The PeaZip Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about PeaZip in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
PeaZip
The Insider’s Guide
Free file archiver for Linux, macOS and Windows
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from PeaZip’s own pages.
Made by Giorgio Tani · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from PeaZip’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on PeaZip’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 94 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade
PeaZip is a free archive manager that opens and extracts RAR, TAR, ZIP and over 200 other formats. It is released under the LGPLv3 license and builds on 7-Zip, Zstandard, Brotli and other open components. It can run as a portable app and exports tasks as command-line scripts.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about PeaZip, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install it or run it portable, with nothing to configure.
- 1
Best for a free archiver on Windows, Mac or Linux
The interface is identical everywhere rather than native to any one system, and Linux ARM support is experimental.
- 2
It is free
PeaZip has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Linux, macOS and Windows.
- 4
200+ formats
Opens and extracts over 200 archive types and creates formats such as 7z, Zstandard, Brotli and zpaq.
- 5
Two-factor encryption
Supports password plus keyfile protection for all formats that support encryption.
- 6
Console export
The Console tab turns a task set up in the GUI into a CLI script for reuse or scripting.
- 7
A 3.2 GPA, above 94 of 96
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
PeaZip is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
PeaZip at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Giorgio Tani
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free archiver on Windows, Mac or Linux
PeaZip opens over 200 archive types, makes formats like 7z and Zstandard, and runs on Linux, macOS and Windows for nothing. The interface is identical everywhere rather than native to any one system, and Linux ARM support is experimental.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free, open-source software with the same feature set on all three systems, under 60% of the cheaper quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright with no cap. The site asks for donations but locks nothing. |
| Features | B | Opens 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 | B | No rating on record. You install it or run it portable, with nothing to configure. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Linux, macOS and Windows, which is computers only. No phone app and no listed integrations. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who PeaZip is for
- Fits if you want one free archiver across Windows, Mac and Linux
- Works for people who want to turn archive jobs into scripts
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- People who want a no-cost archiver on several operating systems
- Users who want to script archive tasks from a GUI
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
PeaZip is free to use.
The site asks for donations but locks nothing.
PeaZip
$0
Free, open-source software with the same full feature set on Linux, macOS and Windows.
Read from peazip.github.io on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free file archiver for Linux, macOS and Windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, file management, file compression.
Nothing in the listing is missing from the job.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
PeaZip is made by Giorgio Tani.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
94/96
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
PeaZip's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 94 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 53 of 96) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 62).
PeaZip has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 97 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. PeaZip’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 96
- AFree plan and trialAbove 53 of 96
- BFeaturesAbove 69 of 96
- BEase of useAbove 34 of 96
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 62 of 96
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 52 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. PeaZip is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
PeaZip is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 94 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade.
What you could make
- File compression: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. PeaZip’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
7-Zip, WinRAR, Keka, The Unarchiver and BetterZip
The 5 tools PeaZip is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
7-Zip
Free
Free, open-source file archiver with the 7z format.
- PeaZip also covers file management.
- 2.8GPA
WinRAR
Free trial · from $29 one-time
Windows archive manager for RAR and ZIP files.
- PeaZip has a free plan. WinRAR does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only WinRAR lists an Android app.
- PeaZip is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Keka
Free plan · from $3.99 one-time
File archiver for macOS and iOS with drag-and-drop compression.
- Only PeaZip lists Linux and Windows apps.
- Only Keka lists an iOS app.
- PeaZip is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
The Unarchiver
Free
Free Mac app that opens RAR, 7z, Zip and many older archives.
- Only PeaZip lists Linux and Windows apps.
- PeaZip is open source, according to its own site.
- PeaZip also covers file management.
- 2.6GPA
BetterZip
Free trial · from $35 one-time
Mac archive tool for creating, browsing and extracting files.
- PeaZip has a free plan. BetterZip does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only PeaZip lists Linux and Windows apps.
- PeaZip is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is PeaZip free?
Yes. PeaZip is free to use.
How much does PeaZip cost?
PeaZip lists one plan. PeaZip: $0.
What platforms does PeaZip work on?
PeaZip is available on Linux, macOS and Windows.
Does PeaZip have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. PeaZip is listed for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Does PeaZip have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. PeaZip is listed for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Is PeaZip open source?
Yes. PeaZip is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes PeaZip?
PeaZip is made by Giorgio Tani.
What are the alternatives to PeaZip?
The closest alternatives to PeaZip in our directory are 7-Zip, WinRAR, Keka, The Unarchiver and BetterZip.
How does PeaZip compare with other desktop utilities?
PeaZip's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 94 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 2.
Is PeaZip good value for money?
ToolGPA grades PeaZip A for value for money. PeaZip has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of PeaZip?
PeaZip is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from PeaZip’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from PeaZip's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Giorgio Tani. Prices change, so check peazip.github.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- PeaZip, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/peazip
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "PeaZip: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/peazip
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/peazip/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after PeaZip, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 97 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what PeaZip’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. PeaZip is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Giorgio Tani. Prices and plans change: check peazip.github.io before you buy.