We have a list of free programs to compress and decompress in Windows and it is a tool that cannot be missing on your computer, but you should not pay for it either and it is one of those applications that should never be missing from your desk, but the truth is that we only remember them when we need them.
They are basic tools that do not have great aesthetics , like that of other programs on your computer and their task is concrete, basic and unadorned: compress and decompress files, however, with the advancement of technology and time, some of them have added certain functions that are very useful to achieve the expected results.
However, there are many alternatives that you can explore, from the most robust and paid ones, to the free and functional alternatives, precisely those that we talk about in this research, so that you can choose the program that best suits your needs and requirements. in everyday tasks on your computer.
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What is the use of compressing and decompressing files
Before going any further, it is first important to point out why it is important to compress and decompress files. This action is necessary to manipulate large files in a smaller memory space within your storage unit, it may seem obvious, but nowadays it is necessary to have programs that allow us to bring the files to a lighter version to to be able to manipulate them on mobile devices and to be able to send them over the Internet.
Having compressed files will then allow you to occupy less space in your memory, share a file in less time and also take much less time to download content if your Internet connection does not have the highest bandwidth.
Current programs to compress and decompress files also include additional functions that allow you to manage files, share them directly through their platform and also protect them with encryption systems and passwords.
Difference between Zip and Rar format
We must also know the difference between the most common compression formats before going on to give names and options to compress and decompress, specifically we are talking about the Zip and Rar formats, which are the most used and on which most of these are focused. programs.
- Zip format : The Zip format is the most universal of those used to compress files. You can create, extract and view them from almost any compression tool available on the market, that is, you don’t need a specific tool to use it. It is compatible with almost any operating system, starting with the main ones like Windows, Mac OS and Linux.
- Rar format : The second most used compression format is Rar, which although it is well known, has certain limitations and is also less widely understood as a standard of use. The first drawback is that not just any compression and decompression program is compatible, however it is ideal if you need to reduce the weight of a file to its minimum expression, since in that sense it is more efficient than Zip.
Now, since we know why to use these programs and the definitions of the main formats used, it is time to start naming the options that are available in the market for free and that you can download right now.
7-Zip
We begin this count with the free option most used by Windows users, especially if they do not want to pay for it, because the preferred options that are Winzip and Winrar are paid, but this program would be the free successor. It is an open source development that is licensed under the GNU LGPL and is currently very popular. It supports the main formats, that is, Zip and Rar, but it also has its own format that claims to be more efficient and is 7z.
You can also use it to compress and decompress files with the formats AB, ARJ, GZIP, TAR and others. It has a fairly simple and intuitive interface for users, it also allows compressing and decompressing large files without practically having a size limit, being able to do so with files of up to 16 billion gigabytes.
IZArc
Followed by the previous option, IZArc is followed in popularity when we talk about free programs. It is a simple and very practical program to use, it is ideal for those who do not have any computer knowledge since it is quite intuitive, and it also includes a basic guide to start using it from scratch.
This program is compatible with format files: CAB, ACE, ARJ, MBF, MIM, ZIP, RAR or TAR , among many others. One of its main advantages is security, because this development has a file encryption system that will prevent an unauthorized person from accessing your files.
You will see that using it will be as easy as dragging files from a folder in Windows and it is also available in different languages. It also has a tool to repair damaged files and it also allows you to change the format.
PeaZip
We continue to explore the free alternatives between the programs to compress and decompress files in Windows and we have come to an option that is less known, but is just as functional and very efficient, it is PeaZip .
We see that this program is quite close to what 7-Zip, p7zip, FreeArc, PAQ and PEA offer us, it has a very simple and intuitive interface , and you can also use it both in Windows and in GNU / Linux.
For decompression, you will see that the software has a high compatibility , being able to recognize up to 180 different formats, among which are 001, 7Z, ACE, ARC, ARJ, BZ2, CAB, DMG, GZ, ISO, LHA, PAQ, PEA , RAR, TAR, UDF, WIM, XZ, ZIP ZIPX.
In file compression, this program is a little more limited , in fact we see that it does not have access to Rar’s algorithms to compress since it is a private format, however, we see that you can create compressed files with 7Z format, ARC, GZ, PEA, ZIP or XZ, among others.
It has a high level of security standard and is ideal for personal or professional use, despite being a free program.
HamsterZip Archiver
If you are still looking for a free program to compress or decompress files in Windows you should also consider HamsterZip Archiver although you have probably never heard of it. It is perfect for those people who need to carry out the task of reducing the size of a file, but do not have much agility in computer matters.
When you see the HamsterZip Archiver interface, you will see that it is a totally intuitive program with great simplicity. The operation is practical, you only need to drag and drop files on its home page and you can start compressing and decompressing it as the case may be.
This program has cloud support , which will allow you to directly save your compressed file in Drive or Dropbox as the case may be. A couple of clicks are enough for you to store your already processed file locally or send it digitally.
It is compatible with ZIP, RAR, TAR and 7Z formats; works perfectly on Windows 7, 8 and 10.
WinAce
We return to a classic in the list of free options to compress and decompress files in Windows and it is WinAce. This tool allows you to create, view and extract compressed files in the most popular formats such as ZIP, LHA, MS-CAB, JAVA and JAR and also has its own format under the ACE extension.
This free software will deliver files with quite high compression levels and its error rate is really low. It has a very attractive interface and also has an intuitive operation that does not require more knowledge of this type of program.
Its operation is one of the fastest and it also has tools to repair files, but you must bear in mind that they will only be available in ACE and ZIP format; it also offers you the option of creating self-extracting files that ensure good compression and can handle large file sizes.
FreeCompressor
We keep reviewing the free options to compress and decompress files and this is FreeCompressor. It is very simple, it also does not have a very elaborate aesthetic, but it does the job , it also includes tools to encrypt and store large files.
The FreeCompressor program supports more than 26 different formats , including ZIP, 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, CAB, DEB, GCA, IMP, JAR, RAR, RPM, TAR, TGZ, TBZ, TAZ, among others. You can choose to add security passwords to the files you compress, so that only the people to whom you supply the security combination can have access.
jZip
We continue to see the different programs available in Windows to compress and decompress files for free. Something that we will like about this option is that it has an interface very similar to that of WinZip and this will allow us not to feel strange, but with the difference that you do not have to pay to use it.
This is a fast, simple program, capable of handling large files, and it is also perfect for those who do not have very advanced knowledge of computer programs. It supports format files: zip, 7-zip, ace, arc, arj, bh, bz2, cab, cpio, deb, gca, gz, imp, jar, lha, lib, rar, rpm, sqx, tar, tgz , tbz, taz, yz1, zoo, bin, c2d, img, iso and nrg.
Bandizip
We include Bandizip in our list of alternatives to compress and decompress files, a free tool for Windows that allows you to create files very quickly and also has its own and very intuitive interface .
This program has support for Unicode text , it also allows creating exe files and we can also decide if we want to divide a file into several compression files. This software supports a large number of formats such as: RAR, ACE, AES, ALZ, APK, ARJ, BH, BIN, BZ, BZ2, CAB, EGG, GZ, J2J, JAR, IMG, IPA, ISZ, LHA, LZMA, PMA, TBZ, TBZ1, TGZ, TLZ, TXZ, UDF, WAR, WIM, XPI, XZ and Z.
Zipware
We close the count of the programs to compress and decompress in Windows for free with this option and it is Zipware. Its interface is quite nice and it is also quite intuitive, it can work with different formats and it is also very fast in execution. Another of its main attributes is that it has the ability to handle large files, both to compress and decompress and its error rate is quite low.
If you want to compress an archive, you can create zip, 7.zip and also exe files . It also includes an encryption system for all content under the well-known AES 256 standard. This software is compatible with ZIP, ZIPX, 7Z, RAR, RAR5, ISO, VHD, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, CPIO, XZ, DEB formats. DMG, RPM and XPI.
