Ranked 1 of 7 in best file archivers
The default free archiver on Windows, with a high compression ratio in the 7z format and AES-256 encryption. It creates 7z, ZIP and GZIP but not RAR, so RAR files need WinRAR or PeaZip.
Best for Free, open-source archiving on Windows
About 7-Zip
7-Zip is an archiver for Windows that packs files into its own 7z format with LZMA and LZMA2 compression. It also packs ZIP, GZIP, TAR, XZ, BZIP2 and WIM archives. For reading, it unpacks a long list of formats, including RAR, ISO, CAB, MSI and DMG, but it creates only the formats named above. It integrates with the Windows Shell, so its commands appear in the context menu.
Strong AES-256 encryption applies to 7z and ZIP archives. The project says you can use 7-Zip on any computer, including in commercial organizations, and you do not need to register or pay. Most of its code is under the GNU LGPL license, with some parts under the BSD 3-clause license. The official downloads cover Windows on 64-bit x64, 32-bit x86 and ARM64 systems.
Key features
- LZMA2 compression in 7z
- Strong AES-256 encryption
- Unpacks RAR, ISO, CAB and more
- Windows Shell integration
- Command-line version
Strengths
- Free and open source under the LGPL
- High compression ratio in the 7z format
Limits
- Official builds are for Windows only
- Creates 7z, ZIP, GZIP, TAR, XZ and WIM but not RAR
Where 7-Zip ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best File archivers | 1 of 7 | 93.5 | Free, open-source archiving on Windows |
| Best File encryption software | 6 of 6 | 81.0 | Password-protected archives on Windows |
Questions about 7-Zip
- Is 7-Zip free?
- 7-Zip can be used without paying: Free to use, including in commercial organizations. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is 7-Zip open source?
- Yes. 7-Zip publishes its source code under the LGPL license.
- Which platforms does 7-Zip support?
- 7-Zip is available on: Windows.
- What is 7-Zip best for?
- Free, open-source archiving on Windows. In our ranking of file archivers it is number 1 of 7 with a score of 93.5.
- What are the best alternatives to 7-Zip?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are VeraCrypt, Cryptomator, PeaZip, GnuPG.