file compression program · ConeXware, Inc.

PowerArchiver

Paid Windows archiver sold with a one-time licence, AES-256 and a portable edition.

72/100

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

In short

The Business edition costs $22.95 as a one-time licence¹.
Business creates ZIP, 7z, TAR and GZ archives and reads RAR, ISO and CAB².
It encrypts with AES-256, and its PAE2 containers can also encrypt file names².
A portable USB edition, self-extracting archives, ZIP repair and multi-volume ZIP are documented^2,3,5.
There is no free edition, only a 30-day trial³.

PowerArchiver Business suits people who prefer to pay once, at $22.95, and want AES-256, file-name encryption and a portable build^1,2,3. It creates and reads the common formats. The catch: there is no free edition, the separate command-line tool is not in Business, and the vendor pages do not mention a Windows ARM64 build^3,4,8.

Best for: People who want a one-time purchase instead of a subscription.

Where the points come from

Formats16 of 20

Protection24 of 29

Tools22 of 22

Systems3 of 9

Price7 of 20

Formats 16 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Archive types you can create	ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZIPBusiness creates ZIP, 7Z, TAR, GZ and others. RAR only if WinRAR is installed; Zstandard is not listed².	8 / 12
Archive types you can open	RAR, 7z, ISO, CABBusiness reads everything it creates plus RAR; 7Z, CAB and ISO are on the format list².	8 / 8

Protection 24 of 29 points

Rule	What is published	Points
AES-256 encryption	YesBusiness lists AES-256 ZIP-AES and PAE2 encryption².	12 / 12
Hides file names	YesPAE2 containers encrypt file names, sizes and timestamps².	7 / 7
Repair of damaged archives	YesBusiness repairs truncated or corrupted ZIPs².	5 / 5
Open source	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's pricing or edition pages^1,2.	0 / 5

Tools 22 of 22 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Split into volumes	YesThe help wiki documents a tool that writes multi-volume ZIPs at a size you set, for ZIPs up to 2 GB⁵.	6 / 6
Self-extracting archives	YesBusiness wraps an archive as a single .EXE with a custom icon and licence dialog².	3 / 3
Command line	YesHelp wiki documents switches for the desktop program such as POWERARC -e. Separate PACL tool is not in Business^4,6.	5 / 5
File Explorer menu	YesBusiness lists Windows shell integration and Explorer integration².	5 / 5
Portable version	YesBusiness has a portable USB edition; the download page lists PowerArchiver Portable^2,3.	3 / 3

Systems 3 of 9 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Systems	macOSA separate PowerArchiver Pro for Mac app has its own licence. No Linux build is listed⁷.	3 / 6
Windows on ARM	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's download or system requirements pages, which name 32-bit and 64-bit builds^3,8.	0 / 3

Price 7 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free to use without a time limit	NoThe free download is a 30-day trial with every feature unlocked, not a permanent free edition³.	0 / 8
Cost for the first year	$22.95/yrBusiness edition, one-time licence at full price; optional PA Select maintenance is extra^1,2.	7 / 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
Business1 person	$22.95 one-time^1,2	–	AES-256, SFX, ZIP repair, portable edition
Professional1 person	$34.95 one-time¹	–	Adds the Encryption Suite (OpenPGP), backup, Office add-ins and Send to Secure FTP
Professional Toolbox1 person	$49.95 one-time^1,4	–	Adds the PACL command-line tool, virtual ISO drive and burner

PA Select maintenance for upgrades and support is optional: 25% of the licence price a year¹.

Strengths

One-time licence at $22.95 for Business, not a subscription¹.
AES-256 plus PAE2 containers that encrypt file names².
Splits ZIP files into volumes and repairs damaged ZIPs^2,5.
A portable edition runs without installation³.

Limits

No free edition; the free download is a 30-day trial³.
The PACL command-line tool is sold with higher editions or separately, not with Business⁴.
Creating RAR archives needs WinRAR installed².
The pages read do not mention a native Windows ARM64 build^3,8.

What ConeXware, Inc. says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

ConeXware says PowerArchiver can open or extract 60+ archive formats¹.

Other file compression programs

1
PeaZipPeople who want a free archiver with file-name encryption and many formats
95/100
$0cost for the first year
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

All 10 file compression programs

Sources

PowerArchiver pricing, ConeXware. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
PowerArchiver Business, ConeXware. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
Download PowerArchiver, ConeXware. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
PowerArchiver Command Line (PACL), ConeXware. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
Write Multi-Volume ZIP tool, PowerArchiver help wiki. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
Command line options, PowerArchiver help wiki. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
PowerArchiver Pro for Mac, ConeXware. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
PowerArchiver system requirements, PowerArchiver help wiki. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.

Website: www.powerarchiver.com · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with ConeXware, Inc..