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Utilities · head to head

7-Zip vs PeaZip

7-Zip logo

7-Zip

Utilities

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PeaZip logo

PeaZip

Utilities

Open-source archive manager for Windows and Linux supporting more than two hundred formats

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; PeaZip there is no supported macOS build, so any organisation with Mac users has to standardise on something else or maintain two tools.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 7-Zip and PeaZip differ
Attribute7-ZipPeaZip
Pricing modelopen-sourceOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, Linux, macOSWindows, Linux, BSD

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 PeaZip does not also cover.

Only in PeaZip

  • Wide format support
  • Strong encryption
  • Secure delete
  • Checksums and hashes
  • Split and join
  • Portable builds

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

PeaZip

  • Opening old or unusual archive formats that current tools refusenot 7-Zip
  • Sending encrypted archives outside the organisation with a keyfile as well as a passwordnot 7-Zip
  • Deploying one archiver across Windows and Linux desktops with the same interface and behaviournot 7-Zip
  • Running from a USB stick on machines where software cannot be installednot 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

PeaZip

  • There is no supported macOS build, so any organisation with Mac users has to standardise on something else or maintain two tools.
  • It is effectively a single-maintainer project, and for software deployed to every desktop in a company that concentration of risk deserves an explicit decision.
  • The interface exposes a great many options at once and looks dated next to the system archiver, which generates support questions from non-technical users.
  • Bundled backend binaries sometimes trigger antivirus heuristics on managed Windows fleets, so deployment usually needs an allowlist entry prepared in advance.
  • Its own PEA and ARC formats are not readable by other tools, so using them for anything you send externally creates a dependency for the recipient.

Pricing, plan by plan

7-Zip

Free

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

PeaZip

Free
  • PeaZipFree
    • LGPLv3 licensed
    • Commercial use permitted
    • All formats and encryption features included

Which should you pick?

Choose 7-Zip if

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

Choose PeaZip if

  • You need wide format support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, BSD.
  • You also want strong encryption.
PeaZip review

Questions people ask

Is 7-Zip or PeaZip better?
Neither clearly leads. 7-Zip starts at Free and PeaZip at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 7-Zip or PeaZip?
7-Zip starts at Free and PeaZip at Free.
Does 7-Zip or PeaZip run on more platforms?
7-Zip runs on Windows, Linux, macOS. PeaZip runs on Windows, Linux, BSD.
Can I use 7-Zip for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 PeaZip is typically brought in for.
What can 7-Zip do that PeaZip cannot?
PeaZip covers Wide format support, Strong encryption, Secure delete, Checksums and hashes.

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
PeaZip: Is PeaZip free for business use?

Yes. It is LGPLv3 licensed with no personal-use restriction and no paid edition.

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
PeaZip: Does it work on macOS?

No supported build is offered. Mac users need a different archiver.

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
PeaZip: How does it differ from 7-Zip?

It uses similar backends but adds far wider format support, a password manager, keyfile two-factor encryption, secure deletion and a graphical front end that also runs on Linux.

PeaZip: Should I use the PEA format?

Only for your own storage. Nothing else reads it, so anything sent to another party should be 7z or ZIP with AES-256.

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