--- title: 7-Zip canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/7-zip/ category: File Compression Software points: 91 rank: 2 of 10 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # 7-Zip Free, open-source archiver that makes AES-256 7z and ZIP archives and opens RAR, ISO and CAB files. 91 points out of 100. #2 of 10 file compression programs. Vendor: Igor Pavlov. Website: https://www.7-zip.org/ - 7-Zip is free for any computer, including in a company, with no registration [1]. - It packs 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP and WIM, and only unpacks RAR, ISO and CAB [1]. - AES-256 encryption works in 7z and ZIP archives; 7z can also encrypt file names [1][6]. - Windows installers come for x64, x86 and ARM64; Linux and macOS get console builds [2]. - Most of the code is under the GNU LGPL, with some BSD parts [1][3]. Verdict: 7-Zip suits anyone who wants a no-cost archiver with AES-256 and open source code [1][3]. It also offers volumes, self-extracting archives and a command line [1][7][8]. The catch: it cannot create RAR or Zstandard archives, and its documentation describes recovery of damaged archives as a manual job [1][4][5][9]. Best for: People who want a free, open-source archiver with strong encryption. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Formats | Archive types you can create | ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZIP | 8/12 | Home page lists packing and unpacking for 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP and WIM. RAR and zstd are unpack-only [1][4]. | | Formats | Archive types you can open | RAR, 7z, ISO, CAB | 8/8 | RAR, ISO and CAB are listed under unpacking only; 7z is packed and unpacked [1]. | | Protection | AES-256 encryption | Yes | 12/12 | Home page: strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats [1]. | | Protection | Hides file names | Yes | 7/7 | The -p switch page says that with the -mhe switch archive headers are encrypted, so file names are encrypted [6]. | | Protection | Repair of damaged archives | No | 0/5 | The documented commands include no repair command, and the recovery page describes manual repair with a hex editor [5][9]. | | Protection | Open source | Yes | 5/5 | Home page says 7-Zip is free open-source software, mostly under the GNU LGPL [1][3]. | | Tools | Split into volumes | Yes | 6/6 | The -v switch sets the volume size in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes or gigabytes [7]. | | Tools | Self-extracting archives | Yes | 3/3 | Home page lists self-extracting capability for 7z; the -sfx switch creates a self-extracting archive [1][8]. | | Tools | Command line | Yes | 5/5 | Home page lists a command line version; the extra package ships the console program [1][2]. | | Tools | File Explorer menu | Yes | 5/5 | Home page lists integration with Windows Shell [1]. | | Tools | Portable version | Yes | 3/3 | The 7z extra package holds a standalone console version that needs no installer. Counted as portable; no portable GUI is offered [2]. | | Systems | Systems | macOS, Linux | 6/6 | Download page offers console builds for Linux and macOS [2]. | | Systems | Windows on ARM | Yes | 3/3 | Download page offers a 64-bit ARM64 Windows installer [2]. | | Price | Free to use without a time limit | Yes | 8/8 | Home page: no need to register or pay, including in a commercial organisation [1]. | | Price | Cost for the first year | $0 | 12/12 | Free; no paid edition [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | 7-Zip | Free [1] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free for personal and company use, with no time limit [1]. - Encrypts 7z file names as well as contents with the -mhe option [6]. - Native ARM64 Windows installer, plus console builds for Linux and macOS [2]. - Splits archives into volumes of a size you set [7]. ## Limits - Cannot create RAR or Zstandard archives; it only unpacks them [1][4]. - No repair command is documented; recovering a damaged 7z archive is a manual process [5][9]. - Linux and macOS builds are console-only [2]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - 7-Zip says its ZIP and GZIP compression ratio is 2-10 % better than PKZip and WinZip [1]. ## Sources 1. [7-Zip](https://www.7-zip.org/), 7-Zip, accessed 2026-10-09 2. [7-Zip Download](https://www.7-zip.org/download.html), 7-Zip, accessed 2026-10-09 3. [License for use and distribution](https://www.7-zip.org/license.txt), 7-Zip, accessed 2026-10-09 4. [7-Zip history](https://7-zip.org/history.txt), 7-Zip, accessed 2026-10-09 5. [Recover corrupted 7z archive](https://www.7-zip.org/recover.html), 7-Zip, accessed 2026-10-09 6. [7-Zip help file: -p (Set Password) switch](https://7-zip.opensource.jp/chm/cmdline/switches/password.htm), 7-Zip documentation (Japanese project site linked from 7-zip.org), accessed 2026-10-09 7. [7-Zip help file: -v (Create Volumes) switch](https://7-zip.opensource.jp/chm/cmdline/switches/volume.htm), 7-Zip documentation (Japanese project site linked from 7-zip.org), accessed 2026-10-09 8. [7-Zip help file: -sfx (Create SFX archive) switch](https://7-zip.opensource.jp/chm/cmdline/switches/sfx.htm), 7-Zip documentation (Japanese project site linked from 7-zip.org), accessed 2026-10-09 9. [7-Zip help file: Commands](https://7-zip.opensource.jp/chm/cmdline/commands/index.htm), 7-Zip documentation (Japanese project site linked from 7-zip.org), accessed 2026-10-09