[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":365},["ShallowReactive",2],{"en-post-33":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":357,"extension":358,"meta":359,"navigation":360,"path":361,"seo":362,"stem":363,"__hash__":364},"content/post/33.md","33",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":341},"minimark",[9,28,33,159,163,168,174,181,185,188,191,195,198,202,208,212,215,219,255,258,262,307,311,317,323,335],[10,11,12,13,17,18,17,21,17,24,27],"p",{},"Windows can open ZIP files on its own, and anything else (",[14,15,16],"code",{},".rar",", ",[14,19,20],{},".7z",[14,22,23],{},".tar",[14,25,26],{},".iso",") needs a third-party archive tool. There is no shortage of options, but few of them are free, ad-free and bundle-free all at once. The comparison below looks at cost, format support, ads and bundling, and Windows 11 integration, then ends with a recommendation you can act on.",[29,30,32],"h2",{"id":31},"_1-side-by-side","1. Side by side",[34,35,36,58],"table",{},[37,38,39],"thead",{},[40,41,42,46,49,52,55],"tr",{},[43,44,45],"th",{},"Tool",[43,47,48],{},"Cost",[43,50,51],{},"Format support",[43,53,54],{},"Ads and bundling",[43,56,57],{},"Verdict",[59,60,61,79,94,111,127,142],"tbody",{},[40,62,63,67,70,73,76],{},[64,65,66],"td",{},"7-Zip",[64,68,69],{},"Free, open source",[64,71,72],{},"Very wide, including 7z, rar, zip, tar, iso",[64,74,75],{},"None",[64,77,78],{},"The free open source benchmark, dated but capable",[40,80,81,84,86,89,91],{},[64,82,83],{},"NanaZip",[64,85,69],{},[64,87,88],{},"Same as 7-Zip",[64,90,75],{},[64,92,93],{},"7-Zip modernised, best Windows 11 integration",[40,95,96,99,102,105,108],{},[64,97,98],{},"Bandizip",[64,100,101],{},"Free version ad-supported",[64,103,104],{},"Wide, includes encryption and split archives",[64,106,107],{},"Free version shows ads",[64,109,110],{},"Best to use, ads are the main objection",[40,112,113,116,119,122,124],{},[64,114,115],{},"WinRAR",[64,117,118],{},"Trial, licence required",[64,120,121],{},"Strong on rar and zip, average elsewhere",[64,123,75],{},[64,125,126],{},"First choice for rar, no hard trial cutoff",[40,128,129,132,134,137,139],{},[64,130,131],{},"PeaZip",[64,133,69],{},[64,135,136],{},"Very wide",[64,138,75],{},[64,140,141],{},"Open source alternative, unusual interface",[40,143,144,147,150,153,156],{},[64,145,146],{},"360 Compression",[64,148,149],{},"Free",[64,151,152],{},"Moderate",[64,154,155],{},"Suite bundling risk",[64,157,158],{},"Easy to start with, bundling concerns",[29,160,162],{"id":161},"_2-one-at-a-time","2. One at a time",[164,165,167],"h3",{"id":166},"_7-zip-the-free-open-source-benchmark","7-Zip, the free open source benchmark",[10,169,170,171,173],{},"Completely free and open source, no ads and no bundling. Compression ratios are strong, since its own ",[14,172,20],{}," format usually beats zip by a good margin, format support is very broad, and the program is light. The downside is a dated interface and a traditional style of context menu entry. It suits most people who do not care how it looks and want free plus strong compression.",[10,175,176,177,180],{},"Use ",[14,178,179],{},"7-zip.org"," only. Download sites host repacked \"modified\" builds.",[164,182,184],{"id":183},"nanazip-the-recommendation-for-windows-11","NanaZip, the recommendation for Windows 11",[10,186,187],{},"An open source modern rebuild of 7-Zip running the same engine, with a reworked Windows 11 style context menu supporting the modern menu, Mica material and system theme matching. It inherits everything 7-Zip can do while integrating far better with right-click, and it stays free and ad-free. The catch is that it adds nothing beyond 7-Zip in terms of features.",[10,189,190],{},"On Windows 11 and wanting a free option, pick this one. Install it from the Microsoft Store or GitHub.",[164,192,194],{"id":193},"bandizip-best-to-use-but-with-an-ad-controversy","Bandizip, best to use but with an ad controversy",[10,196,197],{},"A modern interface, fast, with a well-integrated context menu and useful features like automatic extraction, split archives and encrypted archives, plus good support for Chinese users. The problem is that the free version shows ads, the vendor has drawn criticism for its ad policy, and some older builds have been flagged by security software. It suits people who value the experience and can live with ads. Businesses and anyone who wants a clean install should choose 7-Zip or NanaZip.",[164,199,201],{"id":200},"winrar-first-choice-for-rar","WinRAR, first choice for rar",[10,203,204,205,207],{},"The most complete support for ",[14,206,16],{},", which is its own proprietary format, and the fastest and most reliable at creating and extracting rar. Strictly speaking it is not free and should be purchased under its licence terms, though the trial has no hard cutoff. It suits anyone who regularly creates or extracts rar archives. For occasional extraction, 7-Zip is enough.",[164,209,211],{"id":210},"peazip-and-360-compression-as-alternatives","PeaZip and 360 Compression, as alternatives",[10,213,214],{},"PeaZip is free, open source and broad in format support, with an interface that is an acquired taste, so it suits open source enthusiasts. 360 Compression is a domestic tool that is quick to learn, but it carries bundling concerns. If you use it, download from the official source and choose custom install, clearing every extra option.",[29,216,218],{"id":217},"_3-what-to-pick-spelled-out","3. What to pick, spelled out",[220,221,222,233,240,247],"ul",{},[223,224,225,229,230,232],"li",{},[226,227,228],"strong",{},"Free, capable, and you do not care about the interface",", choose ",[226,231,66],{},".",[223,234,235,229,238,232],{},[226,236,237],{},"Windows 11, free, modern right-click menu",[226,239,83],{},[223,241,242,229,245,232],{},[226,243,244],{},"You create or extract rar files often",[226,246,115],{},[223,248,249,229,252,254],{},[226,250,251],{},"You value how it handles and can tolerate ads",[226,253,98],{},", ideally the official build with ads turned off.",[10,256,257],{},"Whichever you pick, download only from the official site or the Microsoft Store, choose Custom during setup, and clear every additional offer so you avoid tampered builds from download portals.",[29,259,261],{"id":260},"_4-pitfalls","4. Pitfalls",[263,264,265,274,280,286,297],"ol",{},[223,266,267,270,271,273],{},[226,268,269],{},"Never get archive tools from download portals."," Many repackage 7-Zip with extras bundled in. Use ",[14,272,179],{},", or NanaZip from GitHub or the Microsoft Store.",[223,275,276,279],{},[226,277,278],{},"Read the Custom or Advanced screens during setup."," Clear anything about setting a default browser or installing extra utilities.",[223,281,282,285],{},[226,283,284],{},"rar does not require WinRAR."," Both 7-Zip and NanaZip extract rar. You only need WinRAR to create rar archives.",[223,287,288,291,292,232],{},[226,289,290],{},"No \"Extract here\" in the Windows 11 menu."," Look under \"Show more options\" first, since most archive tools still register their classic entries there. If you want them on the modern menu, switch to something with proper Windows 11 integration such as NanaZip, or bring the full menu back using ",[293,294,296],"a",{"href":295},"/post/29/","How to Restore the Classic Right-Click Menu in Windows 11",[223,298,299,302,303,232],{},[226,300,301],{},"Double-clicking an archive still opens the old program."," That is a default app setting. Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps and assign it by file type. If something keeps changing it back, see ",[293,304,306],{"href":305},"/post/26/","Default Apps Keep Changing in Windows 11",[29,308,310],{"id":309},"common-questions","Common questions",[10,312,313,316],{},[226,314,315],{},"7-Zip or NanaZip?","\nThey are nearly identical in capability. On Windows 11 take NanaZip for the better context menu. On Windows 10, or if the traditional interface does not bother you, 7-Zip is enough.",[10,318,319,322],{},[226,320,321],{},"Do I need WinRAR for rar files?","\nNot to extract them. 7-Zip and NanaZip both handle rar. You only need WinRAR to create rar archives.",[10,324,325,328,329,331,332,334],{},[226,326,327],{},"Which compresses best?","\n7-Zip and NanaZip with the ",[14,330,20],{}," format, which usually beats zip by a wide margin. For maximum compression choose ",[14,333,20],{}," with LZMA2, accepting a slower compression pass.",[10,336,337,340],{},[226,338,339],{},"The right-click menu got slow after installing an archive tool.","\nUsually two archive tools have registered entries at once. Uninstall the one you do not use and keep a single tool.",{"title":342,"searchDepth":343,"depth":343,"links":344},"",2,[345,346,354,355,356],{"id":31,"depth":343,"text":32},{"id":161,"depth":343,"text":162,"children":347},[348,350,351,352,353],{"id":166,"depth":349,"text":167},3,{"id":183,"depth":349,"text":184},{"id":193,"depth":349,"text":194},{"id":200,"depth":349,"text":201},{"id":210,"depth":349,"text":211},{"id":217,"depth":343,"text":218},{"id":260,"depth":343,"text":261},{"id":309,"depth":343,"text":310},"Windows can open ZIP files on its own, and anything else (.rar, .7z, .tar, .iso) needs a third-party archive tool. There is no shortage of options, but few of them are free, ad-free and bundle-free all at once. The comparison below looks at cost, format support, ads and bundling, and Windows 11 integration, then ends with a recommendation you can act on.","md",{},true,"/post/33",{"description":357},"post/33","Z8a3fX7NHpLF8phMNNNdf0M2OYL9-UyyegdE9zIvGfY",1794378303916]