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Utilities · head to head

7-Zip vs BetterTouchTool

7-Zip logo

7-Zip

Utilities

Free and open-source file archiver with high compression and strong encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
BetterTouchTool logo

BetterTouchTool

Utilities

Mac gesture, shortcut and automation customisation tool sold as a one-time licence with a lifetime tier

From
$12/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only 7-Zip has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 7-Zip windows-centric GUI design; native graphical interface is Windows-only, with no first-class macOS or Linux GUI applications provided; BetterTouchTool the preferences interface has hundreds of settings across many tabs, so getting one custom gesture working can take longer than with a dedicated single-purpose app.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 7-Zip and BetterTouchTool actually diverge.

Attributes where 7-Zip and BetterTouchTool differ
Attribute7-ZipBetterTouchTool
Starting priceFree$12/one-time
Pricing modelopen-sourceOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Linux, macOSMac

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 7-Zip

Nothing recorded that BetterTouchTool does not also cover.

Only in BetterTouchTool

  • Gesture customisation
  • Keyboard shortcut remapping
  • Window snapping
  • Touch Bar customisation
  • Scripted actions
  • Floating menus and widgets

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

7-Zip

  • Creating highly compressed archives for backup and storage optimisationnot BetterTouchTool
  • Distributing self-extracting executables to users who lack archive toolsnot BetterTouchTool
  • Unpacking diverse archive formats (RAR, ISO, DMG) without purchasing separate toolsnot BetterTouchTool
  • CI/CD automation via command-line compression and extractionnot BetterTouchTool
  • Encrypting sensitive files with AES-256 for secure transmissionnot BetterTouchTool
  • Restoring archived VirtualBox and VMware disk imagesnot BetterTouchTool

BetterTouchTool

  • A power user who wants every trackpad gesture and shortcut on the machine remapped to a specific actionnot 7-Zip
  • Someone with accessibility needs who benefits from remapping input devices away from default behaviournot 7-Zip
  • A user who wants window snapping bundled with much broader system customisation rather than a single-purpose appnot 7-Zip
  • Someone already on a Setapp subscription who wants BetterTouchTool included rather than purchased separatelynot 7-Zip

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

7-Zip

  • Windows-centric GUI design; native graphical interface is Windows-only, with no first-class macOS or Linux GUI applications provided
  • Linux and macOS support primarily through command-line tools; no native file manager integration on these platforms
  • User interface design is dated compared to modern alternatives; visual feedback and UX polish lag behind commercial archivers
  • ARM64 support limited to Windows; no ARM64 build for Linux or macOS despite growing ARM adoption
  • No built-in cloud storage integration or synchronisation; cannot extract directly to Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive

BetterTouchTool

  • The preferences interface has hundreds of settings across many tabs, so getting one custom gesture working can take longer than with a dedicated single-purpose app.
  • The Standard Licence stops receiving updates after two years unless renewed or upgraded to Lifetime, which is easy to miss and can leave a user on an outdated build.
  • It is Mac only, offering nothing for a Windows machine in a mixed household.
  • Because it can intercept almost any input, misconfiguration can make gestures or shortcuts behave unpredictably across different apps, which takes time to debug.
  • It overlaps in function with several single-purpose tools such as Rectangle for windows or Karabiner-Elements for key remapping, so a new user has to decide whether they want one broad tool or several focused ones.

Pricing, plan by plan

7-Zip

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the 7-Zip review.

BetterTouchTool

$12/one-time
  • Standard Licence$12/one-time
    • Free updates for two years
    • App keeps working on the last version after that
    • Single user licence
  • Lifetime Licence$24/one-time
    • Free updates for as long as the app exists
    • Single user licence
    • Also available bundled through Setapp

Which should you pick?

Choose 7-Zip if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, macOS.
7-Zip review

Choose BetterTouchTool if

  • You need gesture customisation.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want keyboard shortcut remapping.
BetterTouchTool review

Questions people ask

Is 7-Zip or BetterTouchTool better?
Neither clearly leads. 7-Zip starts at Free and BetterTouchTool at $12/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 7-Zip or BetterTouchTool?
7-Zip has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for 7-Zip and $12/one-time for BetterTouchTool.
Does 7-Zip or BetterTouchTool run on more platforms?
7-Zip runs on Windows, Linux, macOS. BetterTouchTool runs on Mac.
Can I use 7-Zip for free?
Yes. 7-Zip has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BetterTouchTool starts at $12/one-time.
What is 7-Zip best used for?
7-Zip is most often used for creating highly compressed archives for backup and storage optimisation, distributing self-extracting executables to users who lack archive tools, unpacking diverse archive formats (rar, iso, dmg) without purchasing separate tools, ci/cd automation via command-line compression and extraction. Of those, creating highly compressed archives for backup and storage optimisation and distributing self-extracting executables to users who lack archive tools are not what BetterTouchTool is typically brought in for.
What can 7-Zip do that BetterTouchTool cannot?
BetterTouchTool covers Gesture customisation, Keyboard shortcut remapping, Window snapping, Touch Bar customisation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

7-Zip: Is 7-Zip free to use commercially?

Yes. 7-Zip is licensed under GNU LGPL with BSD 3-clause portions, permitting commercial and personal use without fees, registration, or restrictions.

Source
BetterTouchTool: Is BetterTouchTool a subscription?

No. It is a one-time purchase, either a Standard Licence with two years of updates or a Lifetime Licence with updates indefinitely.

7-Zip: What file formats does 7-Zip support?

7-Zip natively creates 7z archives and supports packing/unpacking ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, TAR, and WIM. It can unpack 30+ additional formats including RAR, ISO, DMG, and VirtualBox disk images without requiring external tools.

Source
BetterTouchTool: Can I get it without buying it directly?

Yes, it is included in the Setapp subscription bundle alongside other Mac utilities.

7-Zip: Does 7-Zip work on macOS and Linux?

Yes. 7-Zip operates on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Graphical interfaces are optimised for Windows; Linux and macOS primarily use command-line tools. Port and third-party GUI applications extend functionality on these platforms.

Source
BetterTouchTool: Does it replace Rectangle or Karabiner-Elements?

It can cover much of what both do, since it includes window snapping and key remapping, but each of those apps is more focused on its single job.

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