 20 of 2
Windows on ARM (3)–YesYesYesYes––No––
Free to use without a time limit (8)YesYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYes
Cost for the first year (12)$0$0$0$0$0$22.95/yr$0$33.50/yr$40/yr–

Head to head

We read each vendor's own pages, record every fact with its source and date, and score it by the rules on how we score file compression programs. A tie goes to the lower price. File archivers for individuals that run on Windows (an installed app or a portable build). Online-only zip tools, command-line-only tools and business-only editions are left out. Features count on the cheapest edition for one person that makes AES-256 archives (the free edition if it does); a feature only a higher edition has counts as false. Sources: the vendor's site, help file or manual. Vendor claims about speed or quality are shown on product pages but never scored. Prices are in US dollars before tax.