It can backup your data and reduce the size of email attachments, decompress RAR, ZIP and other files.

Best Rar File Free Software Own

You can buy WinRAR here. (Image credit: 7-Zip) 3. 7-Zip A free app with great format support and the ability to compress huge files No price information Check Amazon Free software Own format Great for huge files The first free option in this roundup, 7-Zip is another program with an excellent reputation.

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The ever-growing size of hard drives means the need to reduce file sizes when storing data has been reduced, but SDDs still cost significantly more per gigabyte than traditional spinning hard drives, so compressing files can still be very useful.

Compression is also very helpful when you want to send several files via email and keep them within the attachment size limit, share them via a service like WeTransfer, or send them to a remote cloud server.

Thats not all in addition to reducing file sizes, compression software offers plenty of extra features to take into consideration.

Perhaps the best feature of compression tools is the ability to encrypt files and protect them with a password something youll find in all the tools weve picked here.

You never know which type you may encounter when downloading and sharing files, so it makes sense to have a program on hand that can handle more than one type.

Here we take a look at a selection of the best tools, taking into account ones that offer the highest compression rates, and those that support the largest number of file types.

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Best file compression software - at a glance Winzip WinRAR 7-Zip Zip Archiver PeaZip (Image credit: WinZip ) 1.

WinZip The original file compression tool, and still one of the best Supports many file types Split large files Advanced management tools Paid only One of the most famous names in the world of software utilities, WinZip is still going strong after nearly 30 years, and is still one of the best file compression tools around.

However, at around 35 for the standard version, you may wonder if you can justify spending money on a compression tool when there are so many free alternatives available.

Ultimately it depends on your priorities, but you do get a lot of extras for your money.

In addition to support for a wide range of archive formats (including ZIP, ZIPX, RAR (extraction only), 7z, TAR, GZIP, VHD and XZ), WinZip offers integration with a number of programs including Office for easy zipping as you work.

Other bonus features include the splitting of large zip files to fit different media, advanced file sharing options, cloud support and an advanced zip management system that rivals Windows Explorer.

The interface adapts to suit mouse and keyboard setups or touchscreen devices, and there are backup and security options thrown in to protect your files.

WinZip is an incredibly useful tool to have in your software arsenal, and its flexible enough to work in the way that suits you best you can create and extract via the program interface, or using the program window.

And if youd rather not pay money, weve featured the best free alternatives to Winzip.

WinRAR The only file compression software that can create RAR archives High compression rate Works with multiple formats Create RAR files Paid only As famous as WinZip in certain circles, WinRAR created a name for itself thanks to its proprietary RAR format, which offers incredible levels of compression.

Most compression programs can extract RAR archives, but only WinRAR can (officially) create them.

Of course, WinRAR can be used to compress files into many other compressed formats, and the program benefits from the fact that it is available for just about every platform imaginable.

The interface is not the most pleasant to look at, and even if you opt to use the Explorer context menu to create or extract archives, beginners may well feel overwhelmed by the number of options and settings on display.

That said, there is a wizard mode that take the hard work out of most tasks.

Best Rar File Trial Version To

WinRARs killer feature is undoubtedly full RAR support, but its encryption, speed, self-extracting archive creation and themes (if youre into that sort of thing) mean its well worth taking a look at the trial version to see if this is the compression tool for you.

You can buy WinRAR here.

Image credit: 7-Zip) 3.

Zip A free app with great format support and the ability to compress huge files No price information Check Amazon Free software Own format Great for huge files The first free option in this roundup, 7-Zip is another program with an excellent reputation.

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