WinZip alternatives: 3 free tools
WinZip unpacks your archives for just under 35 euros. But there are now many free alternatives that serve the same purpose. We introduce you to the three best.
Universal Extractor: The all-rounder in the freeware area
The free "Universal Extractor" is in no way inferior to its big brother WinZip:
- The freeware unpacks all common archive formats. You can even split EXE or MSI files into their individual parts. This is perfect if, for example, you only need a DDL from the setup.
- The unpacker even integrates into the context menu: You can unpack your archives as usual by right-clicking.
The Unarchiver: The free WinZip for Mac users
The free tool "The Unarchiver" replaces the standard unpacker on your Mac. The Mac app copes with archives far better than the standard program:
- The tool also unpacks exotic archives such as Compact Pro, PackIt, ARJ, LZMA2 and many more. You can even use the program to break down SWF files.
- Particularly good: "The Unarchiver" also copes with foreign language archives that use a different character set.
- Unfortunately the extractor cannot bundle files into archives. This is done by the free alternative "UnRarX".
7-Zip: The master among the free extractor alternatives
Of course, 7-Zip should not be missing from a list of the best unpackers. The freeware convinces with many practical functions and simple operation:
- The unpacker can handle practically any known file format. The in-house 7z archive is particularly good. This will compress your files to a minimum and you can even create self-extracting archives.
- The packing program integrates seamlessly into the Windows context menu. You can easily create new archives by right-clicking on the desired files.
- Of course, existing archives can be browsed before unpacking. You can even open ISO files and extract only the most important elements.
All three freeware programs also unpack password-protected archives. But if you forget the password, the tools are powerless. You can crack the archive password in other ways.