Keka vs PeaZip (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, PeaZip grades higher than Keka: 3.2 against 3.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 6, 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.
Keka
File archiver for macOS and iOS with drag-and-drop compression
Free plan · from $3.99 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick Keka if
- Fits if you make 7Z or ZIP archives on a Mac and don't want to pay for it
- Works for older Macs, since legacy builds go back to Mac OS X 10.4
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on Windows, Linux or Android, as it's Apple devices only
- Not for you if you need to create RAR files, because it only extracts them
- Watch out: the iPhone and iPad app is a separate $3.99, and the Mac App Store copy costs $6.49 for the app that's free on keka.io
- Watch out: making Keka your default for extracting needs a separate helper download
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
| 3.0GPAKekaVery good | 3.2GPAPeaZipVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe full Mac app is a free download from keka.io, nothing held back. The Mac App Store copy is the same app at $6.49, there to support development, and the iPhone and iPad app is $3.99 once. | AFree, open-source software with the same feature set on all three systems, under 60% of the cheaper quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe website download is the whole macOS app with every format and setting, and tips are optional. Only the iOS app and the Mac App Store copy cost anything. | AFree outright with no cap. The site asks for donations but locks nothing. |
| Features | CArchives are its one job: it makes 7Z, ZIP, TAR, ZSTD, DMG and ISO, opens those plus RAR, ZIPX, CAB and MSI, sets AES-256 passwords and splits big files. It's a smaller job than most utilities here, and it can't create a RAR. | 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 there's nothing to set up: drop files on the Dock icon and they're compressed without the app even opening. Making Keka your default for extracting needs a separate helper download. | BNo rating on record. You install it or run it portable, with nothing to configure. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac, iPhone and iPad, so one family of devices. No Windows, Linux or Android version and no integrations listed. Legacy builds go back to Mac OS X 10.4. | CLinux, macOS and Windows, which is computers only. No phone app and no listed integrations. |
| Best for | zipping and unzipping on a Mac by drag and drop | 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: Keka and PeaZip. How we grade
Where they differ
- PeaZip is open source, according to its own site.
- PeaZip also covers file management.
In commonFree planmacOSFile compression
At a glance
| Keka | PeaZip | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $3.99 one-time for the iOS app; $6.49 one-time on the Mac App Store | Free |
| Free plan | The full macOS app is a free download from keka.io. The site says the Mac App Store copy is the same app, bought to support development, and tips are optional. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | aONe | Giorgio Tani |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | peazip.github.io |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Keka
- There is no Windows, Linux or Android version: Keka is for macOS and, as a separate purchase, iOS and iPadOS.
- The website download is free, but the Mac App Store copy costs $6.49 and the iOS app $3.99 (US prices).
- RAR archives can be extracted, but RAR is not on the list of formats Keka creates.
- Setting Keka as the default extraction app needs a separate helper download.
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
Keka
- Drag-and-drop compression
- Files and folders dropped on the Dock icon or the Keka window are compressed, so the app does not need to be opened first.
- Wide format support
- Creates 7Z, ZIP, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, LZIP, DMG, ISO, BROTLI, ZSTD, LRZIP, AAR and WIM archives, and extracts those plus RAR, ZIPX, LZMA, EXE, CAB, MSI and more.
- Password protection
- Sets a password on an archive, using AES-256 encryption for 7z files and the legacy Zip 2.0 encryption for Zip files.
- Split archives
- Splits an archive into pieces when it is too large for email or a server. The pieces expand back into the original file.
- Keka for iOS
- A separate iPhone and iPad app compresses, extracts and browses archives, previews their contents and can be reached from other apps through Share Actions.
- Legacy versions
- Older builds stay on the website for Macs that cannot run the current release, going back to a version for Mac OS X 10.4.
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
Keka
Website download$0
The full macOS app from keka.io for Mac OS X 10.10 or newer. Tips through PayPal or GitHub Sponsors are optional.
Keka for iOS$3.99
one-time purchase (US App Store)
The iPhone and iPad app, which creates 7Z, ZIP, TAR, ZSTD, GZIP and BZIP2 archives and extracts many more. Requires iOS 15.5 or later.
Mac App Store$6.49
one-time purchase (US Mac App Store)
The same macOS app as the website version, updated through the App Store. Its in-app purchases are tips that add no features.
PeaZip
PeaZip$0
Free, open-source software with the same full feature set on Linux, macOS and Windows.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Keka or PeaZip?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Keka starts at $3.99 one-time for the iOS app; $6.49 one-time on the Mac App Store, and PeaZip is free.
Which has a free plan, Keka or PeaZip?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Keka and PeaZip have a free plan.
Which platforms do Keka and PeaZip run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Keka lists an iOS app and 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.