# is there a free zip program that works like Winzip? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031 "2015-11-30T15:00:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/1 "2015-11-30T15:00:36Z")
Somewhere out on that great information highway in the sky---- There must be a way to zip and unzip files --without registering and paying $30 , for something so basic that it should be included in Windows. (Just like my car came with a lot of parts that I didn’t pay extra for: the windshield washer, rubber pads on the pedals, a fuel guage, etc… They were all right there, included in the basic price. Because, ya know, it’s a pretty basic part of the system, that everybody uses.) ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/2 "2015-11-30T15:06:44Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Somewhere out on that great information highway in the sky---- > There must be a way to zip and unzip files --without registering and paying $30 , for something so basic that it should be included in Windows. > > (Just like my car came with a lot of parts that I didn’t pay extra for: the windshield washer, rubber pads on the pedals, a fuel guage, etc… They were all right there, included in the basic price. > Because, ya know, it’s a pretty basic part of the system, that everybody uses.) There is, and [it is included](http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/zip-and-unzip-files#v1h=tab01). ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/3 "2015-11-30T15:08:50Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > There is, and [it is included](http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/zip-and-unzip-files#v1h=tab01). And if you want something with a few more features than the included zip functionality, I suggest [7-zip,](http://www.7-zip.org/) which is open source. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/4 "2015-11-30T15:30:14Z")
In addition to **Doug K.**'s link which tells us that Win10 has both zip and unzip built in, Windows versions starting with XP have included unzip (but not zip) as a built-in function. I’ll add another endorsement for 7-zip. Great tool if you do a lot of this kind of work. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/5 "2015-11-30T15:33:57Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > In addition to **Doug K.**'s link which tells us that Win10 has both zip and unzip built in, Windows versions starting with XP have included unzip (but not zip) as a built-in function. Hasn’t zipping been around since XP? Right-click in Explorer, select create new compressed folder, and add your files to it. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/6 "2015-11-30T15:38:28Z")
You may well be right. I don’t have an XP handy to check. It’s certainly present in Win7. If indeed zipping has been there since XP then the OP’s issue makes even less sense than I thought. OTOH, Windows includes so many features “hiding” in plain sight that it’s not surprising that many people overlook them. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/7 "2015-11-30T15:43:24Z")
[Yes, it’s been around since XP.](http://agsci.psu.edu/it/how-to/zip-or-unzip-file-or-folder-in-windows-xp) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/8 "2015-11-30T15:44:38Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > In addition to **Doug K.**'s link which tells us that Win10 has both zip and unzip built in, Windows versions starting with XP have included unzip (but not zip) as a built-in function. > > I’ll add another endorsement for 7-zip. Great tool if you do a lot of this kind of work. 7-zip is what I use as well. I assume it is free, but I’ve had it so long I forget. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/9 "2015-11-30T16:20:32Z")
I use IZArc, but 7zip is excellent as well. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/10 "2015-11-30T16:29:44Z")
I also like 7-zip for its simplicity and ability to handle multiple formats. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/11 "2015-11-30T17:08:50Z")
IZarc, PeaZip and 7-Zip are all 3 good, solid products. PeaZip is open source freeware, IIRC, and can handle quite a few formats. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/12 "2015-11-30T20:39:28Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > In addition to **Doug K.**'s link which tells us that Win10 has both zip and unzip built in, Windows versions starting with XP have included unzip (but not zip) as a built-in function. > > I’ll add another endorsement for 7-zip. Great tool if you do a lot of this kind of work. Doesn’t 7-zip work only on Windows 7 (hence the name)? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/13 "2015-11-30T20:46:36Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > Doesn’t 7-zip work only on Windows 7 (hence the name)? Nah, just coincidence. I used 7-zip on XP for years and now on Windows 7. I have not tried it on other OSes though. ETA: according to their web page, “7-Zip works in Windows 10 / 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / 2012 / 2008 / 2003 / 2000 / NT. There is a port of the command line version to Linux/Unix.” ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/14 "2015-11-30T21:01:48Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > [Yes, it’s been around since XP.](http://agsci.psu.edu/it/how-to/zip-or-unzip-file-or-folder-in-windows-xp) Apropos User Name award. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/15 "2015-11-30T21:32:31Z")
Hey, Luddite that I am, I used PKZIP and PKUNZIP on old DOS machines, since the days when Bill Gates was still in diapers. Throughout my experience with Windows up until a year or so ago, I continued to use those. The only time I ever needed to use WinZip was on occasion when someone sent me a WinZipped file that had something in it that PKUNZIP couldn’t understand. ETA: BTW, Linux machines come with zip and unzip which seem to be more-or-less clones of PKZIP and PKUNZIP. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/16 "2015-11-30T21:50:02Z")
WinRAR is another good program. I believe it is free. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/17 "2015-11-30T21:54:52Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > Hasn’t zipping been around since XP? Right-click in Explorer, select create new compressed folder, and add your files to it. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > [Yes, it’s been around since XP.](http://agsci.psu.edu/it/how-to/zip-or-unzip-file-or-folder-in-windows-xp) XP natively allowed the creation of password protected zip files (and of course standard ones). That feature was withdrawn as of Vista or Win7, so you need a third party utility to do that now. Third party zip programs typically offer more control over the compression ratio (e.g. fast vs tight) ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/18 "2015-12-01T06:19:51Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > WinRAR is another good program. I believe it is free. Ninja’d. I’ve been using WinRAR for years. It is free, but every time you open it up it nags you to purchase a full license. The “demo” never expires however. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/19 "2015-12-01T14:13:30Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Hey, Luddite that I am, I used PKZIP and PKUNZIP on old DOS machines, since the days when Bill Gates was still in diapers. yeah, me too! I loved PKzip and PKunzip–but they only worked on file names with 8 characters. Is there a version that works with modern file names ? > [@krondys](#): > > Hasn’t zipping been around since XP? Right-click in Explorer, select create new compressed folder, and add your files to it. I had no problems with XP. But now I’m using Windows 7–and right-clicking only allows zipping , but no unzipping. Which is pretty damned stupid. * * * [rant for the Pit]As usual, an "up"grade to a new version is in reality a _down_grade. It has produced zero benefits, and created a significant problem that prevents me from working. When a client sends me a zipped file, I need to see it right now, not spend hours looking for a workaround[/rant in the Pit] ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031/20 "2015-12-01T14:33:58Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > ## … I had no problems with XP. But now I’m using Windows 7–and right-clicking only allows zipping , but no unzipping. Which is pretty damned stupid. > > [rant for the Pit]As usual, an "up"grade to a new version is in reality a _down_grade. It has produced zero benefits, and created a significant problem that prevents me from working. When a client sends me a zipped file, I need to see it right now, not spend hours looking for a workaround[/rant in the Pit] In Win7 you don’t right-click a zip file to open it. You just double-click it and it opens in the disk Explorer exactly as if it was an ordinary folder. Easy as pie. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-zip-program-that-works-like-winzip/739031.md?page=2)