WinRar vs. WinZip: A comparison

In this comparison we show you the differences between the two unpackers WinRar and WinZip.

WinRar: The professional unpacker

Supported file formats: In addition to ZIP and RAR archives, WinRar also unpacks files in the formats CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, ACE, UUE, BZ2, JAR, ISO, 7Z, XZ, and Z.
Functional scope: WinRar concentrates primarily on the pack functions. Features such as password protection, archive splitting and encryption are of course also on board.
Costs: You can try WinRar free of charge for a total of 40 days. Then the tool costs around 35 euros.
You can find the trial version of WinRar for free download at CHIP Online.

Supported file formats: WinZip copes with the formats ZIP, RAR, ZIPX, 7Z, BZ2, TAR, Z, GZ, TAZ, TGZ, LHA, LZH, CAB, ISO and IMG and covers all relevant formats as well as WinRar.
Range of functions: In addition to all common pack functions including password protection and encryption, you will also find some special features in WinZip. For example, you can use WinZip to share files directly via cloud services, convert documents to PDF format and set up automatic backups.
Costs: After the 45-day test phase, WinZip costs around 36 euros in the standard version, for the pro version a purchase price of around 60 euros.
WinZip is available as a trial version for free download from CHIP Online.

If you only want to pack and unpack your archives, both tools are equally suitable.

However, WinZip is especially recommended for users who want additional special features in addition to the actual pack functions, for example to share files directly in the cloud.
On the other hand, if you restrict yourself to packing and unpacking, you are better advised with WinRar.

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to crack a WinRar password.