PeaZip vs WinZip (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, PeaZip grades higher than WinZip: 3.2 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
PeaZip grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
WinZip
Archiver with encryption, cloud sharing and file management tools
Which one is for you
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
Pick WinZip if
- Fits if you want zip, encryption and cloud sharing from one paid program
- Works for IT-managed teams that want a quoted Enterprise edition
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if all you do is unzip files, because free archivers do that for nothing
- Skip it if you won't pay a yearly subscription, since there is no one-time licence
- Watch out: backup, SafeShare, image tools and the system utilities need Pro or Ultimate
- Watch out: prices include VAT, so the amount charged may differ by region
How we grade them
| 3.2GPAPeaZipVery good | 2.4GPAWinZipFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree, open-source software with the same feature set on all three systems, under 60% of the cheaper quarter. | CStandard is $3.33 a month billed yearly, which is this category's typical monthly price. Pro is $5.00 and Ultimate is $10.00. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright with no cap. The site asks for donations but locks nothing. | CThere is a 21-day trial. The page we read doesn't say whether a card is asked for, and there is no free edition after it. |
| Features | 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. | BCompression, extraction, encryption, cloud file management, backup and system utilities across the tiers. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job, though much of it is above Standard. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating on record. You install it or run it portable, with nothing to configure. | BInstall it and zip or unzip files with nothing to set up. No store rating is on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | CLinux, macOS and Windows, which is computers only. No phone app and no listed integrations. | CWindows and Mac, computers only. No Linux, phone or web version. |
| Best for | a free archiver on Windows, Mac or Linux | a paid zip tool with cloud and backup extras |
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: PeaZip and WinZip. How we grade
Price against what you get
PeaZip has no paid plan and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. WinZip starts at $3.33 a month and scores 2.7.
They score the same, and PeaZip starts $3.33 a month lower. Of the other desktop utilities on the chart, none scores higher than PeaZip for less, and none scores higher than WinZip 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 is open source, according to its own site.
- WinZip also covers file sharing and pDF editing.
At a glance
| PeaZip | WinZip | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $3.33 per month, billed annually (incl. VAT) |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 21-day free trial |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Giorgio Tani | Corel Corporation |
| Price read from | peazip.github.io | winzip.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
WinZip
- Sold only by subscription, billed annually; there is no free edition beyond the 21-day trial.
- The pricing page labels prices as including VAT, so the amount charged may differ by region.
- Backup, SafeShare, image tools and the system utilities suite need Pro or Ultimate.
- Enterprise has no published price and is sold through a quote request.
Key features
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.
WinZip
- Compression and extraction
- Zips and unzips files and opens other archive types such as RAR, 7Z, TAR and ISO.
- File and email encryption
- Encrypts files and email attachments, and lists secure, unrecoverable file wiping among its core capabilities.
- Multi-cloud file management
- Browse and manage files across several cloud storage accounts, with batch file conversion.
- Backup and advanced tools
- The comparison table lists automated backups, secure FTP transfers, malware scanning of zip files and PDF and image management.
- System utilities
- Pro and Ultimate bundle the System Utilities Suite: disk and memory cleanup, registry optimization, a driver updater and a speed booster.
- Enterprise controls
- Enterprise adds AES-256-GCM with FIPS 140-3 compliance, an IT-held recovery key and policy enforcement across the organization.
Plans
PeaZip
PeaZip$0
Free, open-source software with the same full feature set on Linux, macOS and Windows.
WinZip
Standard$3.33
per month, billed annually (incl. VAT)
Zip, protect, share and manage files; includes WinZip Standard for Windows and Mac, Courier and Ad Remover.
Pro$5.00
per month, billed annually (incl. VAT)
Adds Secure Backup, SafeShare, Image Manager, Duplicate File Finder and the System Utilities Suite.
Ultimate$10.00
per month, billed annually (incl. VAT)
Everything in Pro plus WinZip PDF Pro, the PDF editing and watermarking tool.
EnterpriseCustom
Quote-based edition for IT teams with AES-256-GCM encryption, policy enforcement, recovery keys and volume licensing.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, PeaZip or WinZip?
As of Nov 13, 2026, PeaZip is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $3.33 a month for WinZip. PeaZip is free, and WinZip starts at $3.33 per month, billed annually (incl. VAT).
Which has a free plan, PeaZip or WinZip?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only PeaZip has a free plan. WinZip does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do PeaZip and WinZip run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only PeaZip lists a Linux app. Both list macOS and Windows apps. 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.