WinZip vs 7-Zip:

There’s a Clear Champion

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A lot of people end up here because they Googled “7-Zip alternative.” It makes you wonder: Why are so many people looking for something better?

The answer is simple: it's because you can do so much more with WinZip and you can do it faster, better and with ongoing support for even more productivity and convenience features. WinZip vs 7-Zip is no match: WinZip is a more versatile, powerful, and simpler alternative to 7-Zip.

Feature Comparison for WinZip vs 7-Zip

Here's why WinZip is the preferred 7-Zip alternative:

Features

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Advanced WAV compression (WavPack)
Advanced JPG Image File compression
Advanced MP3 Compression
Automatic selection of Best Compression Method by file type
BZip2, LZMA, PPMd, Enhanced Deflate, XZ, ZSTD
(No ZSTD Support)
Zip 2.0 (Normal, Maximum Deflated)

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
POSIX TAR Support
Advanced Compression (Jpeg) Method
Advanced Compression (WavPack) Method
Advanced Compression (MP3) Method
Advanced Compression (BZip2, LZMA, PPMd, XZ) Methods
Zip 2.0 Methods (Normal, Maximum, Enhanced)
Archive Files: 7Z
Archive Files: LHA/LZH
Archive Files: TAR, Z, BZ, TBZ, GZ, BZ2, TBZ2
Archive Files: RAR
Archive Files: CAB, ZIP
Archive Files: B64, HQX, TAZ, TXZ, TZ
Archive Files: ZIPX
Archive Files: XZ
Archive Files: ARJ
Encoded Files: UUE, MIME, BINHEX
Disk Image Support: ISO, IMG

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Can split archives into multiple volumes
Supports archive formats larger than 4GB

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Remove additional EXIF data from files
Create policies to enforce password complexity
Take advantage of hardware and GPU’s for even faster AES encryption
AES Encryption 256-bit
AES FIPS-197 Certified
Auto-wipes (“shred”) temporarily extracted copies of encrypted files (prior to being deleted) using U.S. Department of Defence standard (DoD 5220.22-M) to prevent files from being recovered
Zip 2.0 (Legacy) Encryption

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Perform File Conversions before Zipping
Set Expiration Dates for Zip files and Log files
Specify the Job Name At End of Job Creation
Create new jobs from existing jobs
Burn Backups to Blue-ray Disc
Burn Backups to CD/DVD (automatically split archive over multiple discs if necessary
Save Backups to the Cloud (Box, OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, CloudMe, SugarSync, MediaFire, ZipShare, SharePoint and Amazon S3)
Save Backups to an off-site server using internal FTP client
Create custom backups for selected files and folders
Backup files from the cloud (Box, OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, CloudMe, SugarSync, MediaFire, SharePoint and Amazon S3
Pre-defined data backup for your documents, email, desktop, libraries, etc.
Backup photos directly from your digital camera
Email backup files automatically from virtually any of your email addresses
Email log files upon completion of backups and automated jobs from virtually any of your email addresses
Schedule backups and Zipping jobs to run automatically and unattended
Create Backup Jobs from Explorer
Scan documents and images with a scanner, zip, and save
Command Line Support Add-on for scripting

(Limited Funtionality)

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Automate WinZip Express
Share using Windows Charms
Shorten shared URLs
WinZip Express copy to clipboard
Supports individuals with multiple accounts for a specific cloud service, up to 16 accounts per service
Microsoft Office add-on support zipping and sharing from within Office apps
WinZip Express Email add-on supports Microsoft Outlook
Post files or Zip files on Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
Instant Message files or Zip files (Google Hangout, Jabber, Office 365 Groups)
Share an unzipped image directly from the File Viewer to social media sites
Place URLs to files stored on Cloud Services on the clipboard for sharing in other apps
Scan documents and images with a scanner, zip, and share
Advanced Sharing options such as file encryption, image resizing, image watermarking, and conversion of Microsoft Office files to PDF
Internal email client supports Yahoo! Mail, Google Gmail, and Microsoft Outlook.com. and can be configured for many other email services
Internal email client has built in address book that can collect contact information from Google Contacts, Google Hangout, Office 365 Outlook, Outlook, Yahoo! Contacts, Office 365 Groups, Twitter, and Jabber.
Address book supports up to 16 accounts per contact service

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
File Search
Expanded Features for Background Tools
Set Expiration Dates for Files and Folders
View Date taken and Date Modified
Rename Multiple files at once
Image format conversion
Remove personal data from files
Move, Copy, Delete, Rename Local and Network Files

(Limited Funtionality)
Move, Copy, Delete, Rename Cloud Service Based Files
Create/Delete/Rename Folders
Display File and Folder Properties
Open, Edit, and Print Local Files with the Associated App
Open, Edit, and Print Network Files with the Associated App
Open, Edit, and Print Cloud Service Based Files with the Associated App
Open, Edit, and Print Local Files with Alternate Apps
Open, Edit, and Print Network Files with Alternate Apps
Open, Edit, and Print Cloud Service Based Files with Alternate Apps
Map Folders as Drives
Preview Local Files
Preview Network Files
Preview Cloud Service Based Files
Wipe Files
Image Resize and save
Image Watermark and save
Convert to PDF and Save or Share
Image Resize and share
Image Watermark and share
Combine PDF's into One and Save or Share
Replace Individual Local and Network Files with Zipped Files
Replace Individual Cloud Service Based Files with Zipped Files
Get Links to Cloud Based Files and Folders to Paste and Share
Add a Network Location
Share Local and Network Files via Email, IM or Social Media
Share Cloud Based Files via Email, IM or Social Media
More Pinning Choices in Files Pane
Shell Extension Support in Files Pane

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Option to view password entry
Prompt to unzip on open
Unzip to file pane folder

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Windows Explorer Interface
Drag and Drop 'Add to Zip' in WinZip's Files Pane
See Zip file content and open files in Explorer’s previewer using Zip file previewer
Tool tip summary of Zip file content
Use Drag and Drop to add files to an archive file

(Archive must be open)
Windows Explorer Context Menu for creating archive files
Add to archive file (specify location)
Add to archive (current location)
Zip and Email
Zip and Email with encryption and renaming of Zip file
Replace selected files with Zipped files
Zip and Share includes renaming Zip file, conversions, encryption, saving to cloud, sharing via email, IM, and social media
Windows Explorer Context menu for using archive files
Encrypt Zip files
Create self-extracting Zip files
Unzip to selectable folder location
Unzip to current folder location

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Create new automated zipping jobs
Create new Zip files on CD/DVD
Create new Zip files locally or in the cloud
Open a Zip file stored locally or in the cloud
Open recently used archive files
Pin to taskbar and unpin from taskbar

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Slide to Hide Files and Action Panes
Dynamic access to common features based on current task
File/Folder (locally and on the cloud) access for zipping and unzipping within the app
Customize the look and feel of the interface; showing/hiding ribbon, showing hiding panes, selecting alternative views of the archive content
Windows modern style dialogs
Touch support and optimized UI for touch
2 in 1 Support with UI automatically changing to user’s preferences based on screen orientation and lack or presence of mouse/keyboard
Optimized use of display area when used on tablets, notebooks, laptops, and desktops
Browse local and network files from within the app
Move, Copy, Rename, and Delete local and network files from within the app
Preview cloud based files from within the app
Move, Copy, Rename, and Delete cloud based files from within the app
Provide views to maximize information show, simple touch control, or thumbnails
Temporarily extract Zip files using the 'Unzip and Try' feature to view inter-related components contained in the Zip file (such as an HTML page and associated graphics)
Scan and Diagnose your PC’s performance with built in System Scanner tool

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Expand the Preview Pane
Rotate, resize, save and view full size images directly within a Zip file (internal viewer)
Display slide show of all images in an archive file
Thumbnail view of images in an archive file
Share an image to social media while viewing images
Resize shared copies of images while maintaining the original from the archive

Detailed Features WinZip Pro 7-Zip
Expand the Preview Pane
Windows

Detailed Features WinZip Pro WinRAR
Advanced Direct Access Technology for Faster Display and Unzipping From the Cloud
Display Compression and technical details
Native 64-bit engine
Engine supports multiple processors and GPU
Compatible with Windows 10 Anniversary

Get WinZip Pro Today

See all those checks in the WinZip column and all those empty boxes in the 7-Zip column? That's not an accident, it's what happens when a great product is supported with an active development team that listens to its users!

WinZip has been around since 1991, and remains the gold standard in file compression. We're proud to support WinZip with a full development team that is passionate about exploring new features and boosting performance.

Available Compression Methods

You need a file compression tool that's versatile enough to handle anything you can throw at it, right? WinZip has you covered, so you'll never need another compression tool:

Advanced WAV compression (WavPack), audio compression format that provides lossless, high-quality lossy and hybrid modes
Advanced MP3 Compression, engineered precisely for high performing MP3 files
Advanced JPG Image File Compression, advanced image compression features for the world's most popular image format
Bzip2, LZMA, PPMd, Enhanced Deflate, XZ, ZSTD, enjoy the full spectrum of compression methods for all applications
Automatic selection of best compression method by file type, so you're never left guessing which method will deliver the best compression results
Zip 2.0 (Normal and Maximum Deflated), standard or lossless compression in one tool, at your fingertips

Backup and Automation

You might be here if you're looking for a software tool that supports advanced backup and automation functionality, and that's where WinZip really clobbers the competition. There's so much that WinZip can do to make your file sharing better and your life easier that 7-Zip can't, including:

Perform File Conversions Before Zipping: Convert images, convert to PDF reduce and resize images, remove personal data, create watermarks and more, so you can save even more size.

Create WinZip Jobs: Integrated Job Wizard can quickly and easily walk you through creating jobs to automate backups, perform tasks and more:

  • Set expiration dates for Zip files and log files
  • Specify the job name at end of job creation
  • Create new jobs from existing jobs

Save Backups to the Cloud: WinZip supports export to all the most popular cloud services, including Box, OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, CloudMe, SugarSync, MediaFire, ZipShare, SharePoint and Amazon S3.

Schedule Backups and Zipping Jobs to Run Automatically and Unattended. Set it and forget it, WinZip streamlines workflow by doing the tedious work for you.

Supported Decompression Formats

7-Zip vs WinZip is no contest when you look at all the formats that WinZip supports and 7-Zip doesn't:

  • POSIX TAR Support
  • Advanced Compression (JPEG) Method
  • Advanced Compression (WavPack) Method
  • Advanced Compression (MP3) Method
  • Archive Files: B64, HQX, TAZ, TXZ, TZ
  • Archive Files: ZIPX
  • Encoded Files: UUE, MIME, BINHEX
  • Disk Image Support: ISO, IMG
Sharing with WinZip

Another reason users love WinZip as a 7-Zip alternative is the comprehensive sharing functionality, which makes life easier and more convenient for you.

Multiple Accounts per Cloud Service:

Link up to 16 accounts per cloud service, no more signing in and out to access different accounts. For example, you can effortlessly view, edit and share between your Google Drive for work and home (and up to 14 more!), which can streamline and reduce complexity in your workflow.

Simplified Cloud Sharing Options:

You can easily manage and share Zip files in the cloud. Built-in functionality allows you to send links to recipients: you share the links, instead of going through the trouble of sending the files. It's the simplest way to share files from the cloud!

Advanced Sharing Options:

Built-in sharing tools boost the functionality of WinZip! You can encrypt files, resize images, watermark images, convert to PDF and more. Share files how you want, easily and with just a single program.

It's UNDISPUTED – WinZip Is Still the Best Encryption, File Management and Compression Software Available

Make the same choice as thousands of other smart users: download WinZip to open, extract and convert your 7-Zip files. You'll LOVE the productivity and convenience improvement!

Download WinZip Now