Discover the top 3 unarchivers on Setapp. I’ve tested several apps for extracting files, and here are my top picks:
It’s rare that you can’t do something on your Mac, but when it happens, it can stop your workflow in its tracks. One of the most typical things that your Mac can’t do is efficiently unpack zipped archives.
You might know that your Mac has a built-in macOS file archiver — but it does have its limitations, which I’ll mention below. Besides, there are a few better options out there. Then what’s the best zipping program for Mac?
Here’s what you gain:
Save storage space — Compress large folders for backups or cloud uploads.
Protect files — Add password encryption for secure sharing via email or drives.
Handle cross-platform archives — Open RAR/7Z from Windows users or create compatible ZIPs.
Work faster — Preview, selective extract, batch process, and split big files for easier transfers.
Tip: Archiver, BetterZip, and Commander One — all three on Setapp for less than WinZip alone. Start your free 7-day Setapp trial and try all three — ZIP, RAR, 7Z, encryption, preview — everything the built-in Archive Utility can't do. Cancel before Day 7, $0 charged.
How to compare the best file compression and extraction apps
When choosing among the best file compression and extraction apps for Mac, focus on features that match your real needs like emailing large files, backing up folders, sharing secure archives, or handling heavy RAR/7Z packages from others.
Key evaluation factors:
Supported formats (ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR.GZ) — Essential for cross-platform work; missing RAR/7Z limits you with common downloads.
Password protection/encryption — Critical for secure sharing of sensitive files over email or cloud.
Preview-before-extract — Lets you check contents and selectively pull files, saving time and disk space.
Compression levels — Adjustable settings help balance size vs speed for backups or transfers.
Batch processing — Compress/extract multiple files at once, great for large folders or workflows.
Overall speed and ease — Fast handling of big archives prevents frustration during daily use.
Look for tools that combine these without complexity. The right one streamlines your workflow, whether you're a casual user or handling pro-level archiving.
Before testing another archiver, I ran my needs through the Productivity Tools GPT assistant to narrow down what I actually needed from a compression tool. It saved me from downloading three apps just to find out two of them did the same thing. Here's what I found:
Archive Utility: The basic macOS archiver for quick ZIP extraction
Archive Utility is the built-in macOS tool for basic tasks, mainly quick ZIP extraction right in Finder. Double-click a ZIP, and it handles it reliably without extra apps.
However, it offers extremely limited capabilities compared to full Mac archiver tools. It supports ZIP well but lacks password protection, multi-format handling (no RAR, 7Z, TAR.GZ), preview-before-extract, adjustable compression levels, or batch processing.
Users who need to work with RAR, 7Z, TAR.GZ, or other archive types should switch to advanced Mac archiver tools for more control and flexibility. For example, check how to open 7z files on Mac.
On Reddit, users ask, “How come macOS Archive Utility is worse than third-party solutions?” And they're absolutely right! The built-in Archive Utility has several drawbacks that make it less appealing.
Pros
Free and default on macOS
Easy to use
Cons
No password security
Works with limited formats
Technical details
Price: Free
Supported systems: macOS
Features: Compress, unarchive
Availability: Included with macOS
Archiver: A powerful Mac archiver for ZIP, RAR, and 7Z management
Archiver delivers a clean, drag-and-drop interface that makes working with archives feel effortless. It handles major formats including ZIP, RAR, 7Z, and TAR.GZ, perfect for unzipping files on Mac or compressing on the go.
A standout feature is previewing files before extraction — view images, text, or docs via Quick Look without unpacking everything, which saves time and space. For large files, split archives into smaller parts easily for smoother sharing via email or cloud.
It pairs well with other Setapp file compression apps for Mac, creating a smoother overall workflow.
A very convenient Archiver feature for the zipped files and folders people send you is the ability to peek inside without extracting. You can even look at images and text documents that way, using Mac’s Quick Look.
Setapp user writes about Archiver: “It works, simple as that :) There is no need for more Ul and more features. I just want to double click and get it extracted, and this is what this app delivers.” and I totally agree with them.
Pros
A seamless user experience
Multiple formats (including RAR)
Look at files without unzipping
Password encryption
Cons
Lack some advanced features found in other specialized archiving tools
Technical details
Price: $26, or included in Setapp, along with over 250 other apps
Supported systems: macOS
Features: Password encryption, support for multiple formats
Availability: Setapp, App Store
Drag in a ZIP, RAR, or 7Z. Peek inside with Quick Look. Extract only what you need. That's Archiver. Password encryption, file splitting for large transfers, and a clean drag-and-drop interface. No complexity, no learning curve. Free for 7 days on Setapp. Try Archiver Free.
Commander One: A dual-pane file manager with advanced archiving tools
When the Reddit community is looking for a good archiver utility for Mac, one user highlights Commander One with the quote: “A program that archives files well – Commander One. Additionally, an alternative to Finder, you can’t go wrong.”
Unlike other apps in this list, Commander One takes a different approach. It’s not just an archive utility for Mac, but a complete Finder replacement, packed with features.
All your files in Commander One are displayed in two panels, making them easier to move around. The search is powered by RegEx and over advanced settings. Any device (e.g., Android or iOS) can show up as a mounted drive and share its files — the same goes for cloud services.
Archiving capabilities are also top-notch. Commander One works with ZIP, RAR, and 7z files. It allows you to compress into various formats and set a precise compression level. Plus, you can easily encrypt your archives with a password.
Pros
A complete Finder replacement
A powerful archiver
Precise configurations
Cons
Too complex for simple tasks
Technical details
Price: $29.99, or included in Setapp, along with over 250 other apps
BetterZip: achieve better compression for files and folders
Those who work with archives on a daily or weekly basis should get a pro-level tool that does everything without being difficult to use. That’s BetterZip.
BetterZip supports archiving and unarchiving files with more than 30 formats. It lets you browse, modify, and add files to the archives without unzipping them. You can also add comments to your archives to remember what they are about and passwords to keep them private. For high-volume work, you can create AppleScript commands to automate the archival process.
A Setapp user gives such feedback on BetterZip: “Simply the best Mac archive app. It's the only one l've found that's as full-featured as Windows archive managers like 7zip.”
Even if you don’t need to use the extra features BetterZip offers all the time, you can stick to the simple zipping and unzipping, which is just as easy, and call up any advanced features as needed. BetterZip can be as simple or powerful as you want it to be.
Pros
Easy to use
Powerful archiving features
AppleScript support
Cons
Can’t split files into small archives
Pricey, unless used with Setapp
Technical details
Price: $24.95, or included in Setapp, along with over 250 other apps
Supported systems: macOS
Features: Modify files in archives, comments, AppleScript support
Availability: Setapp, BetterZip website
The Unarchiver: A free Mac RAR and 7Z extractor
One step up from the default zipping program for Mac is The Unarchiver by MacPaw. Its key feature (besides being free) is the ability to open RAR archive formats that are popular with Windows users.
Once you open The Unarchive for the first time, it’ll give you the option to choose which other formats you want it to open and compress to. In addition, you can set extraction preferences as well as advanced encoding detection.
While The Unarchiver is better than the default macOS file archiver in every way, it has one additional useful feature. It can read and handle multiple alphabets, so if you ever compress or unzip an archive written in other languages, it will show up with correct titles and file names.
A Redditor appreciates the app, saying: “The Unarchiver even works to pull images out of PDFs, it’s amazing.”
Pros
Free
Opens RAR archives and dozens more formats
Works multiple alphabets
Cons
No password protection
Technical details
Price: Free
Supported systems: macOS
Features: Multiple formats, multiple languages
Availability: App Store
WinZip: A cross-platform compression tool with ZIPX and encryption
With more than one billion downloads, WinZip is one of the oldest (since 1991) and most popular third-party archiving tools.
WinZip works on multiple platforms, covering Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. It features a Finder-like interface for working with files and folders, so you don’t have to leave the app to navigate to another archive. It also shows you a few archives at once, making moving and sharing files easier.
Finally, WinZip has a few quick actions, such as encryption, reducing photos, converting photos to another format, and watermarking. All these are great for when you need to quickly zip and share files with someone else.
The main downside of WinZip is its price: $34.95 for a one-year license. Unless you need WinZip’s specific features, there are other apps that can do the job cheaper or even free.
Pros
Multiplatform
Quick actions for zipping files
Cons
Although a Mac version exists, WinZip is primarily optimized for Windows
Archiver, BetterZip, Commander One — all three free for 7 days. One Setapp plan covers them all. 250+ Mac apps, one flat subscription. Less than WinZip alone. Free for 7 days, then a flat monthly subscription. Cancel before Day 7, $0 charged. Start My Free 7-Day Trial.
Top-rated on Setapp
Top-rated on Setapp
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