7-Zip provides both greater compression ratios and file extraction speed by working in a multi-threaded, non-blocking I/O mode, whereas WinRAR only works in single threaded mode.
7z is included with many modern distributions of Unix. Similarly there is an x86 GUI version for Windows (7za). This program supports the following formats: 7z, ZIP (*.zip), BZIP2 (*.bzip2), GZIP (*.gzip), TAR(*.* or *.tar).
Most people would agree that WinRAR is better.
WinRAR has a very simple interface with many powerful features, it’s stable and fast, but most importantly it does compression much more efficiently than 7-Zip. WinRAR gets decent compression ratio and speeds while leaving the original file structure intact which can be important with some files. 7-Zip compresses at a good level but imposes its own folder structure on the compressed file which can sometimes break compatibility with other programs so this can be bad for managing large collections of files. But for local usage and quick/easy compression, you really cannot beat 7-Zip’s usability and winrar is just overkill these days in terms of all around usage when considering something like script packer which you really don’t need it for.
7-Zip gets decent compression ratio and speeds while imposing its own folder structure on the compressed file, making it incompatible with some programs. But for local usage and quick/easy compression, you cannot beat the 7-Zip’s usability.
This is why I stick to using 7-Zip. The best resource for file compression is by far SlySoft’s Goo don’t forget to use their Virtual RAM program when compressing or you’ll be wasting your time/bandwidth compressing the same difference again in no time flat, unfortunately it doesn’t work on files larger than 800mb so that’s something to keep in mind.
WinRAR is better because the program can make smaller files, and it has a longer life!
7-zip can create files that are more easily opened than those produced by WinRAR. For example, 7-zip produces ZIP packages with pre-calculated CRC checksums which speeds up subsequent opening of the file. Additionally, 7-snap builds on PKZIP’s format to produce new and improved compression algorithms; 7z is the native file format of this archive type as opposed to ZIP archives made by other packing programs or containers. However, these benefits don’t necessarily outweigh what little drawbacks WinRAR may have for you at this point in time.
The best way to answer this question is through personal preference.
There are many compression formats, and the one you should choose depends on what files you’re zipping up. Typically you’ll want to use a zip format for a group of files that need to be compressed so they’ll take up less space because it can typically compress at least twice as well as most other formats.
Another consideration is whether or not the file needs to unpack/unzip without launching an application. Here WinRAR has an advantage over 7-Zip since it can create executables and self-extracting archives, but 7-Zip still has some advantages with its increased compatibility, additional archive handling options like encryption and solid archiving, GUI interface (if you need to do everything at GUI), clean and lightweight interface (less eye-candy, but easier to navigate if you’re older like me!)
A final consideration is whether or not the file needs to be compressed efficiently. Here 7-Zip has an advantage over WinRAR since it uses LZMA compression rather than RAR5 compression which is not as efficient, but keep in mind that if you’re going to be compressing a large group of files together then the size of the output file from 7-Zip will likely be larger.
This is a difficult question to answer definitively, as it’s more about personal preference.
Based on features and options alone (e.g., encryption), WinRAR is the most complete and has strong performance as well. 7-Zip steps in second place with great performance, good compression ratio, and no need for external software but lacks some of the more complicated features offered by WinRAR.
WinZip cannot compete with either of these apps when compared strictly on features; its interface remains confusing while both 7-zip and WinRAR offer a clean layout that many people might find easier to understand or use.
A clear winner will depend on how one intends to use the app – if it’s simply for basic archiving purposes, the choice is easy; go with 7-Zip. If you need to use many of WinRAR’s features, then there’s no competition – WinRAR wins hands down.
7-zip is better because it’s more efficient, supports many formats (including RAR), and has a smaller footprint.
WinRAR is best for those who are only adding data to RAR archives or extracting files from them.
Otherwise, 7-zip is the clear winner.
A classic example would be if you want to create an archive that acts as both a ZIP file and RAR file at once. This is not possible with WinRAR, so 7-Zip should be used instead.
7-Zip is a lightweight and open source file archiver with a high compression ratio. WinRAR is also an open source, but as the name suggests, it’s really for Windows only. This doesn’t make it any less good — 7-Zip would be just as much of a problem on Windows because of its simplicity. The only reason to buy WinRAR is if you’re both worried about redundancy data loss that might happen due to some outside event and use Windows 95 or XP primarily. You should install enough encryption software on your drive to reduce the risk of data loss from unauthorized access in the event of something like disk failure, fire or theft; then your best bet remains WinRAR since there are no other decent alternatives for Windows.
So, 7-Zip is a better archiving program because it’s free and opens most file formats, including rar files. The compression ratio does need some improvement but for the moment it’s best to stick with 7-Zip since there are no other options on Windows that can compete. Yes, 7-Zip lacks the sleek UI of WinRAR, but it’s not like you’re going to be using these programs even once a day.
Good thing you asked. If you have a large number of small files, WinRAR is better because it tends to produce smaller output packages than 7-zip with the same compression rate. For a single file however, WinRAR creates an uncompressed output, meaning that on average those files will be bigger in size than 7-zip’s output.
That depends on what you’re comparing it to.
If you need a simple, free program for the occasional ZIP file but do not require anything as powerful as WinRAR then 7-zip is perfect. 7-Zip allows encryption and strong passwords for compressed files. The interface is very easy to understand, offers complete control over small details (like the level of compression), and has a lot of utensils to make productivity easier (like sorting and renaming).
But if sometimes or most times you use WinRAR then go ahead and get that one because it will be more convenient than downloading an entirely different application just for extracting some songs from a ZIP folder.
