The WinRAR Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about WinRAR 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.
WinRAR
The Insider’s Guide
Windows archive manager for RAR and ZIP files
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from WinRAR’s own pages.
Made by RARLAB (published by win.rar GmbH) · 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 WinRAR’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on WinRAR’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
WinRAR is an archive manager for Windows from RARLAB, published by win.rar GmbH. It creates RAR and ZIP archives, unpacks a dozen other formats, and adds AES 256-bit encryption, multivolume and self-extracting archives, and recovery records that can repair damaged files. It is sold as a perpetual per-computer license after a 40-day trial, with command-line RAR for Linux, macOS and FreeBSD and a separate RAR app for Android.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about WinRAR, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but there's nothing to configure.
- 1
Best for making RAR archives on Windows
WinRAR makes RAR and ZIP archives, opens a dozen other formats, locks archives with AES 256-bit encryption and can repair damaged ones.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $29 one-time, single-user license (excluding VAT).
- 3
You can try it first
40-day trial: the publisher says the program can be used free of charge for 40 days
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, Linux, macOS and Android.
- 5
RAR and ZIP archives
Creates RAR and ZIP archives and unpacks CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, UUE, BZ2, JAR, ISO, 7Z, XZ and Z files.
- 6
AES 256-bit encryption
Archives can be password protected with AES encryption using a 256-bit key, which the publisher says covers the archive's metadata as well.
- 7
Recovery record and repair
A recovery record and recovery volumes make it possible to reconstruct archives even after physical damage.
- 8
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.
- 9
Your call
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
WinRAR at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $29 one-time, single-user license (excluding VAT)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 40-day trial: the publisher says the program can be used free of charge for 40 days
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, Android
- Made by
- RARLAB (published by win.rar GmbH)
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for making RAR archives on Windows
WinRAR makes RAR and ZIP archives, opens a dozen other formats, locks archives with AES 256-bit encryption and can repair damaged ones. It's $29 once per computer, plus VAT, after a 40-day trial. The app with windows and buttons is Windows only, Linux and macOS get a command line, and it can't create 7Z, TAR or any format beyond RAR and ZIP.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $29 once for a single-user license, excluding VAT, and the publisher calls it perpetual with no subscription. That one-off is under a year of what paid utilities here charge monthly. Buy 2 to 9 and it's $21 each. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free version. You get 40 days free of charge with no card, and after that it wants paying, one license per computer. |
| Features | C | It makes RAR and ZIP archives, unpacks 7Z, TAR, ISO and CAB, locks them with AES 256-bit encryption, splits them into volumes and can rebuild a damaged one from a recovery record. The gap the listing names: RAR and ZIP are the only formats it can create. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to configure. Wizard mode walks you through packing and unpacking with questions and answers, so you needn't learn the options first. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows for the real app, a separate RAR app for Android, and command line only on Linux, macOS and FreeBSD. So phone and computer, with no integrations and no API on record. |
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 WinRAR is for
- Fits if you have to create RAR archives, not only open them
- Works for offices buying in bulk, as the price per license falls to $10 at 50 computers
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you only ever open archives, as you'd be paying $29 for the part you don't need
- Not for you if you're on a Mac and want windows and buttons, since RAR for macOS is command line only
- Too light for making 7Z or TAR files, because it can only create RAR and ZIP
- Pricey if you have several computers, since each needs its own license and prices exclude VAT
- Watch out: RAR for Android is a separate app, free with ads unless you pay to remove them
Good to know
Good for
- Anyone who has to create RAR archives, not only open them
- Splitting large files into volumes with a recovery record for transfer or storage
- Organizations buying perpetual per-seat licenses at volume prices
Worth knowing
- The graphical app is for Windows only; RAR for Linux, macOS and FreeBSD is command line only.
- Only RAR and ZIP archives can be created. Other formats, including 7Z, TAR and ISO, can only be unpacked.
- It is a trial product: 40 days of free use, then a paid license. Prices exclude VAT and each computer needs its own license.
- RAR for Android is a separate app, free with ads and with a paid ad-free option.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$29 one-time
To start
WinRAR is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $29 one-time, single-user license (excluding VAT).
That one-off is under a year of what paid utilities here charge monthly.
Single-user license
$29
one-time purchase, excluding VAT
One license to use the RAR archiver on one computer. The publisher describes licenses as perpetual, with no subscription.
Multi-user, 2-9 users
$21
per user or computer, one-time, excluding VAT
For 2 to 9 licenses. A license is needed for each computer or client workstation where RAR is installed, used or accessed.
Multi-user, 10-24 users
$16
per user or computer, one-time, excluding VAT
Per-license price when buying 10 to 24 licenses.
Multi-user, 25-49 users
$13
per user or computer, one-time, excluding VAT
Per-license price when buying 25 to 49 licenses.
Multi-user, 50-99 users
$10
per user or computer, one-time, excluding VAT
Per-license price when buying 50 to 99 licenses.
Multi-user, 100-999 users
$6 to $8
per user or computer, one-time, excluding VAT
$8 each for 100-199 licenses, $7 for 200-499 and $6 for 500-999. Larger orders go through the sales team.
Trying it first
40-day trial: the publisher says the program can be used free of charge for 40 days
Read from rarlab.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
Perpetual license with no subscription
The publisher describes WinRAR's license model as perpetual and valid for a lifetime, and says licenses are valid for all language and platform versions.
Stated on win-rar.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux and Android
Windows archive manager for RAR and ZIP files. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, file compression.
The gap the listing names: RAR and ZIP are the only formats it can create.
- RAR and ZIP archives
- Creates RAR and ZIP archives and unpacks CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, UUE, BZ2, JAR, ISO, 7Z, XZ and Z files.
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Archives can be password protected with AES encryption using a 256-bit key, which the publisher says covers the archive's metadata as well.
- Recovery record and repair
- A recovery record and recovery volumes make it possible to reconstruct archives even after physical damage.
- Self-extracting and multivolume archives
- Creates self-extracting archives and splits archives into volumes. Both are part of the license, with no add-ons to buy.
- Wizard mode and command line
- A Wizard mode reaches the basic archiving functions through questions and answers, and a command line interface ships alongside the graphical one.
- Solid archiving
- The publisher says solid archiving raises the compression rate by 10-50%, especially when packing a large number of small files.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
WinRAR is made by RARLAB (published by win.rar GmbH).
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
WinRAR'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 value for money (A, above 24 of 94) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. WinRAR’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 86 of 94
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.
Your call
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
You could make the core of WinRAR for yourself: file compression. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $29, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could make
- File compression: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. WinRAR’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, Keka and The Unarchiver
The 3 tools WinRAR 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.
- 7-Zip has a free plan. WinRAR does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only WinRAR lists an Android app.
- WinRAR can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
Keka
Free plan · from $3.99 one-time
File archiver for macOS and iOS with drag-and-drop compression.
- Keka has a free plan. WinRAR does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only WinRAR lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Keka lists an iOS app.
- 2.8GPA
The Unarchiver
Free
Free Mac app that opens RAR, 7z, Zip and many older archives.
- 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
10
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 WinRAR free?
No, WinRAR is a paid product, but you can try it first. 40-day trial: the publisher says the program can be used free of charge for 40 days.
How much does WinRAR cost?
WinRAR lists 6 plans. Single-user license: $29 one-time purchase, excluding VAT.
What platforms does WinRAR work on?
WinRAR is available on Windows, Linux, macOS and Android.
Does WinRAR offer any discounts?
WinRAR publicly lists the following: Perpetual license with no subscription.
Does WinRAR have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. WinRAR is listed for Windows, Linux, macOS and Android.
Is WinRAR open source?
WinRAR is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Who makes WinRAR?
WinRAR is made by RARLAB (published by win.rar GmbH).
What are the alternatives to WinRAR?
The closest alternatives to WinRAR in our directory are 7-Zip, Keka and The Unarchiver.
How does WinRAR compare with other desktop utilities?
WinRAR's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Could I make my own version of WinRAR?
It depends on the utility: a converter or a calculator is an afternoon.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from WinRAR’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 RARLAB's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-01-28.
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 RARLAB (published by win.rar GmbH). Prices change, so check rarlab.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
- WinRAR, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/winrar
- 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, "WinRAR: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/winrar
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/winrar/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after WinRAR, 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 WinRAR’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. WinRAR is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by RARLAB (published by win.rar GmbH). Prices and plans change: check rarlab.com before you buy.