List of free archivers
List and comparison of free archivers, ZIP compatibles.
The ZIP format created in 1989 is widely used and perfectly suited to create virtual media where you can sail with appropriate software such as Advanced Explorer. It is an alternative to unix with the advantage of compression.
It's actually ZIP files that are JAR of Java, XPI of Mozilla, XAP of Microsoft and OpenDocument files from Office Open and Office Open XML from Microsoft Office.
ZIP compresses files individually (unlike TGZ) what is best for access and selective extraction from an interface. A central directory in the archive also facilitates the use as a virtual disk.
It is also possible to protect access to data in the archives with a password.
The fact that the archiver can run in command line is essential for use on the Web or with scripts as our backup program.
The software that have only a graphical interface are most often, but not always, frontends to command line programs.
This list is limited to software that are actively maintained and have a recent version, a year or less.
| Name | GUI | Console | Executable | Windows | Linux | License | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ark | Yes | - | - | - | Yes | GPL | |
| 7-zip | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | LGPL | Conversion, encryption |
| File Roller | Yes | - | - | - | Yes | GPL | |
| FreeArc | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | GPL | Repair, encryption |
| Info-Zip WiZ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | BSD | Repair, encryption, zlib. |
| IZarc | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Proprietary | Conversion, encryption |
| PeaZip | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | LGPL | Conversion, encryption |
| ZipGenius | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | - | Proprietary | UPX, FTP client, encryption |
Characteristics and features
- GUI.
Some software works only in a GUI. - Console.
Using a command prompt window, directly, or indirectly from a script or a GUI. - Executable.
The possibility of creating a self-extracting archive. - License.
Right of use. A proprietary license does not provide access to source code, but the software can be free. This is true of all on that list. - Recovery.
It can offer opportunities to retrieve the contents of a deteriorated archive. - Encryption.
The encryption of the contents of the archive, regardless of the access by password. It may be more or less elaborate.
Free archiving and compression tools for MacOS
- The Unarchiver. GUI.
- Info-zip.
- 7-zip at command line only.
See also
- Incremental backup. Using an archiver with a script to make incremental backups.