While the latest version of Windows can easily extract compressed file formats like ZIP, what if you want more control over the file compressor or want to compress your files?

In that case, the best option is to rely on third-party file compression apps for Windows like WinRAR. WinRAR for PC can easily compress and decompress files, but it is a premium tool, and free options are also available.

Hence, below, we shared some of the best WinRAR alternatives for compressing or decompressing files.

If you want a simple and free WinRAR alternative for Windows, look for Zipware. Zipware is a free zip software for Windows that supports almost all major archive formats.

With Zipware, you can easily extract ZIP, ZIPX, 7Z, RAR, RAR5, ISO, and other file types. Not only that, but you can even create a ZIP file. Zipware also allows users to create password-protected archives.

If we compare Zipware with WinRAR, Zipware is less popular but far more powerful than WinRAR or other archive software. Although the tool officially supports up to Windows 10, it also runs fine even on the latest Windows 11.

Although not as popular as WinRAR, WinZip is a mini-program for archiving and compressing files. It’s also the oldest file compression utility available on the web.

WinZip can unzip all major file formats, including ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZIP, VHD, XZ, and more. This WinRAR alternative also offers some file management features.

Unlike Winrar, which requires users to purchase a license, 7-Zip is open-source and completely free. Its most noticeable feature is that it offers a 10% better file compression ratio than any other tool.

7-Zip can quickly zip or unzip compressed file formats such as 7z, ZIP, GZIP, RAR, and TAR. It’s available for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11 operating systems.

Compared to WinRAR, 7-Zip is lighter and requires less installation space on a Windows device. Overall, 7-Zip is one of the best and most lightweight archive tools for Windows.

If you are searching for an easy-to-use file compression tool for the Windows operating system, ExtractNow might be your best pick.

ExtractNow has a pretty neat interface, making the tool extremely easy to use. However, it can only be used to unpack files.

What makes ExtractNow different is its ability to extract multiple files simultaneously. It is compatible with every version of Windows, including the latest, Windows 11.

jZip is another of the best file compression tools on the list, known for its interface. However, jZip adds an ask toolbar while installation, which is considered adware. So, uncheck the ‘add ask toolbar’ option during the installation.

Among its features, jZip offers better compression ratios than other tools. It also supports the RAR, Zip, 7-Zip, TAR, and GZip formats.

Apart from compressing and decompressing files, PeaZip allows you to create encrypted zip files.

The interface of PeaZip is also fantastic, and it supports almost all major file compression formats.

Although PeaZip is less popular than WinRar, it still has a faster processing speed than any other file archive program. In addition, PeaZip offers all the features you look for in an archive tool.

B1 Free Archiver seems to be the best and most advanced file compression tool for Windows 10. It supports more file formats than other file compression tools.

It supports important formats like b1, zip, rar, arj, xpi, jar, txz, and many more. However, during the installation, B1 Free Archiver attempts to install adware. So, be careful during the installation.

If you are looking for a powerful archiver with ultrafast processing speed and convenient features, look no further than BandiZip. The tool is free to download and use and offers many advanced features.

What makes BandiZip different from others is that it supports multi-core compression. With multi-core support, BandiZip can fully use your CPU cores to provide faster compression speed.

If you are looking for a file compression tool that’s very easy to use, then AutoZIP II might be the best option to choose.

The great thing about AutoZIP II is that it supports almost all major file compression formats and can password-protect zip files.

PowerArchiver is the last file compression utility on the list. It is used mainly by professionals and is an advanced tool that shows progress in the taskbar.

It supports almost all file compression formats, and you can also password-protect your compressed files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a better alternative to WinRAR?

The answer to this question depends on your needs. WinRAR is the best option if you want an all-in-one RAR management tool. You also have other options like B1 Free Archiver, PeaZIP, etc.

Why 7-Zip is better than WinRAR?

7-Zip is lighter than WinRAR and can compress files into a wider range of format types. On the other hand, WinRAR can only compress into ZIP and RAR formats. However, both tools can decompress a wide variety of format types.

Is ZIP better than RAR?

No! RAR is slightly better at data compression than the default support for ZIP files. Both archive file formats were created by different developers.

Is there a free version of WinRAR?

You can download & use WinRAR for free from its official website. The tool is free for 40 days, after which you’re asked to purchase a plan. However, the trial remains active even after 40 days.

Is 7-Zip OK to use?

Yes, 7-ZIP is generally a safe program to download & install. However, make sure to download & install 7-Zip from its official website to avoid any security or privacy issues.

These are the best compression tools for your Windows computer. If you know of other tools like these, please drop the name in the comment box below. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends, too!