The most reliable archiver for Windows test. Your diet data. Distribution of likes in the world of software

Data compression programs began to be developed simultaneously with the creation of the first personal computers, because even then there was a constant lack of free space on hard drives. Moreover, there were no laser media yet, and in order to fit even a small text document onto a floppy disk, it was necessary to come up with various tricks. Many best archivers of that time and today they delight users with new versions, continuing to help in matters of transfer, as well as long-term storage of data.

As a rule, users compress text documents and books, and less often photos and video data, because in the latter case the gain in free space is very small. The process of creating an archive is called archiving or packaging, and extracting files from an archive is called unpacking or extraction.

ArchiverWinrar – advantages and features of use

Most personal computer users consider it the most powerful and functional data compression program invented to date. It’s not for nothing that Winrar is considered the best archiver; the utility has an accessible interface and allows you to quickly compress files for transferring or storing them on your computer.

RAR data compression format- one of the most effective, but besides it, the Winrar program supports all archive formats available today. The only limitation is that the program can only unpack files of ARJ, CAB, ZIP, 7Z, etc.; archiving in them is not available.

A few words about the functionality of one of the best archivers, Winrar - with its help, users can create self-extracting archives, files from which can be extracted on any machine. It is not at all necessary that Winrar be installed on another computer; you can unpack the archive with the press of one key. Also, using the application, you can create multi-volume archives - in this case, a large amount of information will be divided into volumes of a size specified by the user during archiving.

User-friendly interface will allow you to determine which files need to be packed, and which ones you can simply add to the archive without compression. There is an option thanks to which the archive can be restored if it is unexpectedly damaged, for example, when sent by email.

The Winrar archiver is compatible with all versions of Windows, and for more convenient use it is built into context menus. Thanks to this feature, any user can call the program from the menu that opens by clicking the right mouse button. If you mark the archived file with the cursor and call the Winrar context menu, the program will ask for the path where you want to unpack the archive. In the properties of the packed file, you can see all the information about the archive and get acquainted with the degree of its compression.

Winrar archiver is multifunctional, however, it is not omnipotent - the program will not be able to help you if you want to compress files in Mp3, Jpeg, Mpeg4 or Png formats. These files are compressed at the stage of their creation, but exe, txt or doc formats can be reduced in size by 20-90%.

Winzip archiver, general information about the program.

Conclusion: which archiver is the best?

Well, for clarity, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the results of independent testing to identify the best archiver.

Archive programs are indispensable in cases where you need to free up space on your hard drive without losing information, transfer a large amount of data from one medium to another, or send one or more files by email or Skype.
As the name suggests, these programs archive, compress files or folders, that is, reduce their size. Of course, they also serve to unzip (unpack) archive files.

The degree of compression of files depends on their type
I. Files *.txt, *.doc, *.docx *.dbf, *.bmp are reduced several times during archiving.
II. Jpg, gif, avi, mpg, mp3 files are already compressed.

Several files packed together will be perceived as one, and this will save traffic and nerves when sending them.

List of programs
Today there are many known archiver programs, the most common of which are 7-zip, WinRar, WinZip, IZArc.

1. 7-Zip
This archiver attracts users with its high compression ratio and open source code, which allows it to be installed on any computer (including those with the Linux operating system) completely free of charge. It supports most known formats, provides the ability to self-extract for the 7z format, and has been translated into more than 70 languages.

2.WinRar
The test of time has shown that WinRar not only allows you to quickly compress and decompress archives of various formats, but also has a user-friendly interface, has many auxiliary functions, including the ability to create multi-volume archives, self-extracting SFX archives, encrypt archives with a password, restore physically damaged archives, etc. .

3.WinZip
This archiver program appeared first, and for a long time was the only way to compress and decompress files. It has a simple interface, is easy to use, supports most formats, allows you to encrypt archives, and automatically install most programs distributed in Zip files.

4. IZArc
IZArc is a lesser-known but fairly common free archiver that supports many formats. Its distinctive ability is its ability to convert archive files from one format to another.

5. There is another convenient way to create (unpack) archives - using the Total Commander file manager. Its interface allows you to select the desired file, specify the path, select an archiver and archiving type.

Test archiving
It is difficult to say which of the presented archivers is better. Maybe the small comparison below will help you understand this:

As you can see, the highest compression ratio is provided by an archive in 7-zip format; as they say, “let’s draw conclusions.”

After installing the operating system, users usually lack a program to unpack files. Such programs are called file archivers. And often before the version of the Windows 10 operating system, users had to look for third-party programs to be able to unpack archives. A lot has changed in Windows 10, from the ability to use high-quality archivers from the app store to the archiver built into Explorer.

In this article, we have selected the best archivers for Windows 10. All archivers that need to be downloaded from official sites will also work without problems for users of the Windows 7 operating system. And all applications installed from the store are suitable only for the Windows 10 operating system.

Windows Explorer

Not many people know that Microsoft has finally introduced support for Zip archives into Explorer. Which is very convenient when you need to open or create a regular Zip archive. Of the minuses, it is worth noting that only the Zip archive format is supported.

To use the archiver built into Explorer, you just need to click the item in the context menu Open with > Explorer. To pack files into an archive, select the required files and click the button in the context menu Send > Compressed ZIP Folder.

7-Zip

• License: free
• Official site: 7-zip.org
• There is

7-zip is an excellent program for working with archives. It can create and unzip not only familiar formats, but also its own 7z format. Therefore, if you need to open a 7z archive, then you cannot do without this archiver. 7-zip allows you to create archives by pre-compressing them. There are also many functions available to the user for working with archives.

• License: trial period (40 days)
• Official site: rarlab.com/download.htm
• Portable version of the program: There is

WinRAR is a powerful archive management program because it allows you to work with large archives. It supports all popular operating systems, from Windows to Android. WinRAR remains so popular because even after the trial period ends, it allows you to use all its features.

Top archivers for Windows 10

The previous archivers are definitely very good, but don’t forget about applications from the Windows 10 store. Because you can already find many high-quality and free analogue programs there. Here we have selected the best archivers from the Windows 10 app store. All applications on our list can be downloaded from the store absolutely free, which makes them really good competitors to the WinRAR archiver.

Program WinZip Universal supports 26 different formats, including Zip, 7z, Rar. It is possible to open archives directly from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and others. The only downside is the availability of English, but thanks to the intuitive user interface there will be no problems with navigation.

Rar Zip Extractor Pro is more suitable for computers with touch screens because it has large interface buttons to control the program. There is support for all popular formats, and the ability to create and extract archives in formats such as 7z, ZIP, RAR, CAB, TAR, ISO and others. One of the disadvantages of the program is the presence of intrusive advertising, which compensates for the fact that it is completely free.

9 Zip

9 Zip is an excellent program for working with archives directly on your computer or tablet running Windows 10. The archiver supports all popular formats. It has a convenient journal with which you can open the latest files so as not to search for them in the system again. Like all free products, it has built-in advertising.

The list of free archivers on the Internet is constantly growing.

However, not all of them are as popular as programs that are considered among the best options by both ordinary users and professionals.

The main features of such archivers include support for the maximum number of formats (including RAR), ease of use and support for different languages ​​- primarily Russian.

Comparison of parameters of different archivers

7-Zip

A high-performance program that is characterized by maximum efficiency when archiving in a proprietary format - 7Z.

High speed is ensured by using all processor cores, so data can be packed faster on more modern PCs.

• high speed of data processing, both during unpacking and during packaging;
• support for more than 50 popular archive formats;
• significant degree of compression.

• The main disadvantage of the program is the problems that arise with the main, “proprietary” format 7-Zip.
• If damaged, archived files are almost impossible to recover.
• The disadvantages include a not very attractive, although simple, interface that takes some time to get used to.

Maxim L.: Some people call this program inconvenient. However, for an average user like me, who is unlikely to pack a lot of files often, it is the best option. Moreover, it opens almost all popular archive options - and, of course, .rar. It's a pity that the archiver doesn't create RAR files.

HaoZip

A convenient application that allows you to recognize and open more than 50 different formats, including several quite rare ones.

• work with a large number of formats, both during packaging and unpacking;
• a wide range of tools for working with files and directories;
• simple interface, understandable even without switching to the Russian-language interface.

Negative:

• These include the program’s lack of an automatic update function.
• In addition, unlike most other archivers, this one is updated too rarely - the periods between the release of new versions reach several years.

Larisa M.: A good archiver, copes with all the tasks that paid VinRAR performs - but only without constant mentions of the need to pay $27. HaoZip is probably the most promising archiving program, allowing you to give up all sorts of VinZips, VinRars and 7-Zips.

FreeArc

Despite the minimum number of supported archiving formats, the program successfully unpacks dozens of types of archives.

The utility's interface is not only easily recognizable, but also intuitive for most users.

• support for multiple encryption and decompression algorithms;
• high degree of information compression;
• the ability to archive in RAR format, which is absent from many, even top-end archive programs;
• efficient packaging of files of almost any size (up to 2 GB).

Negative:

• Rare updates.
• Until 2017, the archiver did not even support 64-bit platforms and multi-volume archives, but relatively recently most of the program’s shortcomings were corrected.

Sergey V.: A good and convenient archiver that easily and effectively compresses almost any information. Naturally, except for videos, pictures and music, which are difficult to pack with any program. Until last year, I thought FreeArc was far from the best program, but after some modifications I changed my mind - and I see that it can easily replace even WinRAR.

IZArc

The IZArc program is distinguished by a large number of formats, both when creating archives and when unpacking them.

The user can embed the utility into the Explorer menu and use it by default, just like, for example, when installing the WinRAR program.

• work not only with a large number of types of archives, but also with disk images;
• the presence of a built-in converter that provides recoding of archives and images;

Negative:

• Unstable operation on 64-bit operating systems.
• although as new versions are released there are fewer problems.
• In addition, non-standard extensions have to be registered in the archiver manually.

Anna K.: Cool archiver, very simple compared to 7-Zip. Supports a huge number of formats, archives quickly and efficiently. I didn’t notice any shortcomings - except that IZArc does not show the program completion time. It's a little annoying, but you can get used to it.

Bandizip

The program, created by the well-known company Bandisoft, has a user-friendly interface and the ability to integrate into the context menu of the operating system.

The archiver allows you to protect created archives using one of the most effective methods - AES 256-bit.

• easy management of the archiving process;
• viewing images without extracting them from the archive;
• no problems with 64-bit platforms;
• use of the most modern encryption algorithms;
• many supported formats.

Negative:

• less functionality compared to most other archivers.
• Offers to install additional software are also considered a disadvantage - but while working with the utility, the user will not have to deal with annoying advertising banners.

Victor P.: I liked the archiver. However, using the portable version of the archiver, I encountered a problem during the installation of the Russian language. But the issue was resolved with the help of a Russification manual found on the forum, and now using Bandizip has become even more convenient.

Hamster Free ZIP Archiver

A fast and convenient program that can create archives with just two extensions, but can unpack dozens of different types of archived files.

The speed of Hamster Free ZIP Archiver is almost as high as that of one of the most popular utilities, 7-Zip.

• high speed;
• original and attractive interface;
• a large number of archive formats that can be opened using Hamster Free.

Negative:

• Possibility of compression in only 2 formats.
• The constant spontaneous connection of the program to the Internet is also considered a disadvantage.
• Some users report problems with unpacking some files, which are not encountered by those who work with archives using 7-Zip.

Alexey N.: Excellent program. Yes, sometimes it works with glitches - but to use the archiver without any problems at all, you should choose WinRAR, although it is paid. Hamster can be used without any payment and restrictions that trial versions of other similar programs have.

PeaZip

The number of formats opened by PeaZip is impressive - there are more than 180 of them in the list.

However, due to the low archiving speed (a characteristic that is one of the main ones for most users), the archiver is not in first place, although it is in the top ten.

• support for more formats than most free and even paid archivers;
• the presence of a portable version that allows you to pack and unpack data even on computers with a ban on installing third-party programs;
• effective compression comparable to the capabilities of paid programs.

Negative:

• problems with displaying the Cyrillic alphabet, although in most cases files and directories named in Russian are displayed and processed normally.
• There is also a relatively low archiving speed.

Yuri P.: If it weren’t for the problems with Russian-language names, there would be an ideal archiver. The Cyrillic alphabet is not always shown when viewing the contents of archives. However, all the information is unpacked normally, and PeaZip is easy to use - this is precisely the reason I chose it.

ALZip

The program is shareware, but is capable of decompressing a large number of formats and supports 8 encryption algorithms, including its own, EGG.

The archiver features many useful settings and the ability to relatively easily restore a damaged archive.

• simple and attractive interface with support for more than 20 languages;
• multiplatform - the utility even works on Windows 95;
• decent archiving speed and support for more than 30 formats when unpacking.

Negative:

• The disadvantage is the advertising banner located on the screen, which you cannot get rid of.
• The downside is the lack of several popular formats that differ in the maximum degree of data compression.

Nikolay M.: I can’t say that the program is ideal - it doesn’t have the most convenient menu, the banner is a little annoying. But it compresses data quite quickly and efficiently, even if you don’t buy the paid version.

B1 Free Archiver

The multi-platform B1 Free Archiver program works not only on Windows, but also on other platforms, including mobile ones.

Unfortunately, it can only archive in 2 formats - but one of them, B1, provides packed files with an increased level of protection (it can only be opened with the same archiver).

• simple and intuitive interface (with Russian language support);
• many different settings;
• support for most popular formats.

Negative:

• the ability to pack information only into archives with 2 formats - “proprietary” B1 and ZIP.
• During installation, the archiver can install unnecessary programs on the PC - but only if the user does not notice them in time and disables them.

Leonid O.: Archives are created quickly and easily. The program is installed in the context menu in Explorer, allows you to set a password and compress information quite effectively. True, there is no PAP support - but you can archive it in ZIP. There is a Russian language, the interface is stylish and simple.

Ashampoo Zip Free

The archiver supports many formats and languages, including Russian.

The program is free to read, but the user who purchases the paid version will have many more benefits.

However, most users will be satisfied with the capabilities of the utility, for which they do not have to pay.

• proprietary interface made in the style of Windows 8;
• several degrees of compression;
• recovery of damaged archives.

Negative:

• limited functionality, requiring the purchase of the PRO version.
• The utility does not support some popular formats, and installing the program requires an Internet connection and registration on the Ashampoo website.

Irina L.: The archiver is more than impressive - I recommend it to everyone. Although, when unpacking and archiving data named in Cyrillic, the names of files and folders may become corrupted. But this is practically the only minus.

Summarizing

When choosing the best option for a universal and convenient archiver, the modern user should pay attention to programs such as 7-Zip And Haozip.

If you need to get support for a large number of formats for created archives, you can give preference to utilities IZArc And PeaZip.

To create an extension familiar to many. rar you should choose an archiver FreeArc.