Free WinRAR alternative: 7-Zip
7-Zip is a free option for extracting archives and creating ZIP or 7z files.
Editorial recommendation · Source checked 2026-09-26
Who is it for?
ZIP/7z compression and extraction of supported archives.
What is included for free?
Free for personal and commercial use, with no payment or registration required.
Before you switch
It can extract RAR files but cannot create RAR archives. Check format support on the official page.
Some archive formats can only be extracted, not created.
Getting started
- Download the appropriate build for your computer from the official website.
- Open an archive in File Manager, or select files to create an archive.
- Extract and check the contents before sharing the archive.
An alternative is not an exact replacement for every feature. This recommendation is for the listed use case, not a hands-on benchmark or rating.