The Best WinRAR Alternatives: Complete Guide and Comparison 2024

Choosing a good alternative to WinRAR has become almost mandatory for many users, especially when you are looking for a tool that is Delivery to Italy takes one or two business days, flexible y simple to use. WinRAR has been around for decades One of the most used programs to compress and decompress files in Windows, but it is not the only option nor the most recommended if you want to save money or enjoy advanced features.

In this guide I present to you the best-rated alternatives, gathering the features, advantages, and a few tricks of each, always using friendly, clear language aimed at ensuring you don't miss anything important. Here you have everything you need to know before you decide for the compression tool that best suits your computer and your way of working.

Why look for alternatives to WinRAR?

WinRAR It has been an essential application for years, but despite being practically "free" for home use, its license is paid and more and more users prefer solutions free of restrictions and greater compatibility. The fact that so many open and free alternatives have emerged responds to the demand for programs that not only compress and decompress more formats, but also offer advanced features such as secure encryption, cloud integration, the ability to split large files, and ultimately, providing an experience adapted to new times.

What we ask of a good file compressor

• Compatibility with current formats, both for compressing and extracting (ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZIP, etc.).
• Security features, such as AES-256 encryption and password protection.
• Ease of use: User-friendly interface, integration with Windows context menu and drag and drop support.
• Advanced: split files, create self-extracting executables, generate secure passwords, and support for large files.
• free availability and, if possible, with a portable or multiplatform version.

The best alternatives to WinRAR in 2024

7-Zip: Maximum compression and open source

If there is a program that can look WinRAR in the face, it is it. 7-Zip. Free, open source and with support for most popular formats, it stands out for its high level of compression, especially using the 7z formatYou can easily split files into smaller parts, ideal for sharing via email or carrying on external devices. A very useful feature is the ability to create self-extracting archives (.exe), which you can open on any Windows PC without installing anything.

Another advantage is the portable version, that you can carry on a USB and run on any computer without installation. 7-Zip integrates its options into the context menu and supports AES-256 encryption on your files. Its supported formats include zip, tar, rar, xz, lzh, arj, cpio and many others.

PeaZip: Advanced security and support for over 180 formats

PeaZip It is another open source and cross-platform gem, available for Windows and Linux. Your strengths are the compatibility with a huge amount of formats (more than 180), the possibility of applying filters, splitting or joining files, and especially its focus on the to maximise security and your enjoyment.. Supports two-factor authentication (password plus keyfile), key generator, and AES-256 encryption. Its interface is simple and customizable, has a function drag & drop and is ideal for those looking for extra peace of mind when storing sensitive files.

Not only can you unzip rar files, but You can also create protected compressed files and take advantage of advanced file management features.It is available in a portable version and does not include ads or unnecessary software.

Bandizip: Fast, modern, and feature-rich

Bandizip It is a free and modern tool, designed for those who value the speed and visual compatibility with Windows. Allows compress and decompress in multiple formats (zip, 7z, exe, tgz, tar, gz, rar, iso, among others), Split files, password protect them, and define the size of the parts.

Its context menu integration, Unicode support, and drag-and-drop functionality make it very convenient. Although it has paid versions, the free version is very completeIt can be used on both Windows and portable versions, and is suitable for large files. It also includes a compressed file viewer and scanner to prevent viruses.

B1 Free Archiver: Cross-platform and free

If you are looking for an option free, open source, and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, B1 Free Archiver It stands out for its simplicity and for offering AES-256 encryption to create password-protected archives. This is complemented by an intuitive interface, no ads or "extras" that spoil the experience, and a privacy-friendly policy. It supports multiple formats (b1, zip, jar, rar, 7z, arj, bz2, cab, deb, gzip, tgz, iso, lzh, lha, lzma, rpm, tar, xar, dmg).

Being multiplatform, you can work with the same files on different operating systems.

AZip: Lightweight, simple, and with a mobile version

AZip is a free and open source compression program that It stands out for being light and easy to use. It supports several popular formats (rar, zip, zipx, jar, 7z, gz, tgz, bz2, tbz, tbz2, xz, txz, lz, tlz, tar, iso, lzh, lha, arj, z, taz, 001) and has a very useful function to search for information directly within a compressed file without having to extract it.

Also allows file transfer via Wi-Fi and Hotspot, can work in the background and is available as a mobile app.

PowerArchiver: Complete and cloud-integrated

PowerArchiver It has been on the market since 1999 and is packed with modern features: Supports more than 60 formats, advanced AES-256 encryption, self-extracting archive creation, virtual disk management and ISO/BIN image mounting, integration with services such as Google Drive or Dropbox, and a customizable interface.. It offers a free trial version for 40 days.

What if you don't want to install anything? Online alternatives and Windows Explorer itself.

The good news is that the Windows file explorer It already supports opening RAR files from the latest versions of Windows 10 and 11. If you don't need to compress, just open and view files, you've got it covered out of the box with a double-click. For more advanced issues, you can also explore options like Open RAR files in Windows 11.

Another interesting option if you don't want to install anything is ezyZip, an online tool that lets you compress and decompress files directly from your browser, including RAR files. You don't need to download any software, and it's useful for third-party devices or specific situations.

Which one to choose? Tips based on user type

• If you are looking for the closest thing to WinRAR in free and open source, go for 7-Zip o NanaZip.
• Do you value security and compatibility with many formats? PeaZip is in the lead.
• If you work on multiple systems, B1 Free Archiver it is cross-platform.
• For those who prioritize design and visual functions, Bandizip, Ashampoo ZIP Free o Hamster ZIP Archiver can be ideal.
• Do you only need to extract files occasionally? Windows Explorer y easyZip are enough for you.

As you can see, the universe of alternatives to WinRAR is much wider than it seemed, with solutions of all kinds, free, open source and with functions that even surpass those of the legendary WinRARThe right choice will depend on your specific needs: if you share large files, prioritize options with volume splitting; if you value privacy, opt for those that offer strong encryption and two-factor authentication.