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Entertainment · head to head

Kodi vs PeaZip

Kodi logo

Kodi

Entertainment

The ultimate entertainment center

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: Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition; PeaZip there is no supported macOS build, so any organisation with Mac users has to standardise on something else or maintain two tools.
  • They diverge on capability: Kodi covers Media playback, PeaZip covers Wide format support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kodi and PeaZip actually diverge.

Attributes where Kodi and PeaZip differ
AttributeKodiPeaZip
Pricing modelfreeOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tvWindows, Linux, BSD
CategoryEntertainmentUtilities
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Kodi

  • Media playback
  • Library management
  • Add-ons
  • Customization
  • Remote control
  • Smart home
  • Streaming services
  • Add-ons

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.

Kodi

  • Media centernot PeaZip
  • Home entertainmentnot PeaZip

PeaZip

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kodi

  • Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition

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

Kodi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Open source
    • All features
    • Add-ons

PeaZip

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Kodi if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
  • You also want library management.
Kodi 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 Kodi or PeaZip better?
Neither clearly leads. Kodi 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, Kodi or PeaZip?
Kodi starts at Free and PeaZip at Free.
Does Kodi or PeaZip run on more platforms?
Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv. PeaZip runs on Windows, Linux, BSD.
Can I use Kodi for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kodi best used for?
Kodi is most often used for media center, home entertainment. Of those, media center and home entertainment are not what PeaZip is typically brought in for.
What can Kodi do that PeaZip cannot?
Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. PeaZip covers Wide format support, Strong encryption, Secure delete, Checksums and hashes.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PeaZip: Is PeaZip free for business use?

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

PeaZip: Does it work on macOS?

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

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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