Review and compare the top free Unzip Programs and select the best Zip File Opener per requirements to unzip files for free:
Free unzip programs let you extract any number of files within a compressed file with extensions like ZIP, RAR, 7Z, etc. Compressed files or ZIP files, as they are commonly known, are used to downsize the files’ size to make it easier to email or download them.
A few inbuilt compression tools are available in Windows devices, like the Compressed (zipped) folder, Windows zip utility, etc. But they come with limitations. For example, the Compressed folder can only unzip ZIP files.
Sometimes, knowing other Unzip programs can come in handy. You might need them for unzipping files that are not ZIP or repairing damaged archives, etc. Here are the best free zip programs listed in this article you can rely on.
Table of Contents:
Unzip Programs Review
Operating System Support:
| Windows | DOS | Mac OS X | Linux | Android | Windows Mobile | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Zip | Yes | Command line Interface | Yes | Command line Interface | No | Yes |
| PeaZip | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Zipware | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Cam Unzip | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| The Unarchiver | Command line Interface | No | Yes | Command line Interface | No | No |
| WinZip | Yes | Command line Interface | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| B1 Archiver | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| RAR File Extractor | Yes | Yes | Command line Interface | Command line Interface | Yes | Yes |
| ZipGenius | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| ExtractNow | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
List Of Top Free Unzip Programs
Here is the list of notable zip extractor software:
- 7-Zip
- PeaZip
- Zipware
- CAM UnZip
- The Unarchiver
- WinZip
- B1 Archiver
- RAR File Extractor
- ZipGenius
- ExtractNow
- ZIP Extractor
- IZArc
- Bandizip
- Hamster Zip Archiver
- NX Power Lite Desktop
Comparison of the Best Zip File Openers to Unzip Files
| Name | Price | Password Protection | Platforms | File Repairing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Zip | Free | Yes | Windows | No |
| PeaZip | Free | Yes | Windows & Linux | Yes |
| Zipware | Free | Yes | Windows | No |
| CAM UnZip | Free | Yes | Windows | No |
| The Unarchiver | Free | Yes | Mac | Yes |
Zip extractor software review:
#1) 7-Zip
Website: 7-Zip
Price: Free
Platform: Windows
Two Top Features of 7-Zip:
- Compress to the normal .zip file extension.
- Encrypt compressed files.
7-Zip is one of the most popular free zip programs that supports a wide range of file formats. You can not only open more than a dozen archive file types, but you can also create new ones. You can also create EXE format self-extracting files that can be extracted without any decompression software.
- Download and install 7-zip.
- It will launch automatically after installation.
- Under the Name, find the location of the file you want to open.
- Double-click on the compressed file.
- Click on Extract.
- Select a Location to save the files.
- Click OK.
#2) PeaZip
Website: PeaZip
Price: Free
Platform: Windows & Linux
Two Top Features of PeaZip:
- Use it as a portable program without requiring it to be installed.
- It can password protect your file.
You can use PeaZip to unzip files free and extract content from over 180 archive formats. Some of these file formats are used commonly, while others are rarely used. You can also use this zip file opener free to create new archives in over 10 formats. You can also password protect the files and encrypt them for added security.
- Download and install PeaZip.
- It will launch automatically after installation.
- Navigate to the compressed file you want to unzip.
- Select the file.
- Click on Extract.
- Select Output folder.
- Click OK.
#3) Zipware
Website: Zipware
Price: Free
Platform: Windows
Two Top Features of Zipware:
- Integrated virus scanning for archive under 32GB.
- Also supports some Linux archive formats like tar and gzip.
Zipware is extremely easy to use and is good for those who are not sure about virus threats in downloaded archives. It is a free-to-use application, but the website offers you to donate for its development if you stay long enough.
- Download and install Zipware.
- It will launch automatically after installation.
- Click on Open.
- Navigate to the file you want to unzip.
- Select it.
- Click Open.
- Click on Extract.
- Select a folder to extract the files.
- Click on Make New Folder for creating a new folder.
- Select if you want to extract all files or selected files.
- Click Ok.
#4) CAM UnZip
Website: CAM UnZip
Price: Free
Platform: Windows
Two Top Features of Cam Unzip:
- It can password protect your file.
- Allows you to add and remove files from the compressed archive.
Cam Unzip is a free zip file opener and what makes it unique is that you can configure it to run a setup.exe file automatically from the extracted files. This feature comes in extremely handy if you are extracting a lot of setup files. You can also install Cam Unzip as a portable program that you can launch from a portable device or run it like a regular one.
- Download and install Cam Unzip.
- Launch the Program.
- Drag and drop the compressed file you want to unzip.
- Select an output folder.
- Check the box beside the files you want to extract, All or Selected.
- Pick your extraction options.
- Click Extract.
#5) The Unarchiver
Website: The Unarchiver
Price: Free
Platforms: Mac
Two Top Features of The Unarchiver:
- Can read non-Latin characters.
- Can unzip all formats of compressed folders.
The Unarchiver is a free zip software for macOS. It is easy to install and can unarchive any format in seconds. It detects and handles the encoding of file names correctly, so you don’t get garbled filenames irrespective of where you access them from.
- Download and install The Unarchiver.
- Click on the program.
- Select Extract on the same folder.
- Go to Archive Formats and select the archive types you want the program to open.
- Click on the Extraction tab and adjust the settings according to your need.
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- When you are done, click on the red dot.
- Go to the compressed file you want to unzip.
- Right-click on it, select Open with.
- Click on The Unarchiver.
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- Click on Extract
Make sure the program has permission to write to the folders. For that, go to System Preferences, click on Security and Privacy, select Accessibility, and click on the lock icon at the bottom to make the changes. Enter the system password and click on the add icon. Click on Application, select The Unarchiever, and click on Open.
#6) WinZip
Website: WinZip
Price:
- Standard Edition/Suite: $29.95
- Pro Suite: $49.95
- Ultimate Suite: $99.95
Platform: Windows, iOS, & Mac
Two Top Features of WinZip:
- It can add the archived file directly from the Cloud.
- The premium account comes with a lot of amazing functions.
WinZip is a powerful and reliable unzip program you can also use for archiving files. What makes it amazing is that you can use it on many platforms. It is very efficient and you can go for a 21-day trial before buying this program.
- Download and install WinZip.
- Launch the program.
- On the left-hand-side panel, select the file you want to unzip.
- Click on the Open Zip icon at the bottom of the same panel.
- Select where you want to Unzip the files.
#7) B1 Archiver
Website: B1 Archiver
Price: Free
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
Two Top Features of B1 Archiver:
- Easy interface.
- Decent compression speed.
This one is a relatively new file compression tool. It has a good extraction speed, clean interface, and supports a lot of extraction formats. It has high safety standards, and it cares about your privacy, meaning it doesn’t gather your personal data.
- Download and install B1 Archiver.
- It will launch automatically after installation.
- Navigate to the file you want to unzip.
- Select the file.
- Click Extract.
- Select where you want to save the extracted file.
- Click OK.
#8) RAR File Extractor
Website: RAR File Extractor
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows
Two Top Features of RAR File Extractor:
- Supports multi-volume RAR archive.
- Extremely easy to use.
RAR file extractor is an extremely easy-to-use RAR archive unzip utility. It can decompress and extract RAR files quickly and easily. This zip file extractor has a user-friendly interface and hence is extremely easy to use.
- Download and install the program.
- Open RAR File Extractor.
- Click on Browse to select a file to extract.
- Select where you want to save the extracted file.
- Click on Extract.
#9) ZipGenius
Website: ZipGenius
Price: Free
Platform: Windows
Two Top Features of ZipGenius
- Allows you to exclude a specific file type automatically while compressing files
- Can split an archive into smaller parts for easier storage and web sharing
ZipGenius can create and extract a variety of file formats. You can also set up an antivirus program for this zip file opener so that it scans every archive to make sure it is not infected. You can use it to convert an archive to the ZIP format easily and can also adjust the settings to determine how many system resources this program uses while functioning.
- Download and install ZipGenius.
- Open the program.
- Click Open.
- Select the archive you want to unzip.
- Click on the file.
- Select the file.
- Click on Proceed.
- Pick a location to save unzipped file.
#10) ExtractNow
Website: ExtractNow
Price: Free
Platform: Windows, Mac, & Linux
Two Top Features of ExtractNow
- You can exclude certain files from the extraction.
- Intuitive and simple user interface.
Extract now has a simple user interface that allows you to extract multiple files at once. You can either open the archived file or simply drag and drop them to extract them on the go. With its intuitive design, you can easily extract archives in a batch and use its password list to find the right password for an archive.
- Download and install the program.
- It will launch automatically after installation.
- Drag and drop the file.
- Click Extract.
- Select the Destination.
- Click Save.
#11) ZIP Extractor
Website: ZIP Extractor
Price: Free
Platform: Google Chrome
Two Top Features of Zip Extractor:
- No need to download it.
- Allows you to unzip files from cloud storage.
What makes Zip Extractor unique is that it doesn’t need to be downloaded and installed. You can just go to the given URL and unzip files free right away. It has a simple user interface and supports multiple formats for compression and decompression. You can simultaneously unzip multiple files and share them with other users.
- Go to the website.
- Click where you want to unzip the file from.
- Navigate to the file you want to unzip.
- Click on the file.
- Select Open.
- Click on Extract.
- Sign in to your Google account.
- It will extract the files to your Google Drive.
- Click on View Files.
- Open the extracted file you want to download.
- Go to File.
- Select Download and pick a format in which you want the file to download.
#12) IZArc
Website: IZArc
Price: Free
Platform: Windows
Two Top Features of IZArc
- It can repair broken archives.
- Allows conversion between different archive formats.
IZArc is a free unzip program that supports over 40 archive formats. It has an extremely simple user interface that you can use to convert one archive format into another. For example, you can convert an RAR file into a widely accepted ZIP format.
- Download and install iZArc.
- Launch the program.
- Click on Open.
- Go to the file you want to unzip.
- Select the file.
- Click Open.
- Select Extract.
- Select a location you want to extract it to.
- Click on Extract.
#13) Bandizip
Website: Bandizip
Price: Free
Platform: Windows & Mac
Two Top Features of Bandizip
- It has ultrafast processing speed.
- It can compress archives with passwords.
Bandizip offers powerful and convenient features with ultrafast processing speed. It is free but you can use its premium version for advanced features. It can extract more than 40 archive formats and is extremely safe to use.
- Download and install the program.
- Pick your settings and Apply Now.
- Select OK.
- The program will launch automatically.
- Click on Open Archive.
- Navigate to the archive you want to unzip.
- Select the file.
- Click Open.
- Click on Extract.
- Select a Destination.
- Click OK.
#14) Hamster Zip Archiver
Website: Hamster Zip Archiver
Price: Free
Platform: Windows
Two Top Features of Zip Archiver:
- Archives can be uploaded to cloud services.
- Allows you to create direct links to your archives for sharing.
Zip Archiver comes with an intuitive design and easy navigation. It allows you to adjust the compression level with the help of a simple slider and you can upload the archive to Cloud. It can unzip almost all formats of archived files. However, some of its options are in Russian and that presents a minor problem in operating it.
- Download and install the app.
- Launch Zip Archiver.
- Select Open.
- Go to the file you want to unzip.
- Click on the file.
- Select Open.
- Go to Extract.
- Select a destination.
- Click on Extract.
#15) NX Power Lite Desktop
Website: NX Power Lite Desktop
Price: $48.00
Platform: Windows & Mac
Two Top Features of NX Power Lite Desktop:
- Automatically compresses email attachments.
- Can compress any file directly from Windows Explorer.
NX Power Lite Desktop is a simple app that allows you to unzip and compress data quickly and easily. It has a simple user interface that doesn’t need you to have advanced computer skills to use it.
- Download and install the unzip program.
- The program will launch automatically.
- Drag and drop the files you want to unzip.
- Select a location to create the copy.
- Click on Optimize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q #1) What is the best free program to unzip files?
Answer: 7-Zip, Peazip, Zipware, B1 Archiver are some of the best free programs for unzipping a compressed file. They are easy to use and come with a wide range of features you can take advantage of.
Q #2) Is there a free WinZip?
Answer: No. There is no free Winzip. However, you can use a free trial for 14 days before you get your premium account.
Q #3) Does Windows 10 come with a zip program?
Answer: Yes. Windows 10 comes with a zip program called Compressed(Zipped) Folder. You can use it to compress and decompress files easily.
Q #4) How do I unzip a file in Windows 10 without WinZip?
Answer: You can use 7-zip or Peazip for unzipping a file in Windows 10 without WinZip. Install and open the program. Right-click on the file you want to unzip, click Open With, and select the unzip program. Then click on extract and select a destination for saving the extracted files.
Q #5) Why can’t I unzip a file?
Answer: Usually this happens when the program you are using doesn’t support the archive format you are trying to unzip. Check the extension of the compressed file and find a program that can unzip that particular format.
Conclusion
It is important to find the best free unzip program, especially if you work with compressed files a lot. Find a program that allows you to unzip multiple files simultaneously, supports a wide variety of formats for both creating and unzipping compressed files, and is easy to use.
7-zip. Peazip and Zipware are some of the free unzip programs you can rely on for the flawless decompression of archived files.