file compression program · Giorgio Tani

PeaZip

Free, open-source archiver for Windows, Linux and macOS that opens over 200 archive types.

95/100

#1 of 10 file compression programs
Facts checked 9 Oct 2026

In short

PeaZip is free for private and professional use, with no time limit¹.
It creates 7z, ZIP, TAR, GZ and Zstandard archives, and opens 7z, RAR, ISO, CAB and many more¹.
7z archives use AES-256 encryption, and ZIP archives use WinZip AES-256; an option also encrypts file names in 7z^2,3.
Source code is public under the LGPL-3.0 licence¹¹.
Builds exist for Windows (x64 and x86), Linux and macOS, plus a portable Windows package^7,8,9,10.

PeaZip suits people who want a free archiver with strong encryption, hidden file names and a wide list of formats^1,2,3. It adds volume splitting, self-extracting archives and a Windows context menu⁴. The catch: it cannot create RAR archives without WinRAR installed, and the download pages list no native Windows ARM64 build^1,7.

Best for: People who want a free archiver with file-name encryption and many formats.

Where the points come from

Formats18 of 20

Protection29 of 29

Tools22 of 22

Systems6 of 9

Price20 of 20

Formats 18 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Archive types you can create	ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZIP, ZstandardHome page lists archiving to 7Z, GZ, TAR, Zstandard and ZIP; RAR creation needs WinRAR installed, so not counted¹.	10 / 12
Archive types you can open	RAR, 7z, ISO, CABHome page lists RAR, 7Z, ISO and CAB among 200+ openable formats¹.	8 / 8

Protection 29 of 29 points

Rule	What is published	Points
AES-256 encryption	YesEncryption page names 7-Zip AES256 for 7Z and WinZip AES256 for ZIP².	12 / 12
Hides file names	YesPassword dialog has an 'Encrypt also file names' option for 7Z, ARC and RAR³.	7 / 7
Repair of damaged archives	YesARC archives can carry a recovery record that recovers mildly corrupted archives⁵.	5 / 5
Open source	YesREADME states the LGPLv3 licence¹¹.	5 / 5

Tools 22 of 22 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Split into volumes	YesHelp page describes spanning archives into multiple volumes below a maximum size⁴.	6 / 6
Self-extracting archives	YesHelp page lists 7z and ARC self-extracting archives⁴.	3 / 3
Command line	YesDocuments its own command-line syntax, for example the peazip -add2zip command⁶.	5 / 5
File Explorer menu	YesHelp page has a section on integrating PeaZip with the system context menu⁴.	5 / 5
Portable version	YesPortable Windows 64-bit package needs no installation⁸.	3 / 3

Systems 6 of 9 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Systems	macOS, LinuxDownload pages offer macOS DMG builds and Linux Flatpak, DEB, RPM and portable packages^9,10.	6 / 6
Windows on ARM	Not publishedNot published on the Windows download pages, which describe the 64-bit build as optimised for x86-64^7,8.	0 / 3

Price 20 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free to use without a time limit	YesHome page says the application is free for any use, private and professional¹.	8 / 8
Cost for the first year	$0Free; the same program makes AES-256 archives^1,2.	12 / 12

The rule behind each line: how we score file compression programs.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

Plan	Price as listed	Per month	Notes
PeaZip1 person	Free¹	$0	Free for private and professional use

Strengths

Free for any use, with the source under LGPL-3.0^1,11.
AES-256 for 7z and ZIP, and an option to encrypt file names in 7z, ARC and RAR^2,3.
Splits archives into volumes and makes self-extracting archives⁴.
Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS, with a portable Windows package^7,8,9,10.

Limits

Creating RAR archives needs WinRAR installed¹.
ZIP archives cannot hide file names, even with a password³.
No native Windows ARM64 build appears on the download pages⁷.
Recovery records are available in the ARC format but not in 7z⁵.

Other file compression programs

2
7-ZipPeople who want a free, open-source archiver with strong encryption
91/100
$0cost for the first year
3
NanaZipWindows 11 users who want 7-Zip's features with a File Explorer menu
87/100
$0cost for the first year
4
BandizipPeople who want a free Windows archiver with an Explorer menu
83/100
$0cost for the first year
5
7-Zip ZSPeople who want 7-Zip plus newer codecs such as Zstandard
81/100
$0cost for the first year

PeaZip vs 7-Zip · PeaZip vs NanaZip · All 10 file compression programs

Sources

PeaZip free archiver utility, PeaZip. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
Encrypt files with PeaZip, PeaZip. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
Encrypt file names, PeaZip. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
PeaZip help, PeaZip. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
ARC files utility, PeaZip. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
PeaZip command line, PeaZip. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
PeaZip for Windows 64 bit, PeaZip. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
PeaZip portable for Windows, PeaZip. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
PeaZip for macOS, PeaZip. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
PeaZip for Linux, PeaZip. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
peazip/PeaZip, GitHub. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.

Website: peazip.github.io · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Giorgio Tani.