WinZip Alternative

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I just received a notice that my WinZip needs an update. Went to their site and found out that it is now a subscription product with an annual fee. I use this app so infrequently that I don’t want to get into such an agreement. However, once in a while, I do need to unzip something. Are there any products that might be free or at least cost less that might work for an infrequest user like myself might use?

Thanks!

Don E.

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I’d highly recommend 7-zip
Much better compression ratios, encryption and checksum functions as standard.
Best FREE with encryption technology, what’s not to like?

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, XAR and Z.
For ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip
Strong AES-256 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 / 2019 / 2016 / 2012 / 2008 / 2003 / 2000.

If encrypting and sending via Google Mail, it will not accept the attachment, as it can’t read the contents..hint: use another email provider to send encrypted files 😉

If debian is good enough for NASA...

8 users thanked author for this post.

Bill C., SueW, steeviebops, Sky, lmacri, Alex5723, BobbyB, Sueska

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Win Zip has always asked for a subscription, but it also allowed you to run it in “Evaluation” to see if you like it.  This is free and came up every time you use it.  I just tried my Win Zip 9 and this still works for me.

Being 20 something in the 70's was far more fun than being 70 something in the insane 20's

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Winzip 9 may have some compatibility problems running on newer Windows versions than the current versions that are supported by Corel, Charlie

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Thanks to you both. I’ve downloaded and installed 7-zip, just in case, and will retain WinZip Pro 26 for possible future use as well.

 

Don E.

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doneager wrote:

I’ve downloaded and installed 7-zip

If you can refrain from installing anything in Windows. Use portable apps instead.

https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/7-zip_portable

Windows includes build-in Extract All (un-Zip) feature in right-click menu.

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Windows built-in support for .zip files does have limits.  On several occasions it has choked when attempting to unzip a large .zip file but 7-Zip handled it without error.

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Peazip or 7-zip are recommended over Winzip

use latest versions of either one (and portable ones if necessary)

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I switched over to 7-zip some years ago and it has been fine ever since. It does get updated by the developer once or twice each year.

https://7-zip.org/

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I stopped using WinZip many years ago when it turned into very aggressive nagware. I’d add my voice to the people recommending 7-zip. The interface isn’t the prettiest, but it’s free and it does the job (and then some)

1 user thanked author for this post.

Alex5723

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