Five Best File Compression Tools

High compression rate

Works with multiple formats

Create RAR files 

Free software

Own format

Great for huge files

Cloud drive services like Google Drive and OneDrive are handy and all, but sometimes you just need to wrap up a few files to send out in an email. Conversely, you’ll sometimes come across those ZIP and RAR files that you need to open up for yourself. In either case, a data-compression tool can help you out. We know of three free capable compression tools for your file zipping and unzipping needs. It’s worth noting that Windows itself offers native compression and unzipping capabilities via the right-click context menu, but the functionality is very basic.

7-Zip

Easily one of the most popular free file-archiving tools out there, 7-Zip is an open-source utility that’s been available and updated since It introduced its own archive format, 7z, which comes with impressive compression capability. Additionally, 7-Zip can compress files into other popular formats, including ZIP and TAR, while also being able to read/extract files from even more file types, such as EXT, RAR, and XAR.

Kevin Casper/IDG

7-Zip also includes encryption capabilities, a very simple user interface in Windows, file management abilities, Windows shell (right-click) menu integrations, support for over 80 languages, and is available in command line versions for Windows, Linux, and MacOS.

PeaZip

Another popular, open-source archiving solution, PeaZip brings a more user-friendly interface on both Windows and Linux environments, more like what you’d find with Windows Explorer or some commercial archivers.

Kevin Casper/IDG

PeaZip supports a similarly large list of file formats, including the above 7-Zip’s 7z file format. Additionally, PeaZip offers even more encryption options, hashing tools, and other security features such as secure deletion and two-factor authentication using passwords and key files.

BandiZip

BandiZip comes as both a free and paid piece of software. While other compression tools tend center their file management interfaces, BandiZip is a bit more purpose-built for creating and managing archives, giving a clear instruction for every step along the way.

Kevin Casper/IDG

In terms of its free product, BandiZip has a comfortable user interface, some Windows shell integration, and is well-regarded for its speed at compressing larger archives. It offers much of what 7-Zip and PeaZip do, but some of the features require a paid license to access. If you’re looking to do a lot of compression work for particularly large and/or complex archives, it’s worth looking into BandiZip to see if it could aid your projects.

Bottom line

While Windows’ integrated compression functionality is better than ever, it’s still worth having a dedicated compression tool so you have a greater breadth of support and functionality when the situation calls for it. And given there are three free worthwhile options, there should be nothing stopping you from being prepared.

7-Zip is a file archiver with a high compression ratio.

Download 7-Zip () for Windows:

License

7-Zip is free software with open source. The most of the code is under the GNU LGPL license. Some parts of the code are under the BSD 3-clause License. Also there is unRAR license restriction for some parts of the code. Read 7-Zip License information.

You can use 7-Zip on any computer, including a computer in a commercial organization. You don't need to register or pay for 7-Zip.

The main features of 7-Zip

• High compression ratio in 7z format with LZMA and LZMA2 compression
• Supported formats:
  • Packing / unpacking: 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP and WIM
  • Unpacking only: APFS, AR, ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, CramFS, DMG, EXT, FAT, GPT, HFS, IHEX, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MBR, MSI, NSIS, NTFS, QCOW2, RAR, RPM, SquashFS, UDF, UEFI, VDI, VHD, VHDX, VMDK, WIM, XAR and Z.
• For ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip
• Strong AES encryption in 7z and ZIP formats
• Self-extracting capability for 7z format
• Integration with Windows Shell
• Powerful File Manager
• Powerful command line version
• Plugin for FAR Manager
• Localizations for 87 languages

7-Zip works in Windows 10 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / / / / / /

p7zip - the port of the command line version of 7-Zip to Linux/Posix.

On 7-Zip's SourceForge Page you can find a forum, bug reports, and feature request systems.

Compression ratio

We compared 7-Zip with WinRAR

FILE SETS: Mozilla Firefox for Windows and Google Earth for Windows.

Compression ratio results are very dependent upon the data used for the tests. Usually, 7-Zip compresses to 7z format % better than to zip format. And 7-Zip compresses to zip format % better than most of other zip compatible programs.

Imagine that you reset your smartphone, and all the data is gone. But you were smart and made a backup on your computer before the reset. But now, the problem is the sheer size of the backup, which is too much for a simple file move. Well, the solution to your problem is simple. Yes, File Compression! All you need is the best file compression software for Windows to compress the backup data to a manageable size. There are many reputable file compression software free on the internet. It may lead to some confusion about which one to choose. So, we bring you the list of the best file compression tools available and tell you which one is the best among the rest.

15 Best File Compression Tools for Windows

It is the process of reducing the size of a file, making it more convenient to store on your computer because of the smaller occupied space. It also results in faster transmission of data since it is smaller now. There are two types of compression.

• One is lossless compression, where all the original file’s data is maintained.
• The other type is lossy compression, where some information is discarded for file compression.

Now, you have learned about the basics of file compression. Let’s move to the list of the best file compression tools.

1. WinZip

WinZip is one of best file compression software for Windows out there because of the following features:

• It can handle all major compression file types.
• It uses file encryption protocols to protect data from malicious activities.
• Apart from its primary job of compressing and decompressing files, WinZip is also an all-in-one tool for tasks like file sharing and merging PDF.
• In addition to this, WinZip also supports cloud storage integration from services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and other major cloud storage to make transferring files from the cloud to your local storage a breeze.
• The only downside of this software is that it is a paid application.
• It supports files of types, ZIP, TAR, GZIP, CAB, RAR, BZ2, LZH, 7Z, IMG, ISO, XZ, VHD, and VMDK.

2. 7-Zip

7-Zip makes its way into this list of best free file compression software for Windows without any doubt due to the features listed below:

• It gained popularity due to its open-source nature and great file.
• 7-Zip employs AES encryption, which backs up its robust claims on the security side of things.
• This is important as many organizations use it to unpack compressed files.
• It does not require a license for commercial use, built-in Windows Shell integration, and support for over 80 languages.
• It supports various file types depending on packing and unpacking processes.
• The file types supported for both packing and packing are 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP, and WIM.
• Also, unpacking can be done in file types such as AR, ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, CramFS, DMG, EXT, FAT, GPT, HFS, IHEX, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MBR, MSI, NSIS, NTFS, QCOW2, RAR, RPM, SquashFS, UDF, UEFI, VDI, VHD, VMDK, WIM, XAR, and Z.

Also Read:7-Zip vs WinZip vs WinRAR (Best File Compression Tool)

3. WinRAR

WinRAR is a software-only that few hasn’t heard about. Do you wonder how it took its place on this list? Read the features of this one of best file compression software for Windows given below:

• It is one of the fastest and best file compression tools.
• It offers virus detection, recovery of corrupt files, and password management for password-protected compressed files.
• Like 7zip, WinRAR also encrypts files using the AES bit protocol.
• It is available on all major OS platforms.
• Something that might bother you while using WinRAR is the notification for buying the lifetime license, which costs around $
• RAR, CAB, ZIP, UUE, Z, ACE, ARJ, 7-ZIP, AND TAR are the supported file types by WinRAR.

4. PeaZip

PeaZip is what you get when you take the best out of all the open-source file compression tools and put them together in a nice-looking package.

• You can use PeaZip for almost all compression filetypes.
• In addition to the nice-looking GUI, PeaZip also supports themes that you can download from the official website.
• As a compilation of major open-source tools, PeaZip takes the best out of the best from every tool, such as encryption protocol, file management, and support for various OS.
• Like 7-Zip, the supported file types vary depending on the packing or unpacking process.
• Files supported for packing are Z, ARC, Brotli BR, BZip2, GZip, PAQ, PEA, RAR, TAR, WIM, XZ, Zstandard ZST, ZIP, and self-extracting archives.
• Open ACE (requires another plugin), BR, CAB, DMG, ISO, RAR, UDF, ZST, and ZIPX are the file types supported for unpacking.
• Apart from this, the software also supports + other file types for unpacking.

Also Read:Is WinZip Safe?

5. Zipware

Zipware is a free file compression software worth making into this list due to the below-highlighted factors:

• It supports all major compression file types.
• It is easy to use.
• It can easily handle large and small compressed files.
• Also, it can scan the archives for viruses with the help of chambery-turin.com.
• It has a checksum calculation function that you can use from the context menu in File Explorer without opening Zipware.
• Zipware can also create exe compressed files or self-extracting archives, which can extract the content without needing a different tool to open the archive.
• It offers its help hand for file types such as ZIP, 7-ZIP, and EXE for packing.
• Similarly, you can unpack ZIP, ZIPX, 7Z, RAR, RAR5, ISO, VHD, MSI, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, CPIO, DEB, DMG, LZH, LZMA, LZMA2, PPMd, NSIS, RPM, UDF, WIM, XAR, XPI, CBR, CBZ, XZ, and Z file types.

6. Hamster Zip Archiver

Hamster Zip Archiver is the one tool you should definitely try. Go through the points below to know its features:

• Hamster Zip Archiver is the best option if you want a simple and easy-to-use file compression tool that can still handle huge archive files.
• It is free software that supports all commonly used compression file types.
• Its drag and drop interface makes it easy for even inexperienced users to compress a file.
• Hamster Zip Archiver also comes with cloud storage integration, which is always a welcome feature.
• The only downside of the application is that it is exclusively available only for Windows.
• It supports a wide range of file formats. Some of them are ZIP, 7Z, ARJ, BZ2, TBZ, GZIP, DEB, FAT, TPZ, IHEX, SCAP, UEFIF, VHD, XAR, XZ, TXZ, CHM, CHI, CHQ, CHW, HXS, HXI, HXR, HXQ, HXW, LIT, NSIS, UDF, ODT, ODS, EPUB, and XPI.

Also Read:Zip or Unzip Files and Folders in Windows 10

7. Ashampoo ZIP

Next on the list is Ashampoo Zip, which is worth a shot for the following reasons:

• Ashampoo ZIP can create and extract compressed archive files of various file types like zip, 7zip, cab, tar, and lha fast and effortlessly.
• Ashampoo ZIP supports an unlimited archive size.
• The software doesn’t cap or limit the size or number of the files that are to be compressed, giving users freedom and flexibility to work with extensive archives.
• The application also lets you preview different types of files even before extracting them to see what file you are working.
• The next feature of Ashampoo ZIP includes the Repair zip function to fix corrupt zip archives.
• It offers a bit AES encryption protocol to protect your compressed files.
• The user interface is also a plus point for being simple and easy to use while not entirely archaic.
• It supports various file formats for packing such as ZIP, 7-ZIP, CAB, TAR (TAR, chambery-turin.com, chambery-turin.com2, chambery-turin.com), and LHA.
• Similarly, the file types supported for unpacking are RAR, ZIPX, ARJ, ARC, ACE, MSI, NSIS, CHM, DMG, RPM, CPIO, VHD, XAR, LZMA, LZH, SquashFS, CramFS, ZOO, WIM plus ISO (ISO and UDF), and 30 more.

8. PowerArchiver

PowerArchiver is more of a file compression tool that can be used by professionals due to its significant features listed below:

• It supports almost all the file compression filetypes in existence.
• While the feat of compressing files to 90% of their original size is astonishing, PowerArchiver is much more than a file compression tool.
• It can encrypt and backup data.
• Also, it uses many codecs and filters to provide the user with an impressive compression/speed ratio.
• There are smart and optimized modes to distinguish the compression/speed ratio that fits the best for the files provided for compression.
• PowerArchiver also asks for administrative access using the User Account Control prompt when it needs administrative permissions to write/read in a folder.

Also Read:How to Unzip Files on Android Phone

9. Bandizip

Bandizip is another best free file compression software for Windows made into this list of the best compressor tools due to the following highlighted feature:

• It can deal with various compression file types.
• It is lightweight.
• It uses a zip algorithm that compresses and extracts archives blazing fast.
• Also, it comes with features like fast drag and drop, multicore compression, and high-speed archiving.
• However, the number of file types it can handle is low.
• Also, it can only be used for the most common compression file types.
• Bandizip makes up for its lack by providing an impressive inbuilt password manager and archive repair tool.
• It also shows previews of the files in the archive, so you know what file you are dealing with before extracting it.
• Bandisoft, the developer of Bandizip, releases updates and bug fixes for the software frequently.
• There are chances that they will add support for other compression file types in the future.

Express Zip

Another on the list of the best file compression tools is Express Zip due to its excellent features listed below:

• It is a file compression tool developed by NCH software.
• It is a simple but effective solution to your file compression worries.
• There is a free version aimed at home.
• The basic user can use the software for day-to-day operations, like file compression and extractions for sharing as email attachments.
• You can use it for files of common compression file types like zip, rar, tar, cab, etc.
• It reduces the file size to fit in portable media storage.
• Also, it gives the option to burn the archived files to disk media to facilitate a more portable file-sharing scenario.
• Express Zip software supports a huge range of file formats, such as .zip, .zipx, .rar, .tar, .tgz, chambery-turin.com, .gz, .gzip, .7z, .cab, .iso, .img, .dmg, .arj, .jar, .bz2, chambery-turin.com2, chambery-turin.com, .wim, .xz, .z, .bkz, .nco, .apk, .lzh, .pkpass, .vmdk, .vhd,.xar, .qcow2, .txz, .deb, .rpm, .cpio, Multidisk (.zipx), and Multidisk (.7z).

Also Read:What is WinZip?

NX Power Lite Desktop

NX Power Lite is one of the best file compression tools because:

• It is fully featured yet simple.
• The features of this software truly support easy yet powerful file compression.
• Custom profiles for different settings, File Explorer integration, Batch file compression for compression multiple files up to 10, at the same time, and Email attachment compression are a few features that come in handy in different scenarios.
• Bulk deployment options also work great in a commercial setup without requiring much interaction from the user side.
• The list of supported file types is vast.
• Some of the supported file formats are ZIP, 7Z, ARJ, BZ2, TBZ, GZIP, DEB, DMG, IMG, GZ, TGZ, HFS, LZH, RMP, PKG, Z, TAZ, CAB, ISO, RAR, TAR, WIM, SWM, JAR, APM, AR, A, LIB, MSI, CPIO, ELF, FAT, TPZ, IHEX, MACHO, MBR, MSLZ, MUB, NTFS, DLL, SYS, TE, PMD, SQUASHFS, SCAP, UEFIF, VHD, XAR, XZ, TXZ, CHM, CHI, CHQ, CHW, HXS, HXI, HXR, HXQ, HXW, LIT, NSIS, UDF, ODT, ODS, EPUB, and XPI.

B1 Free Archiver

B1 free archiver, as the name suggests, is also one of best free file compression tool and offers various features that are listed below:

• It is available for almost all platforms.
• The tool is pretty simple.
• It is free for personal and commercial use, making it a good choice for office use.
• It uses bit AES encryption protocols to ensure the safety of your data.
• It runs an integrity check before the extraction of every archive.
• It is an open-source project, meaning anyone can check its source code online and remains transparent to everyone.
• Using LZMA compression, B1 free archiver gives an excellent compression/speed ratio.
• The supported file types are b1, zip, rar, rar5, 7z, jar, xpi, arj, bz2, bzip2, tbz2, tbz, txz, cab, chm, chi, chq, chw, hxs, hxi, hxr, hxq, hxw, lit, cpio, deb, gz, gzip, tgz, tpz, hfs, iso, lzh, lha, lzma, rpm, tar, xar, z, taz, xz, dmg, cb7, cbr, cbt, and cbz.

IZArc

IZArc is another best file compression software for Windows due to the following features:

• It deals with many file compression file types.
• It can also work with CD image files and convert one into another.
• You can easily create a self-extracting file archive by simply double-clicking on it.
• Along with bit AES encryption, IZArc also provides you with the option to run an antivirus scan of your preferences before extracting data from the archive, doubling down on the security of your data.
• In case of corrupt compressed files, you can use an inbuilt repair tool to fix them.
• File formats supported by IZArc include 7-ZIP, A, ARC, ARJ, B64, BH, BIN, BZ2, BZA, C2D, CAB, CDI, CPIO, DEB, ENC, GCA, GZ, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, JAR, LHA, LIB, LZH, MDF, MBF, MIM, NRG, PAK, PDI, PK3, RAR, RPM, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ, UUE, WAR, XPI, XXE, YZ1, Z, ZIP, and ZOO.

Also Read:How to Extract RAR files on PC or Mobile

CAM UnZip

CAM UnZip is another free-to-use file compression tool and is considered in this list of compressor tools due to its following features:

• It can work with archive files quickly.
• It works like other tools on the list, except it could work as a portable application.
• This tool does not need any installation.
• You can use it from a USB or cloud storage.
• This gives freedom to the user to use the same portable version of the tool on multiple computers without making any changes to the system.
• It is highly recommended for office use.

The Unarchiver

The Unarchiver is a file archive extraction tool for macOS. The following are some notable features of this one of best file compression software for Windows.

• It can be used for many file types.
• Also, it works better than macOS built-in archive extractor.
• It is a free tool.
• The installation process is simple and easy.
• You can also set it as the default utility for archive files.
• One of the major selling points of this application is that it can read non-Latin characters in the filename.
• Zip, Zipx, RAR, z, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, LZMA, XZ, CAB, MSI, NSIS, EXE, ISO, BIN, MDF, NRG, CDI, Split files, and other unconventional file types are the supported file types.

Recommended:

We hope this list ends your quest to find best file compression tools. We would love to hear your thoughts about this article, and we welcome your suggestions and queries in the comment section below. We look forward to knowing about your next interest in learning.

Can anyone tell the difference?

Excellent question! Let me give you a side by side comparison. Below are two photos of my cousin. The left image is saved as bit PNG directly from Adobe Photoshop. On the right is the same image processed by TinyPNG. Spot any difference?

vs

How does it work?

Excellent question! When you upload a PNG (Portable Network Graphics) file, similar colors in your image are combined. This technique is called “quantization”. By reducing the number of colors, bit PNG files can be converted to much smaller 8-bit indexed color images. All unnecessary metadata is stripped too. The result better PNG files with % support for transparency. Have your cake and eat it too!

In the above image the file size is reduced by more than 70%. I have excellent eyesight but can’t spot the difference either! Use the optimized image to save bandwidth and loading time and your website visitors will thank you.

Is it supported everywhere?

Excellent question! The files produced by TinyPNG are displayed perfectly on all modern browsers including mobile devices. Still need to support Internet Explorer 6? It normally ignores PNG transparency and displays a solid background color. With TinyPNG the background becomes transparent again. Binary transparency without any workarounds!

Is it safe to use animated PNG?

Excellent question! Chrome, Firefox, Safari and now Microsoft Edge all support APNG. Only Interned Explorer does not support the format yet.

Apple added animated stickers to iMessage with the release of iOS If you want to create and compress stickers under KB take a look at the iMessage Panda sticker example on Github.

What about Photoshop?

Excellent question! Only Photoshop CC or newer can save images as indexed PNG files with alpha transparency. With other versions it is impossible and Photoshop CS5 cannot even display them properly.

You can use Save for Web to export your images as bit transparent PNG files and upload them to TinyPNG. We’ll convert them to tiny indexed PNG files. You can also install the TinyPNG Photoshop plugin. It allows you to scale, preview and save compressed PNG and JPEG images straight from Photoshop.

Why did you create TinyPNG?

Cloud drive services like Google Drive and OneDrive are handy and all, but sometimes you just need to wrap up a few files to send out in an email. Conversely, you’ll sometimes come across those ZIP and RAR files that you need to open up for yourself. In either case, a data-compression tool can help you out. We know of three free capable compression tools for your file zipping and unzipping needs. It’s worth noting that Windows itself offers native compression and unzipping capabilities via the right-click context menu, but the functionality is very basic.

7-Zip

Easily one of the most popular free file-archiving tools out there, 7-Zip is an open-source utility that’s been available and updated since It introduced its own archive format, 7z, which comes with impressive compression capability. Additionally, 7-Zip can compress files into other popular formats, including ZIP and TAR, while also being able to read/extract files from even more file types, such as EXT, RAR, and XAR.

Kevin Casper/IDG

7-Zip also includes encryption capabilities, a very simple user interface in Windows, file management abilities, Windows shell (right-click) menu integrations, support for over 80 languages, and is available in command line versions for Windows, Linux, and MacOS.

PeaZip

Another popular, open-source archiving solution, PeaZip brings a more user-friendly interface on both Windows and Linux environments, more like what you’d find with Windows Explorer or some commercial archivers.

Kevin Casper/IDG

PeaZip supports a similarly large list of file formats, including the above 7-Zip’s 7z file format. Additionally, PeaZip offers even more encryption options, hashing tools, and other security features such as secure deletion and two-factor authentication using passwords and key files.

BandiZip

BandiZip comes as both a free and paid piece of software. While other compression tools tend center their file management interfaces, BandiZip is a bit more purpose-built for creating and managing archives, giving a clear instruction for every step along the way.

Kevin Casper/IDG

In terms of its free product, BandiZip has a comfortable user interface, some Windows shell integration, and is well-regarded for its speed at compressing larger archives. It offers much of what 7-Zip and PeaZip do, but some of the features require a paid license to access. If you’re looking to do a lot of compression work for particularly large and/or complex archives, it’s worth looking into BandiZip to see if it could aid your projects.

Bottom line

While Windows’ integrated compression functionality is better than ever, it’s still worth having a dedicated compression tool so you have a greater breadth of support and functionality when the situation calls for it. And given there are three free worthwhile options, there should be nothing stopping you from being prepared.

How to choose the best file compression tool

A file compression tool condenses, expands, and manages data as necessary. The software combines multiple files into a single smaller unit than the overall size of the original content. As a result, the tool makes data storage and backup more efficient and enhances the transmission of electronic records. Common forms of transmission utilize .zip or .zipx file formats.

Compressing files also reduces transfer time and ensures that data is not corrupted when being transferred over the Internet. When choosing the best file compression tool, here are some factors to consider:

Supported file formats

There are several formats for compressing and decompressing files, and software compression tools can be compatible with one or more formats depending on their design and intended functionality. Ensure that your software of choice is compatible with your operating system and the file formats you work with, such as Zip, LHA, RAR, 7-Zip, GNU Zip, WinAce, etc.

Lossless vs. lossy compression

A file compression tool performing lossless compression reduces the number of bits and bytes in a file to make it more convenient to store, transmit, and download. Once it's downloaded, decompressed, and restored, the expanded file is unchanged from the original format.

Lossy compression, on the other hand, eliminates unnecessary bits of information to reduce the output size. It's often deployed for media elements such as sound, pictures, and video. Lossy compression is typically irreversible, so the compressed file won't be reproduced as it was in its original form.

For instance, MP3 content is a common application of lossy compression. Typically, the digital material is condensed by eliminating some audio data from the original recording. The compression tool will remove all sounds that are barely discernible to the human ear to reduce the file size.

Higher levels of compression get rid of increasing volumes of information. However, excessive compression results in blurriness when applied to photos and indistinguishable sounds when applied to music files. Depending on the nature of your files, you may want a compression method that best suits your applications.

Selection process

The majority of the file compression utilities can archive and extract files through basic right-click functionality. However, drag-and-drop features and instruction wizards also work well for inexperienced users. Another essential characteristic to look out for is the ability to manage archive conversions from one file format to another. Additionally, consider the tool's capacity to batch convert files.

The best file compression software makes it simple and easy to compress files for easy storage, with the option to work with multiple compression file types.

With the right file compression software, sharing and archiving files is easy. The ever-growing size of hard drives means the need to reduce file sizes when storing data has been reduced, but SDDs still cost significantly more per gigabyte than traditional spinning hard drives, so compressing files can still be very useful.

Compression is also very helpful when you want to send several files via email and keep them within the attachment size limit, share them via a service like WeTransfer, or send them to a remote cloud server.

That's not all – in addition to reducing file sizes, compression software offers plenty of extra features to take into consideration. Perhaps the best feature of compression tools is the ability to encrypt files and protect them with a password – something you'll find in all the tools we've picked here.

The most commonly used compression format is ZIP, but there are various other available. You never know which type you may encounter when downloading and sharing files, so it makes sense to have a program on hand that can handle more than one type. Here we take a look at a selection of the best tools, taking into account ones that offer the highest compression rates, and those that support the largest number of file types.

We've also featured the best free software uninstallers.

Best file compression software in in full:

One of the most famous names in the world of software utilities, WinZip is still going strong after nearly 30 years, and is still one of the best file compression tools around. 

However, you may wonder if you can justify spending money on a compression tool when there are so many free alternatives available. Ultimately it depends on your priorities, but you do get a lot of extras for your money.

In addition to support for a wide range of archive formats (including ZIP, ZIPX, RAR (extraction only), 7z, TAR, GZIP, VHD and XZ), WinZip offers integration with a number of programs including Office for easy zipping as you work.

Other bonus features include the splitting of large zip files to fit different media, advanced file sharing options, cloud support and an advanced zip management system that rivals Windows Explorer. The interface adapts to suit mouse and keyboard setups or touchscreen devices, and there are backup and security options thrown in to protect your files.

WinZip is an incredibly useful tool to have in your software arsenal, and it's flexible enough to work in the way that suits you best – you can create and extract via the program interface, or using the program window.

And if you'd rather not pay money, we've featured the best free alternatives to Winzip (opens in new tab).

Read our full WinZip review.

As famous as WinZip in certain circles, WinRAR created a name for itself thanks to its proprietary RAR format, which offers incredible levels of compression. Most compression programs can extract RAR archives, but only WinRAR can (officially) create them. This exclusivity comes at a price that is similar to WinZip.

Of course, WinRAR can be used to compress files into many other compressed formats, and the program benefits from the fact that it is available for just about every platform imaginable. 

The interface is not the most pleasant to look at, and even if you opt to use the Explorer context menu to create or extract archives, beginners may well feel overwhelmed by the number of options and settings on display. That said, there is a wizard mode that take the hard work out of most tasks. 

WinRAR's killer feature is undoubtedly full RAR support, but its encryption, speed, self-extracting archive creation and themes (if you're into that sort of thing!) mean it's well worth taking a look at the trial version to see if this is the compression tool for you.

Read our full WinRAR review.

The first free option in this roundup, 7-Zip is another program with an excellent reputation. It can handle pretty much any compressed file format you care to throw at it.

A real stalwart of the compression world, 7-Zip boasts its own compressed file format, 7z. This not only lets you compress truly gigantic files (up to 16 billion gigabytes, according to its developers), but also has an incredibly high compression rate. However, this does mean making speed sacrifices; 7z can use 'solid compression' to achieve tiny file sizes, but it can be very, very slow.

7-Zip's interface is far from attractive, and the number of context menu entries the program creates can be a little unnerving. Thankfully, if you venture into Options within the program, you'll find that it's easy enough to get rid of the options you don't need.

The look of this file compression software won't be to everyone's taste, but if you can get past this, you have a rock-steady and reliable utility on your hands.

Read our full 7-Zip review.

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ESA / Enabling & Support / Space Engineering & Technology / Onboard Data Processing

TEC-EDP has compiled a set of tools supporting test, evaluation and implementation of data compression algorithms. For more information and support, please contact:

Data Compression Tools

WhiteDwarf Data Compression Evaluation Tool

WhiteDwarf is an application that supports the evaluation of compression algorithms by the prospective users of those algorithms. It allows users to compress and decompress their own data files, and optimize algorithm choice and compression parameters by testing with representative user-selected datasets. It also allows users to perform pre-processing functions on their files. Using this tool, users can test how different combinations of algorithm and compression parameter perform when compressing samples of their own data. These combinations may be stored, exported and imported. The generation of test reports is also supported.

The tool is made available to ESA supported projects and to companies in ESA member states. To obtain an authorized copy, please refer to the WhiteDwarf project page on the European Space Software Repository (ESSR): chambery-turin.com

CCSDS Reference Software

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ESA / Enabling & Support / Space Engineering & Technology / Onboard Data Processing

TEC-EDP has compiled a set of tools supporting test, evaluation and implementation of data compression algorithms, Compression tools. For more information and support, please contact:

Data Compression Tools

WhiteDwarf Data Compression Evaluation Tool

WhiteDwarf is an application that supports the evaluation of compression algorithms by the prospective users of those algorithms. It allows users to compress and decompress their own data files, and optimize algorithm choice and compression parameters by testing with representative user-selected datasets. It also allows users to perform pre-processing functions on their files. Using this tool, users can test how different combinations of algorithm and compression parameter perform when compressing samples of their own data. These combinations may be stored, exported and imported. The generation of test reports is also Compression tools.

The tool is made available to ESA supported projects and to companies in ESA member states. To obtain an authorized copy, please refer to the WhiteDwarf project page on the European Space Software Repository (ESSR): chambery-turin.com

CCSDS Reference Software

Imagine that you reset your smartphone, and all the data is gone. But you were smart and made a backup on your computer before the reset. But now, the problem is the sheer size of the backup, which is too much for a simple file move. Well, Compression tools, the solution to your problem is simple. Yes, File Compression! All you need is the best file compression software for Windows to compress the backup data to a manageable size. There are many reputable file compression software free on the internet. It may lead to some confusion about which one to choose. So, we bring you the list of the best Compression tools compression tools available and tell Compression tools which one is the best among the rest.

15 Best File Compression Tools for Windows

It is the process of reducing the size of a file, making it more convenient to store on your computer because of the smaller occupied space. It also results in faster transmission of data since it is smaller now. There are two types of compression.

• One is lossless compression, where all the original file’s data is maintained.
• The other type is lossy compression, where some information is discarded for file compression.

Now, you have learned about the basics of file compression. Let’s move to the list of the best file compression tools.

1. WinZip

WinZip is one of Compression tools file compression software for Windows out there because of the following features:

• It can handle all major compression file types.
• It uses file encryption protocols to protect data from malicious activities.
• Apart from its primary job of compressing and decompressing files, WinZip is also an all-in-one tool for tasks like file sharing and merging PDF.
• In addition to this, WinZip also supports cloud storage integration from services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Compression tools, and other major cloud storage to make transferring files from the cloud to Compression tools local storage a breeze.
• The only downside of this software is that it is a paid application.
• It supports files of types, ZIP, TAR, Compression tools, GZIP, CAB, RAR, BZ2, LZH, 7Z, IMG, ISO, XZ, VHD, and VMDK.

2. 7-Zip

7-Zip makes its way into this list of best free file compression software for Windows without any doubt due to the features listed below:

• It gained popularity due to its open-source nature and great file.
• 7-Zip employs AES encryption, which backs up its robust claims on the security side of things.
• This is important as many organizations use it to unpack compressed files.
• It does not require a license for commercial use, built-in Windows Shell integration, and support for over 80 languages.
• It supports various file types depending on packing and unpacking processes.
• The file types supported for both packing and packing are 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP, and WIM.
• Also, unpacking can be done in file types such as AR, ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, CramFS, DMG, EXT, FAT, GPT, HFS, IHEX, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MBR, MSI, NSIS, NTFS, QCOW2, RAR, RPM, SquashFS, UDF, UEFI, VDI, VHD, VMDK, Compression tools, WIM, XAR, and Z.

Also Read:7-Zip vs WinZip vs WinRAR (Best File Compression Tool)

3. WinRAR

WinRAR is a software-only Compression tools few hasn’t heard about. Do you wonder how it took its place on this list? Read the features of this one of best file compression software for Windows given below:

• It is one of the fastest and best file compression tools.
• It offers virus detection, recovery of corrupt files, and password management for password-protected compressed files.
• Like 7zip, WinRAR also encrypts files using the AES bit protocol.
• It is available on all major OS platforms.
• Something that might bother you while using WinRAR is the notification for buying the lifetime license, which costs around $
• RAR, CAB, ZIP, UUE, Z, ACE, ARJ, 7-ZIP, AND Compression tools are the supported file types by WinRAR.

4. PeaZip

PeaZip is what you get when you take the best out of all the open-source file compression tools and put them together in a nice-looking package.

• You can use PeaZip for almost all compression filetypes.
• In addition to the nice-looking GUI, PeaZip also supports themes that you can download from the official website.
• As a compilation of major open-source tools, PeaZip takes the best out of the best from every tool, such as encryption protocol, file management, and support Compression tools various OS.
• Like 7-Zip, the supported file types vary depending on the packing or unpacking process.
• Files supported for packing are Z, ARC, Brotli BR, BZip2, GZip, PAQ, PEA, RAR, TAR, WIM, XZ, Zstandard ZST, ZIP, and self-extracting archives.
• Open ACE (requires another plugin), BR, CAB, DMG, ISO, Compression tools, RAR, UDF, ZST, and ZIPX are the file types supported for unpacking.
• Apart from this, the software also supports + other file types for unpacking.

Also Read:Is WinZip Safe?

5. Zipware

Zipware is a free file compression software worth making into this list due to the below-highlighted factors:

• It supports all major compression file types.
• It is easy to use.
• It can easily handle large and small compressed files.
• Also, it can scan the archives for viruses with the help of chambery-turin.com.
• It has a checksum calculation function that you can use from the context menu Compression tools File Explorer without opening Zipware.
• Zipware can also create exe compressed files or self-extracting archives, which can extract the content without needing a different tool to open the archive.
• It offers its help hand for file types such as ZIP, 7-ZIP, and EXE for packing.
• Similarly, you can unpack ZIP, ZIPX, 7Z, RAR, RAR5, ISO, Compression tools, VHD, MSI, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, CPIO, DEB, DMG, LZH, LZMA, LZMA2, PPMd, NSIS, Compression tools, RPM, UDF, WIM, XAR, XPI, CBR, CBZ, XZ, and Z file types.

6, Compression tools. Hamster Zip Archiver

Hamster Zip Archiver is the one tool you should definitely try. Go through the points below to know its features:

• Hamster Zip Archiver is the best option if you want a simple and easy-to-use file compression tool that can still handle huge archive files.
• It is free software that supports all commonly used compression file types.
• Its drag and drop interface makes it easy for even inexperienced users to compress a file.
• Hamster Zip Archiver also comes with cloud storage integration, which is always a welcome feature.
• The only downside of the application is that it is exclusively available only for Windows.
• It supports a wide range of file formats. Some of them are ZIP, 7Z, ARJ, BZ2, TBZ, GZIP, DEB, Compression tools, FAT, TPZ, Compression tools, IHEX, SCAP, UEFIF, VHD, XAR, XZ, TXZ, CHM, CHI, CHQ, CHW, HXS, HXI, HXR, HXQ, HXW, LIT, NSIS, UDF, ODT, ODS, EPUB, and XPI.

Also Read:Zip or Unzip Files and Folders in Windows 10

7. Ashampoo ZIP

Next on the list is Ashampoo Zip, which is worth a shot for the following reasons:

• Ashampoo ZIP can create and extract compressed archive files of various file types like zip, 7zip, Compression tools, cab, tar, and lha fast and effortlessly.
• Ashampoo ZIP supports an unlimited archive size.
• The software doesn’t cap or limit the size or number of the files that are to be compressed, giving users freedom and flexibility to work with extensive archives.
• The application also lets you preview different types of files even before extracting them to see Compression tools file Compression tools are working.
• The next feature of Ashampoo ZIP includes the Repair zip function to fix corrupt zip archives.
• It offers a bit AES encryption protocol to protect your compressed files.
• The user interface is also a plus point for being simple and easy to use while not entirely archaic.
• It supports various file formats for packing such as ZIP, 7-ZIP, CAB, TAR (TAR, chambery-turin.com, chambery-turin.com2, chambery-turin.com), and LHA.
• Similarly, the file types supported for unpacking are RAR, ZIPX, ARJ, ARC, ACE, MSI, NSIS, CHM, DMG, RPM, CPIO, VHD, XAR, LZMA, LZH, SquashFS, CramFS, ZOO, WIM plus ISO (ISO and UDF), and 30 more.

8. PowerArchiver

PowerArchiver is more of a file compression tool that can be used by professionals due to its significant features listed below:

• It supports almost all the file compression filetypes in existence.
• While the feat of compressing files to 90% of their original size is astonishing, PowerArchiver is much more than a file compression tool.
• It can encrypt and backup data.
• Also, it uses many Compression tools and filters to provide the user with an impressive compression/speed ratio.
• There are smart and optimized modes to distinguish the compression/speed ratio that fits the best for the files provided for compression.
• PowerArchiver also asks for administrative access using the User Account Control prompt when it needs administrative permissions to write/read in a folder.

Also Read:How to Unzip Files on Android Phone

9. Bandizip

Bandizip is another best free file compression software for Compression tools made into this list of the best compressor tools due to the following highlighted feature:

• It can deal with various compression file types.
• It is lightweight.
• It uses a zip algorithm that compresses and extracts archives blazing fast.
• Also, it comes with features like fast drag and drop, multicore compression, and high-speed archiving.
• However, the number of file types it can handle is low.
• Also, it can only be used for the most common compression file types.
• Bandizip makes up for its lack by providing an impressive inbuilt password manager and archive repair tool.
• It also shows previews of the files in the archive, so you know what file you are dealing with before extracting it.
• Bandisoft, the developer of Bandizip, releases updates and bug fixes for the software frequently.
• There are chances that they will add support for other compression file types in the future.

Express Zip

Another on the list of the best file compression tools is Express Zip due to its excellent features listed below:

• It is a file compression tool developed by NCH software.
• It is a simple but effective solution to your file compression worries.
• There is a free version aimed at home.
• The basic user can use the software for day-to-day operations, like file compression and extractions for sharing as email attachments.
• You can use it for files of common compression file Compression tools like zip, rar, tar, cab, etc.
• It reduces the file size to fit in portable media storage.
• Also, it gives the option to burn the archived files to disk media to facilitate a more portable file-sharing scenario.
• Express Zip software supports a huge range of file formats, such as .zip. zipx. rar. tar. tgz, chambery-turin.com. gz. gzip. 7z. cab. iso. img. dmg. arj. jar, Compression tools. bz2, chambery-turin.com2, chambery-turin.com. wim. xz. z. bkz. nco. apk. lzh. pkpass. vmdk. vhd.xar, Compression tools. qcow2. txz. deb. rpm. cpio, Multidisk (.zipx), and Multidisk (.7z).

Also Read:What is WinZip?

NX Power Lite Desktop

NX Power Lite is one of the best file compression tools because:

• It is fully featured yet simple.
• The features of this software truly support easy yet powerful file compression.
• Custom profiles for different settings, File Explorer integration, Batch file compression for compression multiple files up to 10, Compression tools, at the same time, and Email attachment compression are a few features that come in handy in different scenarios.
• Bulk deployment options also work great in a commercial setup without requiring much interaction from the user side.
• The list of supported file types is vast.
• Some of the supported file formats are ZIP, Compression tools, ARJ, BZ2, TBZ, GZIP, DEB, DMG, IMG, GZ, TGZ, HFS, LZH, RMP, PKG, Z, TAZ, CAB, Compression tools, ISO, RAR, TAR, WIM, SWM, JAR, APM, AR, A, LIB, MSI, CPIO, ELF, FAT, TPZ, Compression tools, IHEX, MACHO, MBR, MSLZ, MUB, NTFS, DLL, SYS, TE, PMD, SQUASHFS, SCAP, UEFIF, VHD, XAR, XZ, TXZ, CHM, CHI, CHQ, CHW, HXS, HXI, HXR, HXQ, HXW, Compression tools, LIT, NSIS, UDF, ODT, ODS, EPUB, and XPI.

B1 Free Archiver

B1 free archiver, as the name suggests, is also one of best free file compression tool and offers various features that are listed below:

• It is available for almost all platforms.
• The tool is pretty simple.
• It is free for personal and commercial use, making it a good choice for office use.
• It uses bit AES encryption protocols to ensure the safety of your data.
• It runs an integrity check before the extraction of every archive.
• It is an open-source MDaemon Email Server Pro Free Download, meaning anyone can check its source code online and remains transparent to everyone.
• Using LZMA compression, B1 free archiver gives an excellent compression/speed ratio.
• The supported file types are b1, zip, rar, rar5, Compression tools, 7z, jar, xpi, Compression tools, arj, bz2, bzip2, tbz2, tbz, txz, cab, chm, chi, chq, chw, hxs, hxi, hxr, hxq, hxw, lit, cpio, deb, gz, gzip, tgz, tpz, Compression tools, hfs, iso, lzh, lha, lzma, rpm, tar, xar, Compression tools, z, taz, xz, dmg, cb7, cbr, cbt, and cbz.

IZArc

IZArc is another best file compression software for Windows due to the following features:

• It deals with many file compression file types.
• It can also work with CD image files and convert one into another.
• You can easily create a self-extracting file archive by simply double-clicking on it.
• Along with bit AES encryption, IZArc also provides you with the option to run an antivirus scan of your preferences before extracting data from the archive, doubling down on photopad image editor old version security of your data.
• In case of corrupt compressed files, you can use an inbuilt repair tool to fix them.
• File formats supported by IZArc include 7-ZIP, A, ARC, ARJ, B64, BH, BIN, BZ2, Compression tools, BZA, C2D, CAB, CDI, CPIO, DEB, ENC, GCA, GZ, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, Compression tools, JAR, LHA, LIB, Compression tools, MDF, MBF, MIM, NRG, PAK, PDI, PK3, RAR, RPM, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ, UUE, WAR, XPI, XXE, YZ1, Z, ZIP, and ZOO.

Also Read:How to Extract RAR files on PC or Mobile

CAM UnZip

CAM UnZip is another free-to-use file compression tool and is considered in this list of compressor tools due to its following features:

• It can work with archive files quickly.
• It works like other tools on the list, except it could work as a portable application.
• This tool does not need any installation.
• You can use it from a USB or cloud storage.
• This gives freedom to the user to use the same portable version of the tool on multiple computers without making any changes to the system.
• It is highly recommended for office use.

The Unarchiver

The Unarchiver is a file archive extraction tool for macOS. The following are some notable features of this one of best file compression software for Windows.

• It can be used for many file types.
• Also, it works better than Compression tools built-in archive extractor.
• It is a free tool.
• The installation process is simple and easy.
• You can also set it as the default utility for archive files.
• One of the major selling points of this application is that it can read non-Latin characters in the filename.
• Zip, Zipx, RAR, z, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, LZMA, XZ, CAB, MSI, NSIS, EXE, ISO, BIN, Compression tools, MDF, NRG, CDI, Split files, and other unconventional file types are the supported file types.

Recommended:

We hope this list ends your quest to find best file compression tools. We would love to hear your thoughts about this article, and we welcome your suggestions and queries in the comment section below. We look forward to knowing about your next interest in learning.