BetterZip vs PeaZip (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, PeaZip grades higher than BetterZip: 3.2 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
PeaZip grades higher on the free plan and features. They get the same grade on value for money, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
BetterZip
Mac archive tool for creating, browsing and extracting files
Free trial · from $35 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick BetterZip if
- Fits if you open and edit archives on a Mac every day
- Works for people who want Finder integration and encryption
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use Windows or Linux, as it is Mac only
- Skip it if you are on an older Mac, as it needs macOS 13.5 or later
- Watch out: creating RAR archives needs a separate command-line utility
- Pricey if you upgrade, at $15 to $25 from older versions, and commercial use needs one licence per Mac
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
| 2.6GPABetterZipGood | 3.2GPAPeaZipVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$35 once, under a year of the utilities middle subscription at $3.33 a month, with a 30-day trial. | AFree, open-source software with the same feature set on all three systems, under 60% of the cheaper quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | C30-day full-featured trial of a download, and no card or account on record, but no free plan. | AFree outright with no cap. The site asks for donations but locks nothing. |
| Features | CArchive editing, wide format support and AES-256 encryption, but creating RAR archives depends on a separate utility. | 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 store rating on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up. | BNo rating on record. You install it or run it portable, with nothing to configure. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac only, needing macOS 13.5 or later, with no Windows or Linux version. | CLinux, macOS and Windows, which is computers only. No phone app and no listed integrations. |
| Best for | opening and editing archives on a Mac | 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: BetterZip and PeaZip. How we grade
Where they differ
- BetterZip can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- PeaZip is open source, according to its own site.
In commonmacOSFile managementFile compression
At a glance
| BetterZip | PeaZip | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free |
| Starts at | $35 one-time | Free |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 30-day full-featured trial. | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | MacItBetter | Giorgio Tani |
| Price read from | macitbetter.com | peazip.github.io |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
BetterZip
- Requires macOS 13.5 or later and has no Windows or Linux version.
- Creating RAR archives depends on a separate command-line utility.
- Upgrades from older major versions cost $15 to $25; commercial use needs one license per Mac.
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
BetterZip
- Edit inside archives
- Add, delete, rename and edit files in place; changes made in an external app are saved back to the archive.
- Wide format support
- Creates ZIP, DMG, TAR, 7-Zip, XAR and ISO archives, and RAR through an external command-line tool. Opens over 30 formats.
- AES-256 encryption
- Encrypts archives and keeps archive passwords in a built-in encrypted password manager.
- Presets and filters
- Presets store format, destination and rules; filters skip files such as .DS_Store by name, path, size or age.
- Finder integration
- Adds a Finder menu, toolbar button and Share extension, and a Spotlight importer indexes file names inside archives.
- Automation
- Presets can run from Shortcuts, workflows or the command line, with optional shell or AppleScript steps.
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
BetterZip
BetterZip 6$35
one-time purchase
Personal use covers up to five household Macs; commercial use needs one license per Mac.
PeaZip
PeaZip$0
Free, open-source software with the same full feature set on Linux, macOS and Windows.
Ways to pay less
BetterZip
- Other savings
Also sold through Setapp
The buy page says BetterZip is also available on Setapp, a subscription with a selection of Mac apps.
PeaZip
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, BetterZip or PeaZip?
As of Nov 12, 2026, BetterZip starts at $35 one-time, and PeaZip is free.
Which has a free plan, BetterZip or PeaZip?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only PeaZip has a free plan. BetterZip does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do BetterZip and PeaZip run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only PeaZip lists Windows and Linux apps. Both list a macOS app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.