---
title: PowerArchiver
canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/powerarchiver/
category: File Compression Software
points: 72
rank: 6 of 10
facts_checked: 2026-10-09
---

# PowerArchiver

Paid Windows archiver sold with a one-time licence, AES-256 and a portable edition.

72 points out of 100. #6 of 10 file compression programs. Vendor: ConeXware, Inc.. Website: https://www.powerarchiver.com/

- The Business edition costs $22.95 as a one-time licence [1].
- Business creates ZIP, 7z, TAR and GZ archives and reads RAR, ISO and CAB [2].
- It encrypts with AES-256, and its PAE2 containers can also encrypt file names [2].
- A portable USB edition, self-extracting archives, ZIP repair and multi-volume ZIP are documented [2][3][5].
- There is no free edition, only a 30-day trial [3].

Verdict: PowerArchiver Business suits people who prefer to pay once, at $22.95, and want AES-256, file-name encryption and a portable build [1][2][3]. 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 [3][4][8]. Best for: People who want a one-time purchase instead of a subscription.

## Points

| Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formats | Archive types you can create | ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZIP | 8/12 | Business creates ZIP, 7Z, TAR, GZ and others. RAR only if WinRAR is installed; Zstandard is not listed [2]. |
| Formats | Archive types you can open | RAR, 7z, ISO, CAB | 8/8 | Business reads everything it creates plus RAR; 7Z, CAB and ISO are on the format list [2]. |
| Protection | AES-256 encryption | Yes | 12/12 | Business lists AES-256 ZIP-AES and PAE2 encryption [2]. |
| Protection | Hides file names | Yes | 7/7 | PAE2 containers encrypt file names, sizes and timestamps [2]. |
| Protection | Repair of damaged archives | Yes | 5/5 | Business repairs truncated or corrupted ZIPs [2]. |
| Protection | Open source | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the vendor's pricing or edition pages [1][2]. |
| Tools | Split into volumes | Yes | 6/6 | The help wiki documents a tool that writes multi-volume ZIPs at a size you set, for ZIPs up to 2 GB [5]. |
| Tools | Self-extracting archives | Yes | 3/3 | Business wraps an archive as a single .EXE with a custom icon and licence dialog [2]. |
| Tools | Command line | Yes | 5/5 | Help wiki documents switches for the desktop program such as POWERARC -e. Separate PACL tool is not in Business [4][6]. |
| Tools | File Explorer menu | Yes | 5/5 | Business lists Windows shell integration and Explorer integration [2]. |
| Tools | Portable version | Yes | 3/3 | Business has a portable USB edition; the download page lists PowerArchiver Portable [2][3]. |
| Systems | Systems | macOS | 3/6 | A separate PowerArchiver Pro for Mac app has its own licence. No Linux build is listed [7]. |
| Systems | Windows on ARM | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's download or system requirements pages, which name 32-bit and 64-bit builds [3][8]. |
| Price | Free to use without a time limit | No | 0/8 | The free download is a 30-day trial with every feature unlocked, not a permanent free edition [3]. |
| Price | Cost for the first year | $22.95/yr | 7/12 | Business edition, one-time licence at full price; optional PA Select maintenance is extra [1][2]. |

## Plans

| Plan | Price | Per month (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Business | $22.95 one-time [1][2] | - |
| Professional | $34.95 one-time [1] | - |
| Professional Toolbox | $49.95 one-time [1][4] | - |

PA Select maintenance for upgrades and support is optional: 25% of the licence price a year [1].

## Strengths

- One-time licence at $22.95 for Business, not a subscription [1].
- AES-256 plus PAE2 containers that encrypt file names [2].
- Splits ZIP files into volumes and repairs damaged ZIPs [2][5].
- A portable edition runs without installation [3].

## Limits

- No free edition; the free download is a 30-day trial [3].
- The PACL command-line tool is sold with higher editions or separately, not with Business [4].
- Creating RAR archives needs WinRAR installed [2].
- The pages read do not mention a native Windows ARM64 build [3][8].

## Vendor claims (not scored)

- ConeXware says PowerArchiver can open or extract 60+ archive formats [1].

## Sources

1. [PowerArchiver pricing](https://www.powerarchiver.com/pricing), ConeXware, accessed 2026-10-09
2. [PowerArchiver Business](https://www.powerarchiver.com/business), ConeXware, accessed 2026-10-09
3. [Download PowerArchiver](https://www.powerarchiver.com/download-powerarchiver), ConeXware, accessed 2026-10-09
4. [PowerArchiver Command Line (PACL)](https://www.powerarchiver.com/command-line/), ConeXware, accessed 2026-10-09
5. [Write Multi-Volume ZIP tool](https://wiki.powerarchiver.com/en:help:main:tools:write_multi-volume_zip_tool), PowerArchiver help wiki, accessed 2026-10-09
6. [Command line options](https://wiki.powerarchiver.com/en:help:details:command_line), PowerArchiver help wiki, accessed 2026-10-09
7. [PowerArchiver Pro for Mac](https://www.powerarchiver.com/professional-mac), ConeXware, accessed 2026-10-09
8. [PowerArchiver system requirements](https://wiki.powerarchiver.com/en:help:additional_information:powerarchiver_system_requirements), PowerArchiver help wiki, accessed 2026-10-09