7-Zip for Mac

7-Zip is a free command-line-driven file archiver tool designed to handle a range of archive formats, including ZIP, TAR, RAR, and its native 7z. It uses the LZMA and LZMA2 compression algorithms to reduce file sizes significantly while keeping archive creation and extraction straightforward. Installed as a utility, it functions without a built-in graphical interface on most desktop systems and instead operates through direct command-line input.

It supports AES-256 encryption, multi-volume splitting, archive testing, and basic performance benchmarking. Though minimal on visual features, 7-Zip provides a dense feature set for scripted automation, manual archival tasks, and structured file compression operations.

Flexible compression algorithms

7-Zip’s 7z file format uses LZMA and LZMA2 algorithms for compression. You can adjust dictionary size, word size, and solid block settings to influence archive size and speed. ZIP and GZIP formats are supported with standard DEFLATE compression, but they typically yield larger archives compared to 7z. For bulk operations, batch archiving and splitting into volumes are accessible from the GUI and command-line modes.

It supports AES-256 encryption for both 7z and ZIP files. You can encrypt file contents and optionally filenames, requiring a password for extraction or viewing. It's configured directly during archive creation using command-line flags. Archives can also be tested for corruption, which is useful when working with downloaded or transferred files. However, it lacks a dedicated repair tool, but recovery options are available through multi-part archive redundancy and validation commands.

It operates entirely from the command line, offering full control without a graphical interface. Commands can be used to add, extract, update, and test archives, making it suitable for users who script file tasks or prefer terminal workflows. It does not include a visual file manager, and functions like drag-and-drop, scheduling, or graphical encryption prompts are absent unless paired with third-party GUI tools like Keka.

Compact tool for archive tasks

7-Zip provides file compression, encryption, and archive testing tools without including any desktop automation or graphical layers. It performs tasks directly through typed commands, with detailed options for customizing archive structure and compression. It does not handle visual workflows or interactive archiving. If you’re using a desktop environment where a GUI or deep integration isn’t available, its command-line design is limited to compression, encryption, and archive management through precise parameters.

• Improved support for APM and HFS
• Enhanced progress reporting during file operations
• Some bugs were fixed