Bandizip vs WinRAR (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Bandizip if

• Fits if you want a free Windows archiver that opens RAR, ALZ and 40 other formats
• Works for compressing large or split archives on a Windows PC

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if ads bother you, as the free Windows edition shows them
• Skip it if you use Linux, because no version is listed
• Watch out: repair, password recovery and the password manager are Professional, $30 one-time
• Watch out: the Mac edition creates ZIP, 7Z, TAR, GZ and TGZ only, and is sold only on the Mac App Store

Pick WinRAR if

• Fits if you have to create RAR archives, not only open them
• Works for offices buying in bulk, as the price per license falls to $10 at 50 computers

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you only ever open archives, as you'd be paying $29 for the part you don't need
• Not for you if you're on a Mac and want windows and buttons, since RAR for macOS is command line only
• Too light for making 7Z or TAR files, because it can only create RAR and ZIP
• Pricey if you have several computers, since each needs its own license and prices exclude VAT
• Watch out: RAR for Android is a separate app, free with ads unless you pay to remove them

Bandizip

• The free Windows edition shows ads, and Professional-only features need a paid license.
• The Mac edition is sold only through the Mac App Store, as a one-time purchase or subscription.
• No Linux version is listed.
• The Mac edition creates fewer formats than Windows: ZIP, 7Z, TAR, GZ and TGZ.

WinRAR

• The graphical app is for Windows only; RAR for Linux, macOS and FreeBSD is command line only.
• Only RAR and ZIP archives can be created. Other formats, including 7Z, TAR and ISO, can only be unpacked.
• It is a trial product: 40 days of free use, then a paid license. Prices exclude VAT and each computer needs its own license.
• RAR for Android is a separate app, free with ads and with a paid ad-free option.

Bandizip

Many formats

Creates ZIP, 7Z, ZIPX, TAR, TGZ, ISO and self-extracting EXE, and extracts 40+ formats, including RAR, ALZ and EGG.

Multi-core compression

Uses several processor cores for compression, which the vendor says is up to 6 times faster on Windows.

Large and split archives

Supports archives over 4 GB and multi-volume compression for splitting a file across email attachments.

AES-256 encryption

Password-protect archives with AES-256, and test an archive's integrity before opening it.

Edit without extracting

Add, delete or rename files inside an archive without unpacking it first, and preview contents from the archive list.

Professional extras

Paid editions add a password manager, repair of corrupted ZIP files, brute-force password recovery and image thumbnails.

WinRAR

RAR and ZIP archives

Creates RAR and ZIP archives and unpacks CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, UUE, BZ2, JAR, ISO, 7Z, XZ and Z files.

AES 256-bit encryption

Archives can be password protected with AES encryption using a 256-bit key, which the publisher says covers the archive's metadata as well.

Recovery record and repair

A recovery record and recovery volumes make it possible to reconstruct archives even after physical damage.

Self-extracting and multivolume archives

Creates self-extracting archives and splits archives into volumes. Both are part of the license, with no add-ons to buy.

Wizard mode and command line

A Wizard mode reaches the basic archiving functions through questions and answers, and a command line interface ships alongside the graphical one.

Solid archiving

The publisher says solid archiving raises the compression rate by 10-50%, especially when packing a large number of small files.

Bandizip

• Windows Free$0

  Compress and extract common formats on Windows. The vendor says a license removes the ads in this edition.

• Windows Professional$30

  one-time, per user, up to 5 PCs

  No ads, plus password manager, archive repair, password recovery, image preview and antimalware scan.

• Windows Enterprise$20

  one-time, per PC, minimum 2

  Commercial edition for organizations, sold per single-PC license with a minimum purchase of two.

• Mac (one-time)$21.99

  one-time, Mac App Store

  Bandizip for macOS as a one-time purchase on the Mac App Store, with the Mac feature set.

• Mac (Bandizip 365)$0.99

  per month, or $6.99 per year, Mac App Store

  Subscription version with the same functions as the one-time purchase, with a 1-week free trial.

WinRAR

• Single-user license$29

  one-time purchase, excluding VAT

  One license to use the RAR archiver on one computer. The publisher describes licenses as perpetual, with no subscription.

• Multi-user, 2-9 users$21

  per user or computer, one-time, excluding VAT

  For 2 to 9 licenses. A license is needed for each computer or client workstation where RAR is installed, used or accessed.

• Multi-user, 10-24 users$16

  per user or computer, one-time, excluding VAT

  Per-license price when buying 10 to 24 licenses.

• Multi-user, 25-49 users$13

  per user or computer, one-time, excluding VAT

  Per-license price when buying 25 to 49 licenses.

• Multi-user, 50-99 users$10

  per user or computer, one-time, excluding VAT

  Per-license price when buying 50 to 99 licenses.

• Multi-user, 100-999 users$6 to $8

  per user or computer, one-time, excluding VAT

  $8 each for 100-199 licenses, $7 for 200-499 and $6 for 500-999. Larger orders go through the sales team.

Bandizip

• Other savings

  Bandizip plus Honeycam package, 20% off

  The Windows buy page sells a Bandizip and Honeycam bundle at $55.20 instead of $69.

• Annual discount

  Bandizip 365 yearly plan

  The Mac App Store lists Bandizip 365 at $0.99 monthly or $6.99 yearly, against $11.88 for twelve monthly payments.

WinRAR

• Lifetime license

  Perpetual license with no subscription

  The publisher describes WinRAR's license model as perpetual and valid for a lifetime, and says licenses are valid for all language and platform versions.