Ranked 6 of 7 in best file archivers
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.
Best for Linux users on the KDE Plasma desktop
About Ark
Ark is the archive manager of the KDE desktop. KDE lists support for gzip, bzip2, zip, rar, 7z and more formats, and Ark can preview the contents of an archive without extracting the files. Its repository notes that Ark can use the upstream 7-Zip binary for 7z support, or a binary from a p7zip fork shipped by some distributions.
Ark runs on Linux. Its source is licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later, and it is hosted on GitHub. Like Dolphin, it is developed by KDE and installs from Linux software stores. It suits Linux users who want a graphical archiver that fits KDE Plasma, while Windows and macOS users need one of the other tools in this list.
Key features
- gzip, bzip2, zip, rar and 7z
- Preview without extracting
- Uses the 7-Zip binary for 7z
- Open source, GPL-2.0-or-later
Strengths
- Previews archive contents without extracting
- Free and open source under GPL-2.0-or-later
Limits
- Runs on Linux only
- Best fit for the KDE Plasma desktop
Where Ark ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best File archivers | 6 of 7 | 80.5 | Linux users on the KDE Plasma desktop |
Questions about Ark
- Is Ark free?
- Ark can be used without paying: Free and open source; installed from Linux software stores. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Ark open source?
- Yes. Ark publishes its source code under the GPL-2.0-or-later license.
- Which platforms does Ark support?
- Ark is available on: Linux.
- What is Ark best for?
- Linux users on the KDE Plasma desktop. In our ranking of file archivers it is number 6 of 7 with a score of 80.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Ark?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are 7-Zip, PeaZip, Keka, WinRAR.