2026 Edition | The best archiver apps for Mac for compression and extraction
22.5K views
10 min read
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.
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:
| Let's compare! | Archive Utility | Archiver |
Commander One |
BetterZip |
The Unarchiver | WinZip |
| Multiple formats | ✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| RAR support | X | ✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| See inside archives | X |
✓ |
X |
✓ |
X |
X |
| Password encryption | X |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
X |
✓ |
| File compression | X |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
X |
✓ |
| Price | Free | Included in Setapp | Included in Setapp | Included in Setapp | Free | from $34.95/year |
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 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
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
- Supported systems: macOS
- Features: Two-pane file manager, password encryption
- Availability: Setapp, App Store
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
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 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
Technical details
- Price: $34.95/year
- Supported systems: Mac, Windows, Android, iOS
- Features: Encrypt files, reduce photo size, watermark
- Availability: WinZip website, App Store
What’s the best archiver for Mac for compression, extraction, and encryption
Among the best file compression and extraction apps for Mac, the right choice depends on your needs in 2026.
Quick groups:
- Free basics — Archive Utility (quick ZIP) or The Unarchiver (RAR/7Z upgrade).
- Balanced everyday tools — Archiver for simple, powerful drag-and-drop.
- Power-user utilities — BetterZip for pro features like presets and selective edits; Commander One for integrated file management.
- Cross-platform solutions — WinZip for Windows/Mac consistency and extras like ZIPX.
| Use case | Best pick(s) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Large archive handling | BetterZip, Commander One | Batch, previews, speed |
| Encrypted sharing | Archiver, BetterZip, WinZip | Strong passwords/AES |
| RAR/7Z extraction | >td >Reliable multi-format | |
| Automation workflows | BetterZip, Commander One | Presets, dual-pane |
| Cross-device compatibility | WinZip | Multiplatform support |
Best of all, Archiver, Commander One, and BetterZip are available for you at no cost for seven days with the trial of Setapp. Setapp is a platform with more than 270 Mac and iOS across multiple categories, from Mac optimization to graphic design and productive studying. Try all apps on Setapp for free today and discover your new favorites.
