file compression program · win.rar GmbH

WinRAR

Paid archiver for RAR and ZIP with AES-256, recovery records and a 40-day trial.

66/100

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

In short

A single-user licence costs 29.95 euros before VAT; the shop shows euros only¹.
WinRAR is free to use for 40 days, then a licence is required^2,3.
It creates RAR and ZIP archives and opens 7-Zip, ISO, CAB, TAR, GZip and more^4,5.
Encryption is AES-256, and an option hides file names⁶.
The Windows download is x64 only; Linux and macOS get command-line RAR builds⁷.

WinRAR suits people who need RAR archives with recovery records, repair and volumes^4,8,9. A 29.95 euro licence is perpetual, but the trial ends after 40 days^1,2,3. The catch: it creates only RAR and ZIP archives, is not open source, and has no Windows ARM64 build^4,5,7.

Best for: People who need to create RAR archives with repair data.

Where the points come from

Formats12 of 20

Protection24 of 29

Tools19 of 22

Systems6 of 9

Price5 of 20

Formats 12 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Archive types you can create	ZIP, RARWinRAR creates archives in two formats, RAR and ZIP⁴.	4 / 12
Archive types you can open	RAR, 7z, ISO, CABFeatures page lists RAR, ZIP, CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZip, UUE, ISO, BZIP2, Z and 7-Zip⁵.	8 / 8

Protection 24 of 29 points

Rule	What is published	Points
AES-256 encryption	YesEncryption FAQ says WinRAR uses AES-256 bit encryption; features page repeats it^5,6.	12 / 12
Hides file names	YesThe Encrypt file names option encrypts headers, so the file list cannot be viewed without the password⁶.	7 / 7
Repair of damaged archives	YesRAR archives can carry a recovery record, and the Repair command works on them^4,9.	5 / 5
Open source	NoThe licence is proprietary try-before-you-buy; only the UnRAR source is offered for download^10,12.	0 / 5

Tools 19 of 22 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Split into volumes	YesThe Split to volumes field sets the volume size, for example 700m⁸.	6 / 6
Self-extracting archives	YesThe page says RAR supports self-extracting archives that can be extracted without external programs⁴.	3 / 3
Command line	YesThe WinRAR download is listed as graphical and command line; the Windows package includes Rar.exe^7,11.	5 / 5
File Explorer menu	YesRelease notes list support for Windows 11 Explorer context menus⁹.	5 / 5
Portable version	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's download or features pages^5,7.	0 / 3

Systems 6 of 9 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Systems	macOS, LinuxDownload page offers command-line RAR builds for Linux x64 and macOS⁷.	6 / 6
Windows on ARM	NoDownload page lists only a WinRAR x64 build for Windows⁷.	0 / 3

Price 5 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free to use without a time limit	NoFree for 40 days; a purchased licence is required afterwards^2,3.	0 / 8
Cost for the first year	$33.50/yrSingle-user licence, 29.95 euros excluding VAT, as shown in the shop; perpetual^1,3. Converted at €1 = $1.1186¹³.	5 / 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
WinRAR licence1 user	EUR 29.95 (excl. VAT)^1,3	–	Perpetual licence; updates need a separate maintenance package

The shop shows euros only and says prices exclude VAT¹. The vendor says licences are perpetual; staying updated needs a separate 12-month Support & Maintenance Package with no price shown³.

Strengths

Perpetual licence at 29.95 euros before VAT for one user^1,3.
Adds recovery records and has a Repair command for RAR5 archives^4,9.
Encrypt-file-names option hides the archive's file list⁶.
Splits archives into volumes of a size you choose⁸.

Limits

Not free after the 40-day trial^2,3.
Creates only RAR and ZIP archives⁴.
Windows build is x64 only; no x86 or ARM64 download is listed⁷.
Linux and macOS builds are command-line only⁷.

What win.rar GmbH says

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

WinRAR says it automatically selects the best compression method, and that creating smaller archives often makes it faster than the competition⁵.

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

Buy WinRAR, RARLAB. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
WinRAR EULA page, win.rar GmbH. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
Are WinRAR Licenses Perpetual or is there a Subscription?, win.rar GmbH. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
RAR vs ZIP, win.rar GmbH. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
WinRAR features, win.rar GmbH. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
WinRAR encryption FAQ, win.rar GmbH. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
RARLAB downloads, RARLAB. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
How can I split files into Multivolume RAR Archives?, win.rar GmbH. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
WinRAR release notes, win.rar GmbH. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
RARLAB products, RARLAB. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
Command Line vs Shell Mode in WinRAR and RAR, win.rar GmbH. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
RARLAB licence, RARLAB. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.
Euro foreign exchange reference rates: US dollar, European Central Bank. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: www.win-rar.com · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with win.rar GmbH.