7-Zip vs PeaZip (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, PeaZip grades higher than 7-Zip: 3.2 against 3.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
PeaZip grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick 7-Zip if
- Fits if you're on Windows and need to open or make archives without paying
- Works for companies, since it's allowed on commercial computers with no registration
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on a Mac or Linux and want windows and buttons, as those downloads are console only
- Not for you if you need to create RAR archives, since it only unpacks them
- Too light for anyone who wants a support line, because help is a forum and bug reports on SourceForge
- Not for you if you want it on a phone or in a browser, as there's no mobile or web version
Pick PeaZip if
- Fits if you want one free archiver across Windows, Mac and Linux
- Works for people who want to turn archive jobs into scripts
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want an interface that looks native on macOS or Windows, as it is the same everywhere
- Watch out: Linux ARM support is listed as experimental
- Not for you if you need a phone app, as it is for computers only
- Watch out: donations are requested on the site, with nobody offering paid support
How we grade them
| 3.0GPA7-ZipVery good | 3.2GPAPeaZipVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AIt costs nothing, at home or at work. 7-Zip is free and open source, a plain download, and you can put it on any computer, including one in a commercial organization, with no registration or payment. | AFree, open-source software with the same feature set on all three systems, under 60% of the cheaper quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe complete archiver is free. There's no paid edition and nothing held back, so there's no limit to run into. | AFree outright with no cap. The site asks for donations but locks nothing. |
| Features | CArchiving is one job and 7-Zip covers it: packs 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP and WIM, unpacks RAR, ISO, DMG and more, does AES-256 encryption and self-extracting archives. The listing names the limits too. It can't create RAR files, and the graphical app and File Manager are Windows only. | BOpens 200+ formats, encrypts with password plus keyfile, exports tasks to a script and has hash, duplicate and search tools. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating is on record, but on Windows there's nothing to set up: it adds its commands to the shell and brings its own File Manager, so nobody has to type anything. On Linux and macOS it's a console version, which does mean commands. | BNo rating on record. You install it or run it portable, with nothing to configure. |
| Platforms and integrations | CIt's a program for computers and nothing else: Windows, Linux and macOS, with no web version and no phone apps. Three desktop systems is still one kind of device, and the only integration on record is FAR Manager. | CLinux, macOS and Windows, which is computers only. No phone app and no listed integrations. |
| Best for | opening and making archives on Windows for free | a free archiver on Windows, Mac or Linux |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: 7-Zip and PeaZip. How we grade
Price against what you get
7-Zip has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. PeaZip has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
PeaZip scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other desktop utilities on the chart, none scores higher than 7-Zip for less, and none scores higher than PeaZip for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- PeaZip also covers file management.
In commonFree planWindowsLinuxmacOSOpen sourceFile compression
At a glance
| 7-Zip | PeaZip | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free, open-source software. No registration or payment is needed on any computer, including one in a commercial organization. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Igor Pavlov | Giorgio Tani |
| Price read from | 7-zip.org | peazip.github.io |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
7-Zip
- The graphical app and File Manager are for Windows; the Linux and macOS downloads are console versions only.
- RAR archives can be unpacked but not created; RAR is listed under unpacking-only formats.
- Help comes through the forum, bug reports and feature request systems on the project's SourceForge page.
PeaZip
- The interface is the same on every platform rather than native to macOS or Windows.
- The project asks for donations on its site; the software itself is not paid.
- Linux ARM support is listed as experimental.
Key features
7-Zip
- 7z format with LZMA and LZMA2
- Creates 7z archives using LZMA or LZMA2 compression. The format supports solid compression, Unicode file names and compressed archive headers.
- Wide format support
- Packs and unpacks 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP and WIM, and unpacks many more formats, including RAR, ISO, DMG, CAB, MSI, VHD and VMDK.
- AES-256 encryption
- Archives in the 7z and ZIP formats can be encrypted with AES-256.
- Windows shell integration and File Manager
- Integrates with the Windows shell and includes its own File Manager for browsing and working with archives.
- Command line version
- A command line version ships with the Windows release, and console builds are offered for Linux and macOS on x86 and ARM processors.
- Self-extracting archives
- Can create self-extracting archives in the 7z format.
PeaZip
- 200+ formats
- Opens and extracts over 200 archive types and creates formats such as 7z, Zstandard, Brotli and zpaq.
- Two-factor encryption
- Supports password plus keyfile protection for all formats that support encryption.
- Console export
- The Console tab turns a task set up in the GUI into a CLI script for reuse or scripting.
- File tools
- Includes hash and checksum checks, duplicate finding, archive conversion, search in archives and tabbed browsing.
- Portable use
- Runs without installation, so it can be used from removable drives or a network share.
- Same UI everywhere
- Offers the same interface on Linux, macOS and Windows.
Plans
7-Zip
7-Zip$0
The complete archiver for Windows, plus console versions for Linux and macOS. Most of the code is under the GNU LGPL.
PeaZip
PeaZip$0
Free, open-source software with the same full feature set on Linux, macOS and Windows.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, 7-Zip or PeaZip?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both 7-Zip and PeaZip are free to use.
Which has a free plan, 7-Zip or PeaZip?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both 7-Zip and PeaZip have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.