2021

Best Free File Compression Software Review

1
7
Ranking
TOP
2
3
4
5
6
7
Bandizip
PeaZip
jZip
IZArc
B1 Free Archiver
7-Zip
HaoZip
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Score
  • Overall
  • File Size Reduction
  • Compression Speed
  • Extraction Speed
  • Compression Formats
  • Extraction Formats
  • Features
  • Help & Support
7.48
6.85
6.42
6.02
5.88
5.86
5.54
9.68
10
9.42
9.68
9.68
10
9.68
8.10
2.18
8.39
2.41
4.23
2.04
2.94
6.75
6.52
8.36
6.15
6.26
3.51
3.41
6.01
5.23
4.77
6.27
2.35
4.90
5.16
8.36
9.09
5.55
6.65
7.39
7.42
7.58
7.78
7.78
5.56
6.67
5.56
8.89
10
5.71
7.14
2.86
4.29
5.71
4.29
0
File Size Reduction
JPG
1.07%
1.07%
1.07%
1.07%
1.07%
1.07%
1.07%
PDF
2.92%
2.92%
2.92%
2.92%
2.92%
2.92%
2.92%
Word
2.77%
2.77%
2.77%
2.77%
2.77%
2.77%
2.77%
Excel
55.84%
56.7%
56.7%
55.84%
55.84%
56.7%
55.84%
PowerPoint
17.56%
17.99%
17.7%
17.56%
17.56%
17.99%
17.56%
MP3
0.62%
0.83%
0.41%
0.62%
0.62%
0.83%
0.62%
Video
0.84%
0.84%
0.84%
0.84%
0.84%
0.84%
0.84%
Exe
1.2%
1.2%
1.2%
1.2%
1.2%
1.2%
1.2%
Mix of All Above Files
2.61%
2.61%
2.61%
2.61%
2.61%
2.61%
2.61%
Compression Speed
JPG
0.35
1.41
0.42
1.54
1.09
2.11
2.03
PDF
0.03
0.13
0.02
0.07
0.05
0.12
0.25
Word
0.02
0.10
0.02
0.05
0.05
0.10
0.27
Excel
0.05
0.07
0.06
0.19
0.19
0.06
0.04
PowerPoint
0.04
0.17
0.03
0.13
0.14
0.17
0.07
MP3
0.31
1.50
0.43
2.01
0.53
2.16
1.53
Video
0.09
0.29
0.05
0.23
0.12
0.31
0.18
Exe
0.16
2.52
0.28
1.13
0.39
3.03
1.13
Mix of All Above Files
3.21
7.36
2.48
6.56
2.55
8.54
4.45
Extraction Speed
Single Archive
3.17
3.28
2.56
3.48
3.42
6.09
6.28
Compression Formats
Number of Compression Formats
7
12
5
11
2
7
11
ZIP
RAR
7Z
GZIP (.tar.gz, .gz, .tgz)
CAB
TAR
ZIPX
B1
Extraction Formats
Number of Extraction Formats
29
150
15
48
20
24
50
ZIP
RAR
7Z
GZIP (.gz, .tar.gz, .tgz)
CAB
TAR
ZIPX
ARC
B1
ISO
Features
Password Protection
Drag and Drop
Right Click Menu Integration
Customize Right Click Menu
Self-Extracting Archives
Split Archives
Shows Compression Ratio
Test for Errors
Repair Damaged Archives
Help & Support
Online Knowledgebase
Help Manual
Tutorials
FAQ
User Forum
Email Support
Telephone
Supported Platforms
Windows
Mac OS
iOS
Android
Linux
About Free File Compression Software

Overview

On this page you can see a comparison between free programs. To compare free and paid programs, to read about methodology used in our tests go to this page.

There are many quality free programs able to create, open or extract compressed files (archives). Either you have a RAR or ZIP archive and you are searching a good extractor or opener, or you want a default program to work forward to create and decompress multiple types of archives, these programs are able to do it.

Bandizip is a fast compressor and extractor, it has a clean interface and is very easy to use. As extractor, is able to open all major types of archives including .zip, .rar, .7z, .zipx and other formats. Using it, you will be able to create .zip, 7z (this is the best format to reduce file size - see our test) and other types of archives. Is completely free.

PeaZip is another quality free program able to extract from over 150 file formats, including ZIP, RAR, 7Z. It has a very good extraction speed, but lacks at speed when you create new archives. It provides plenty of features and a detailed documentation.

jZip excels at speed of compressing and decompressing. Is able to create ZIP, 7Z and other popular formats and as extractor supports ZIP, RAR, GZIP, 7Z and more. A minus is that the program will offer to install toolbars and third party programs (as advertisements) during setup process, but it allows to decline or cancel these installations - just pay attention.

IZArc is better than 7-Zip and HaoZip at extraction speed, but is slow at compression. Is free, but will offer to install additional toolbars during setup (you can decline). Is good as RAR and ZIP extractor, also supports many formats to create an archive.

B1 Free Archiver lacks at compression formats (only ZIP and the less known B1 format), but it has a decent speed. As extractor supports many formats such as ZIP, RAR, 7Z, ZIPX.

7-Zip is distinguished by simplicity and is free for home and commercial use. It is working slower than the majority of its competitors, but it has support for all popular compression formats.

HaoZip comes with a full set of features, can handle all major formats, but lacks at speed and at documentation.

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