- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: December 20, 2005
- Total Downloads: 1,453,039
- Downloads last week: 14,489
- See full specifications
A newer version of 7-Zip is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 599 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
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.
Publisher's description
From 7-Zip Software :7-Zip is a file archiver with a high compression ratio. The program supports 7z, ZIP, RAR, CAB, ARJ, LZH, CHM, CPIO, RPM, DEB, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, and Z formats. The compression ratio in the new 7z format is 30 percent to 50 percent better than the ratio in the ZIP format. Also, 7-Zip compresses to the ZIP format 2 percent to 10 percent better than PKZip and WinZip. 7-Zip has an additional powerful command-line version.
This updated version features speed optimizations, LZH and CHM support, and drag and drop improvements.
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User reviews of 7-Zip 4.32
- Average user rating: 4.4 stars out of 599 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 30 user reviewsSee all 30 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
13 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Version: 7-Zip 4.32
"One of the best freeware archivers."
Pros: Its free.
Its flagship archive (7Zip, .7z file) has really good compression.
Natively supports many archive types.
Cons: Interface appears very old.
Only supports creation of ZIP type archives and 7Zip.
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7 out of 14 people found this review helpful
Version: 7-Zip 4.32
"FREE Replacement for WinZip and WinRAR"
Pros: + Supports 7z, ZIP, RAR, CAB, ARJ, LZH, CHM, CPIO, RPM, DEB, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, and Z formats.
+ Auto Association with Context Menu
+ Free
Cons: + Other recommandale Similar FREE software is "ExtractNow"
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: 7-Zip 4.32
"Awsome Software. Free to use. Open Source."
Pros: Unpack (decompress): 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, RAR, CAB, ARJ, LZH, CHM, Z, CPIO, RPM and DEB (with no external programs)
Pack (compress): 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR
Freeware
Open Source software (GPL).
Frequently updated.
Nothing beats the 7-Zip (7z) format when it comes to compression. It squeezes files smaller than any other compression format.
Cons: The interface isn't as "pretty" as the competition.
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1 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: 7-Zip 4.32
Pros: Better than winzip
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Version: 7-Zip 4.32
Pros: If you've run across a Zipped file and Cannot afford to pay for a program than 7-Zip is what you need. It unzips all sorts of files (ace, rar, zip, tar, and more). I would highly suggest this program for anyone of any Computer Knowledge for its ease of use.
Cons: Absolutely None.
- See all 30 user reviews Write review
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