Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
It's easy for Windows users to forget that WinZip isn't the only file-compression utility in the world. Like its better-known competitors, the free 7-Zip unpacks a host of archive formats, including ZIP, TAR, GZ, and its own 7z format. Unlike WinZip, though, it can create TAR and GZ archives, which are commonly used on Unix and Linux systems.
The program's ability to shrink files was stunning. In our tests, 7z archives were up to 40 percent smaller then their ZIP equivalents, although compression did take longer, and the highest compression settings can hog system resources. Advanced options include the ability to create solid and self-extracting archives, and to adjust the compression level and password protection. The program also has a command line module. Though the main interface is overly simple and looks like it was designed for Windows 95, it's not hard to use and fairly self-explanatory. The context menu options, which include "testing" an archive, indicate that 7-Zip should be taken seriously.
7-Zip is fine for casual users with a bit of computer savvy, but it's especially well-suited for developers and anyone else who moves between the Windows and Linux/Unix worlds.
7 Zip - Compress your files into a variety of formats - Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From 7-Zip Software:
The main features of 7-Zip: High compression ratio in new 7z format with LZMA compression. Supported formats: Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR; Unpacking only: ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, DEB, DMG, HFS, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MSI, NSIS, RAR, RPM, UDF, WIM, XAR and Z. For ZIP and GZIP formats 7-Zip provides compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip. Self-extracting capability for 7z format. Integration with Windows Shell. Powerful File Manager. Powerful command line version.
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All versions:
4.4 starsout of 1,048 votes
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Current version:
4.0 starsout of 153 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Version: 7-Zip 9.22 beta
Pros
Supports all formats!!
Many people think free is not good but this is great!Cons
Canot mount images like hao zip.
UI should be easierSummary
Overall , its great!
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"7-Zip is so really powerful."
Version: 7-Zip 9.22 beta
Pros
Works well and it is free
Cons
Bad User Interface.
But, this is not problem at all -
"Completely useless!"
Version: 7-Zip 9.22 beta
Pros
None, not a single good thing
Cons
Never could get it to unzip a single file, it copied them, archived them, compressed them...sort of, but not one would unzip.
Free is too much to pay for this garbage.Summary
Don't waste your time.
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"Excellent. Recently won Toms Hardwares "best of"."
Version: 7-Zip 9.22 beta
Pros
Free. Compresses into many formats, decompresses many more.
Cons
A lot of folks don't believe that free can be as good or better than for purchase.
Summary
Been using this for many years and have never had an issue with it, unlike another free compression program that didn't do rar very well. That one though did the rest well.
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"No solution yet"
Version: 7-Zip 9.22 beta
Pros
Free, fast and easy to use, at least at first sight
Cons
I tried 7 Zip. Compressed and mailed it, but in bounced. The original size of 29 MB, just over the allowed size of 25 MB, was not reduced. Or perhaps I did something wrong, I 'm a newbie here.
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"It's better"
Version: 7-Zip 9.22 beta
Pros
Simple Ui
Fast and high level compression.
Supports most of the formatsCons
None ......
Summary
It is one of the gem in the freeware world.It compresses your files to a very small size.Sometimes it beats Winzip in ultra compression mode.Yes it lacks advanced features but for extracting and compressing this seems pretty good and easy :)
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"Beware of this program."
Version: 7-Zip 9.22 beta
Pros
I have nothing good to say about this program. I have Windows Vista and I couldn't get it to work at all on my computer.
Cons
It didn't work at all. I couldn't unzip a single file. It also froze up all my other programs including Windows OS. Nothing would work right until I deleted it from my programs. Then my computer started working perfect again. I don't know about other OS programs, but I wouldn't recommend this program for Vista at all!
Summary
I'm trying to figure out why everybody had such success with it and I didn't.
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"very good..an fast wonderfully.."
Version: 7-Zip 9.22 beta
Pros
Super fast ..know of none faster or smoother
Cons
I could find nothing wrong with this
Summary
I tell my fiends to down load it..it will not do them wrong..
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"Spyware, Do Not click anything on this page"
Version: 7-Zip 9.22 beta
Pros
Nothing--- No 7Zip was installed, only Spyware which adjusted IE9 and Chrome with malicious add-ons that were very difficult to remove. Discount Buddy and others. This was a very malicious program and I will NOT download anything from CNET again. And I don't want to hear that there is a fake site giving the malware--- I clicked the download from here and got royally screwed.
Cons
Spyware that is difficult to remove.
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"It's My First Choice!"
Version: 7-Zip 9.22 beta
Pros
Its support many different format and more effective to compress files than other compression software, light weight ( small size ) and less resources to run, It's free too.
Cons
None.....................
Summary
7-Zip is so really powerful.
