The best free 7-Zip alternative on Windows is NanaZip, an open source fork of 7-Zip rebuilt for Windows 11 and installed safely from the Microsoft Store. PeaZip supports the most formats, Bandizip is the slickest free option, WinRAR remains the RAR standard, and Keka is the pick for a 7 Zip Mac alternative.
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Best for |
| NanaZip | Free, open source | Windows 11/10 | Direct 7-Zip replacement with a modern UI |
| PeaZip | Free, open source | Windows, Linux, macOS | Widest format support, 200+ types |
| Bandizip | Free version, paid Pro | Windows, macOS | Speed and a clean interface |
| WinRAR | Trial, then paid license | Windows | Creating RAR archives |
| Keka | Free, donation supported | macOS | Mac users |
Do you actually need a 7-Zip alternative?
Be clear on one thing first: 7-Zip is alive and well. It is still actively maintained, with version 26.02 released in June 2026 on the official 7-zip.org site, and it remains free and open source, with no ads, no license nags, and excellent compression. If you simply want it, grab it via our 7-Zip download for PC guide. One caution for existing users: update old installs, since the 25.01 release in 2025 patched a security vulnerability.
The real reasons people want a 7 Zip alternative: the interface has not changed in decades, there is no official graphical version for macOS, it cannot create RAR files, and its Explorer integration feels bolted on in Windows 11. Every pick below fixes at least one of those, and every download link goes to the official source only.
The 5 best 7-Zip alternatives in 2026
1. NanaZip (Windows, free and open source)
NanaZip is a fork of 7-Zip’s own source code, so you keep the same compression engine and format support, wrapped in an interface built for modern Windows: dark mode, rounded corners, and a context menu that works natively in the Windows 11 Explorer instead of hiding behind Show more options. It is developed openly by M2Team on GitHub, and the June 2026 release keeps it current with upstream 7-Zip. Because it installs from the Microsoft Store, updates arrive automatically, which quietly solves the biggest real world 7-Zip problem: outdated copies. This is the top pick if you like 7-Zip and want it to feel like 2026.
Get NanaZip (Microsoft Store, official)
2. PeaZip (Windows, Linux, macOS, free and open source)
PeaZip is the format champion: it opens more than 200 archive types, far beyond what most people will ever meet, and it runs with the same interface on Windows, Linux and macOS. Version 11.2.0 shipped in July 2026, so development is very active. It adds practical extras 7-Zip lacks, like a searchable function picker, two factor style archive encryption with keyfiles, and batch tools for splitting and secure deletion. The interface is busier than NanaZip’s, which is the honest tradeoff. Download it only from the official project page at peazip.github.io, since old lookalike domains exist.
3. Bandizip (Windows and macOS, free version)
Bandizip, from Bandisoft, is the choice if you extract archives all day and want it to feel instant. The free version handles all the everyday formats including ZIP, 7Z and RAR extraction with fast multicore compression. Version 7.45 arrived in July 2026. The paid Professional upgrade adds a password manager, archive repair and password recovery; the free edition covers normal use. Get it from the official bandisoft.com site or the Microsoft Store. The free build shows an occasional ad panel in the UI, which is how it stays free.
4. WinRAR (Windows, trial then paid)
WinRAR is the only tool on this list that creates RAR archives, and RAR remains common enough that the license still makes sense for some workflows. Version 7.23, released in June 2026 on win-rar.com, extracts everything you are likely to meet, and its archive repair records are genuinely useful for damaged downloads. It is trialware: after the trial period it asks you to buy a license to keep using it. WinRAR has also patched several actively exploited vulnerabilities in recent years, so if you run it, keep it updated. If you never need to create RAR files, the free options above do the job.
5. Keka (macOS, the 7 Zip Mac alternative)
Since 7-Zip has no official Mac app, Keka is the answer to the 7 zip mac alternative search. It compresses to 7Z, ZIP, TAR, GZIP and more, extracts RAR and about everything else, and integrates cleanly with Finder. Version 1.6.7 shipped in July 2026. It is free to download from the official keka.io site, with an optional paid copy on the Mac App Store that supports development. Set default compression to 7Z and you effectively have 7-Zip on your Mac.
What about Windows 11’s built in support?
Recent Windows 11 updates let File Explorer extract 7Z, RAR and TAR files directly, and newer builds can even create 7Z and TAR archives, though with far fewer options and slower speeds than a dedicated archiver. For an occasional download, the built in support is genuinely enough now. Install one of the tools above when you compress regularly, need encryption, or work with passworded archives. And if you also handle archives on an Android phone, our ZArchiver for PC guide covers that side, with more tools in the utility apps for PC hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free 7-Zip alternative for Windows?
NanaZip. It uses 7-Zip’s own engine, so compression and format support are identical, but it looks and behaves like a modern Windows 11 app and updates itself through the Microsoft Store.
What is the best 7-Zip alternative for Mac?
Keka. It is free from keka.io, handles 7Z both ways, and extracts RAR. PeaZip also offers macOS builds if you want the same tool across every OS.
Is 7-Zip still safe to use in 2026?
Yes, as long as it is current. The project is actively maintained, and security fixes do land, like the one in version 25.01, so an updated 7-Zip from 7-zip.org remains a perfectly good choice.
Is WinRAR free?
No. It installs as a trial and then asks for a paid license. If you only ever extract RAR files rather than create them, every free tool on this list already does that.
Is 7-Zip or WinRAR safer?
Both are safe when kept current, and both have shipped security fixes: 7-Zip patched a vulnerability in version 25.01, and WinRAR has fixed several actively exploited flaws in recent years. 7-Zip is also free and open source, so there is no reason to run a risky cracked copy. With either tool, the real danger is an outdated install.
Verdict
On Windows, install NanaZip and you lose nothing from 7-Zip while gaining a current interface and automatic updates. Pick PeaZip if you live in unusual formats, Bandizip if extraction speed and polish matter most, WinRAR only if you must create RAR archives, and Keka on a Mac. All five are actively maintained as of July 2026, and all links above point to official sources only.
