Free Zip Archiver

Even with the increasing capacity of today's hard drives and faster Internet connections, file compression tools continue to be popular. Especially those that handle more than just ZIP files. Hamster Free Zip Archiver from Hamstersoft is one such simple tool. This free program will compress files in the ZIP and 7z formats, but it is fully capable of decompressing RAR files, as well.

It's easy enough to install and use. The interface is clean and modern, and compressing files is as simple as drag and drop. If you happen to be a newbie, have no fear, clicking the Help button will guide you through the entire process. You'll find three setting for your archives--Minimum, Optimal, and Maximum--so you can determine archiving speed and file size. Maximum is the slowest in terms of speed but it produces the smallest file size. Hamster Free Zip Archiver also lets you easily break up extra-large files into separate archives so they're easier to transmit, and you can password-protect files for added security.

One warning, though; installing Hamster Free Zip Archiver will make Bing your default search engine if you don't uncheck this option. It also adds a desktop icon without asking. If you don't mind these minor issues, Hamster Free Zip Archiver is a free tool that's easy to use and handles file types that some built-in tools can't.