Comparison · File archivers
Ark vs The Unarchiver: which is better in 2026?
The Unarchiver ranks higher in our list of file archivers (#5 against #6, score 83.0 against 80.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.
Choose Ark if you want
Linux users on the KDE Plasma desktop.
KDE's archive manager for Linux, which previews archive contents without extracting them. It supports gzip, bzip2, zip, rar and 7z, and it suits KDE Plasma users best.
Choose The Unarchiver if you want
Mac users who mainly open archives sent to them.
A free extractor for Mac that opens RAR and dozens of other formats, including RPM and DEB packages. It only extracts archives, so use Keka when you need to create them.
The main differences
- Only Ark runs on Linux.
- Only The Unarchiver runs on macOS.
- Ark is open source; The Unarchiver is not.
Side by side
 Ark |  The Unarchiver | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 80.5 | 83.0 |
| Rank in list | #6 of 7 | #5 of 7 |
| Price | Free and open sourceFree and open source; installed from Linux software stores | FreeFree for Mac; the vendor says it will stay free |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Platforms | LinuxLinux | macOSmacOS |
| Made by | KDE | Not stated |
| Formats | gzip, bzip2, zip, rar, 7z | RAR, ZIP, 7z, TAR, RPM, DEB |
| Best for | Linux users on the KDE Plasma desktop | Mac users who mainly open archives sent to them |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Ark vs The Unarchiver
- Is The Unarchiver better than Ark?
- The Unarchiver ranks higher in our list of file archivers (#5 against #6, score 83.0 against 80.5), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Ark is best for: linux users on the KDE Plasma desktop. The Unarchiver is best for: mac users who mainly open archives sent to them.
- Which is cheaper, Ark or The Unarchiver?
- Ark: Free and open source; installed from Linux software stores. The Unarchiver: Free for Mac; the vendor says it will stay free.
- Do Ark and The Unarchiver run on the same platforms?
- Ark supports Linux. The Unarchiver supports macOS.