The The Unarchiver Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about The Unarchiver 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.
The Unarchiver
The Insider’s Guide
Free Mac app that opens RAR, 7z, Zip and many older archives
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from The Unarchiver’s own pages.
Made by MacPaw Way Ltd. · checked Oct 6, 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 The Unarchiver’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on The Unarchiver’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
The Unarchiver is a free macOS app from MacPaw for extracting archive files. It opens common formats such as Zip, RAR, 7z, Tar, Gzip and Bzip2, along with disc images, some Windows installers and many older formats such as StuffIt and DiskDoubler. It also tries to detect the filename encoding inside an archive so that non-Latin names come out correctly. The app only extracts; the site describes no way to create archives.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about The Unarchiver, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for opening RAR, 7z and odd old archives on a Mac
It only unpacks: the site describes no way to make an archive.
- 2
It is free
The Unarchiver has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free from the vendor's site or the Mac App Store. The site says there are no in-app purchases for additional features.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Common archive formats
Lists full support for Zip, Zipx, RAR, 7z, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, LZMA and XZ, plus CAB, MSI, NSIS installers and common disc images such as ISO and BIN.
- 5
Encrypted and multi-volume archives
Opens RAR archives with encryption and multiple volumes and Zip archives with AES encryption, and can join split files named .001, .002.
- 6
Older and unusual formats
Unpacks formats such as StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ and ARC, and Linux packages such as RPM and Deb. Support for some, including StuffIt X and Ace, is partial.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
The Unarchiver is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
The Unarchiver at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- MacPaw Way Ltd.
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for opening RAR, 7z and odd old archives on a Mac
The Unarchiver is a free Mac app that opens Zip, RAR, 7z and Tar, plus old formats like StuffIt, and tries to get non-Latin file names right. It only unpacks: the site describes no way to make an archive. StuffIt X is partial, Ace 2.0 and multi-part ARJ don't work, version 4.3.9 added usage analytics, and Windows and Linux get only command-line tools.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free from the vendor's site or the Mac App Store, downloaded and run like any other app. The site says there are no in-app purchases for additional features, so nothing gets sold to you later. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The complete app, free, with every format it supports included. There's no paid tier at all, so nothing is being held back for one. |
| Features | C | It opens many formats, from Zip and RAR and 7z to StuffIt and DiskDoubler, encrypted and multi-volume ones included. But it only unpacks: the site describes no way to make an archive. StuffIt X is partial, Ace 2.0 and later isn't supported, and multi-part ARJ doesn't work. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up. Install it, set it as the default for archives in Finder's Get Info window, and from then on they just open. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | The app is Mac only, macOS 10.13 or later, with no integrations listed. Windows and Linux get the unar and lsar command-line tools and no app with a window. |
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 The Unarchiver is for
- Fits if you're on a Mac and keep being sent RAR or 7z files
- Works for old archives in formats such as StuffIt or DiskDoubler, or with non-Latin file names
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need to make archives too, as it only extracts them
- Not for you if you want an app with a window on Windows or Linux, where it's command-line tools only
- Too light for Ace 2.0 and later or multi-part ARJ archives, and StuffIt X is only partly supported
- Watch out: version 4.3.9 added product usage analytics and a survey invitation, the App Store notes say
- Skip it if your Mac is older than macOS 10.13, the minimum for the app
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who need to open RAR, 7z and other archive formats
- Opening old archives in formats such as StuffIt or DiskDoubler
- Archives whose file names use non-Latin characters
Worth knowing
- It only extracts: the site lists the formats it can open and describes no way to create archives.
- The app is for macOS 10.13 or later. Windows and Linux get only the unar and lsar command-line tools, with no graphical app.
- Some formats are partly supported: StuffIt X is partial, Ace 2.0 and later is unsupported, and multi-part ARJ archives do not work.
- Version 4.3.9 added product usage analytics and a survey invitation, according to the App Store release notes.
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
The Unarchiver is free to use.
Free from the vendor's site or the Mac App Store, downloaded and run like any other app.
The Unarchiver
$0
The complete app for macOS 10.13 or later, with every supported format included and no in-app purchases.
The free plan
The whole app is free from the vendor's site or the Mac App Store. The site says there are no in-app purchases for additional features.
Read from theunarchiver.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Free Mac app that opens RAR, 7z, Zip and many older archives. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, file compression.
But it only unpacks: the site describes no way to make an archive.
- Common archive formats
- Lists full support for Zip, Zipx, RAR, 7z, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, LZMA and XZ, plus CAB, MSI, NSIS installers and common disc images such as ISO and BIN.
- Encrypted and multi-volume archives
- Opens RAR archives with encryption and multiple volumes and Zip archives with AES encryption, and can join split files named .001, .002.
- Older and unusual formats
- Unpacks formats such as StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ and ARC, and Linux packages such as RPM and Deb. Support for some, including StuffIt X and Ace, is partial.
- Filename encoding detection
- Tries to detect and handle the filename encoding used inside an archive, so files named in non-Latin characters are not garbled.
- Default app for archives
- Can be set as the default app for archive files through Finder's Get Info window, after which archives open with it automatically.
- unar and lsar command-line tools
- The same unarchiving code is offered as two command-line tools, unar and lsar, which run on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
The Unarchiver is made by MacPaw Way Ltd.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
The Unarchiver's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
The Unarchiver has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. The Unarchiver’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. The Unarchiver 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
The Unarchiver is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- File compression: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. The Unarchiver’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
Keka, 7-Zip and WinRAR
The 3 tools The Unarchiver is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Keka
Free plan · from $3.99 one-time
File archiver for macOS and iOS with drag-and-drop compression.
- Only Keka lists an iOS app.
- 3.0GPA
7-Zip
Free
Free, open-source file archiver with the 7z format.
- Only 7-Zip lists Windows and Linux apps.
- 7-Zip is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
WinRAR
Free trial · from $29 one-time
Windows archive manager for RAR and ZIP files.
- The Unarchiver has a free plan. WinRAR does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only WinRAR lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- WinRAR can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 The Unarchiver free?
Yes. The Unarchiver is free to use.
How much does The Unarchiver cost?
The Unarchiver lists one plan. The Unarchiver: $0.
What platforms does The Unarchiver work on?
The Unarchiver is available on macOS.
Does The Unarchiver have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. The Unarchiver is listed for macOS.
Does The Unarchiver have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. The Unarchiver is listed for macOS.
Is The Unarchiver open source?
The Unarchiver is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does The Unarchiver work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes The Unarchiver?
The Unarchiver is made by MacPaw Way Ltd.
What are the alternatives to The Unarchiver?
The closest alternatives to The Unarchiver in our directory are Keka, 7-Zip and WinRAR.
How does The Unarchiver compare with other desktop utilities?
The Unarchiver's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Is The Unarchiver good value for money?
ToolGPA grades The Unarchiver A for value for money. The Unarchiver has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of The Unarchiver?
The Unarchiver is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: A real app for macOS.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from The Unarchiver’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from MacPaw's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-03.
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 MacPaw Way Ltd. Prices change, so check theunarchiver.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 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.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- The Unarchiver, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/the-unarchiver
- 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, "The Unarchiver: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/the-unarchiver
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/the-unarchiver/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after The Unarchiver, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 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 The Unarchiver’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. The Unarchiver is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by MacPaw Way Ltd. Prices and plans change: check theunarchiver.com before you buy.