--- title: 7-Zip ZS canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/7-zip-zs/ category: File Compression Software points: 81 rank: 5 of 10 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # 7-Zip ZS Free, open-source build of 7-Zip that adds Zstandard, Brotli, LZ4 and other codecs. 81 points out of 100. #5 of 10 file compression programs. Vendor: Tino Reichardt. Website: https://github.com/mcmilk/7-Zip-zstd - Free and open source; most of the code is under LGPL v2.1 or later [1]. - AES-256 encryption is the default 7-Zip method, and header encryption hides file names [1]. - Adds Zstandard, Brotli, LZ4, LZ5, Lizard and Fast LZMA2 codecs to 7-Zip [1]. - Release 26.02 (July 2026) ships x64, x86 and ARM64 Windows installers [3][4]. - Linux builds come as zip downloads; no macOS build appears in the release files [4]. Verdict: 7-Zip ZS suits people who want the free 7-Zip tool with Zstandard and other newer codecs [1]. It encrypts with AES-256 and can hide file names [1]. It has an ARM64 Windows build [4]. The catch: the project's pages say nothing about split volumes or repair data [1][2], and its README says the fork will currently not be included in mainline 7-Zip [1]. Best for: People who want 7-Zip plus newer codecs such as Zstandard. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Formats | Archive types you can create | ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZIP, Zstandard | 10/12 | README names 7z and Zstandard creation; ZIP, TAR and GZIP come from upstream 7-Zip's pack list, which this fork builds on [1][5]. | | Formats | Archive types you can open | RAR, 7z, ISO, CAB | 8/8 | README lists RAR decoding plus 7z, CAB and ISO codecs; upstream 7-Zip lists RAR, ISO and CAB as unpack-only [1][5]. | | Protection | AES-256 encryption | Yes | 12/12 | README: 7zAES is the default, AES-256 in CBC mode with SHA-256 key derivation [1]. | | Protection | Hides file names | Yes | 7/7 | README names header encryption with the -mhe=on switch [1]. | | Protection | Repair of damaged archives | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the vendor's README or readme.txt [1][2]. | | Protection | Open source | Yes | 5/5 | Same licence as mainline 7-Zip, mostly GNU LGPL v2.1 or later; source is on GitHub [1][2]. | | Tools | Split into volumes | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's README or readme.txt [1][2]. | | Tools | Self-extracting archives | Yes | 3/3 | readme.txt lists 7z self-extracting modules (7z.sfx, 7zCon.sfx) in the package [2]. | | Tools | Command line | Yes | 5/5 | README shows 7z command examples; readme.txt lists 7z.exe as the console version [1][2]. | | Tools | File Explorer menu | Yes | 5/5 | The full setup adds a modified Explorer context menu; readme.txt lists the shell extension [1][2]. | | Tools | Portable version | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's release page; assets are installers, codec packs and Linux builds, no portable package [3][4]. | | Systems | Systems | Linux | 3/6 | Release files include Linux zip builds for x64 and arm64; no macOS build is listed [4]. | | Systems | Windows on ARM | Yes | 3/3 | Release 26.02 R2 includes 7z26.02-zstd-arm64.exe [4]. | | Price | Free to use without a time limit | Yes | 8/8 | Open source under the same licence as mainline 7-Zip, mostly GNU LGPL v2.1 or later [1]. | | Price | Cost for the first year | $0 | 12/12 | Free and open source; AES-256 is in the free build [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [1][4] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free to use, with source code public under LGPL v2.1 or later [1]. - AES-256 encryption plus an option to encrypt file names [1]. - Native ARM64 Windows installer in the latest release [4]. - Command line, Explorer context menu and self-extracting modules are part of the project [1][2]. ## Limits - RAR archives can be opened but not created [1][5]. - The project's pages do not document split volumes or recovery data [1][2]. - No macOS download appears in the latest release files [4]. - The README says the fork will currently not be included in mainline 7-Zip [1]. ## Sources 1. [mcmilk/7-Zip-zstd README](https://github.com/mcmilk/7-Zip-zstd), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 2. [7-Zip ZS DOC/readme.txt](https://github.com/mcmilk/7-Zip-zstd/blob/master/DOC/readme.txt), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 3. [7-Zip ZS releases](https://github.com/mcmilk/7-Zip-zstd/releases/latest), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 4. [Latest release data for mcmilk/7-Zip-zstd](https://api.github.com/repos/mcmilk/7-Zip-zstd/releases/latest), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 5. [7-Zip](https://7-zip.org/), 7-Zip, accessed 2026-10-09