Download winrar program for windows 10. Which archiver is better

Today, in Windows times 10, it's hard to believe, but for another 15 years archivers were one of the most popular programs installed by users on their computers. Those were the days when 100 GB of hard disk space was the ultimate dream, and the only available removable storage was a floppy disk of only 1.44 MB. Such figures are quite capable of clarifying to the younger generation why archiving programs were used. With their help, PC users tried to save at least a little storage space. It would seem that today, when even a 32 gigabyte flash drive can surprise few people, the time of archivers is finally gone. However, this is not quite true. Of course, now these programs are not as popular as they once were, but still they are used.

In fact, even for Windows 10, an archiver may be needed in many cases:

To unpack a program. There are fewer of them, but they do exist.
To create one archive with documents and files when sending them by e-mail.
To protect files from strangers. The fact is that this program allows you to set a password for the archive. Only the owner of this password can access the data.
For some, saving space is still important. This is especially true when compressing a large number of text files.

Of course, in times of large and affordable storage spaces, archivers have become less in demand, but they are still needed. Personally, I use such a program on my computer and, moreover, I install it one of the first. Thus now it seems to me ridiculous to pay for the archiver. Companies that sell their archivers, of course, continue to be afloat. But now they are changing their priorities somewhat: only for the creation of archives in the era of Windows 10, no one will pay money. Today, together with the functionality for creating archives, they offer cleaning and optimizing computer performance, working with backups, protecting images with watermarks and much more. But we just need an archiver, right?))

Perhaps the most famous in the world free archiver fully compatible with Windows 10, is 7-Zip. This free software file compression has, in my opinion, a number of advantages:

Completely free.
Has an open source code.
Updated regularly.
Supports all the most famous archive formats.
Works quickly and without failures.
With all this, 7-Zip is very lightweight (only 1.31 MB - the same Win-Zip weighs 77 meters).

Interestingly, the compression ratio of the ZIP format in 7-Zip is even 2-10% higher than that of the Win-Zip program itself. In some international ratings, this free archiver outperforms its most famous paid competitors in its main functionality (compression percentage). In general, not without reason, according to six years ago, available in Wikipedia, 7-Zip from its official website has been downloaded about 110 million times. The only drawback of "Seven-zip" can be considered the lack of support for the RAR format for compression. This cannot be considered critical, since unpacking RAR archives free program 7-Zip still does, and you can save in the increasingly popular ZIP format.

Personally for me The free 7-Zip archiver is the best option for Windows 10. Therefore, I recommend downloading and installing this particular program on your computers from its official site. 7-Zip has a version for both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. If you do not know which one to choose, then I recommend reading my article "". It is most convenient to create and unpack an archive in 7-Zip by right-clicking on the desired object and selecting the appropriate item. For example, if you select “Create FILE NAME.zip” when clicking on a folder or file, then after a short time you will find an archive with the selected content. To ensure greater compatibility when creating an archive it's better to use ZIP format, not 7z.

For those who, for some reason, the 7-Zip program is not suitable, I can advise two options: either download and install the long-known WinRAR, or install another completely free and free archiver that is compatible with Windows 10. As for WinRAR, it is paid program, its trial version can only be used for 40 days, but in a strange way, even after this period, this archiver continues to work, periodically swearing at the lack of a license. Read more about the program WinRAR advise in Wikipedia. That's where I took link to official website this archiver. If you are going to download this program for your Windows 10, then on download page select the file with the language localization you need (I believe it's Russian) and build (32 or 64 bit). As for others besides 7-Zip, free and free archivers with open source for Windows 10, then I know two more options: WinAce, IZArc. I myself have not worked with them, so I can not say anything more about these applications.

Almost all Windows 10 users face the problem that they don't have enough hard drive space. In this case, you can download the archiver for Windows 10 and pack most of the files. This is especially necessary for those who use a tablet or laptop with SDD, because classic HDDs can store terabytes of information.

Download archiver for Windows 10 - solving problems with disk space

There are several ways to solve problems with insufficient disk space:

Buy an additional hard drive;

Delete information from the disk;

Compress information and reduce file size;

Each option has its own advantages, but it is information compression and file size reduction that does not have disadvantages. In the case of an additional disk, you will have to spend money. In the case of deleting information, which is the most drastic way, you will lose information. And only archivers for Windows 10 allow you to free up the treasured megabytes on the HDD for free and without loss of information. In some cases, we are talking about gigabytes of free space.

Free archivers

There are both paid archivers and archivers that you can download for free. We did not find a significant difference in paid and free products, although we personally tested most modern archiving programs. Therefore, in this section of our site you can download only free and proven archivers. All of them are suitable for both Windows 10 64 bit and 32 bit versions of the OS.

Every user personal computer more than once I came across archives that contain a certain number of files (from one to several hundred). Often, such archives are represented by multifunctional types that allow you to perform various file manipulations: merge, split, encrypt, scan for viruses, and create self-extracting archives without the use of third-party software.

Multifunctional archives are overwhelmingly represented by the RAR, 7z and ZIP formats. An archiver called WinRAR is the most common, functional and high-quality archiver at present.

For operating systems of the Windows family, the WinRAR archiver has become an indispensable tool that no user can do without. WinRAR can rightfully be considered the most advanced and affordable archiver that is able to create and read various compression formats.

High integration with Windows 10 (and earlier versions) has reached its climax: WinRAR is automatically integrated into the OS explorer, associated with file extensions, and also has a digital signature and is successfully tested by all existing antiviruses.

WinRAR has a clear and ascetic interface, where there is no place for superfluous things. It consists of a window with an explorer, as well as a top line and a command bar.

The command panel includes such functions as:

add (file to archive);
extract (file from archive);
test (for errors);
view;
delete;
find (search for files);
master (for beginners);
information;
viruses (scanning the archive to detect malware);
a comment;
protection (adding files for recovery);
sfx (transformation of a standard archive into a self-extracting one).

The top panel contains 5 main options:

File.
Teams.
Operations.
Favorites.
Reference.

In the "File" section, you can select, open and save the desired components and files. In addition, there is the ability to copy, select groups, select a disk and set a password.

In the "Commands" section, you can perform various manipulations with files and archives: add, extract (including without confirmation), rename, block archives, and leave comments.

The Operations section offers a rich set of tools that will allow you to restore archives, scan for viruses, create reports, and convert and restore archived data.

In Favorites, you can add and organize archives.

The "Options" section offers to customize the view, create a folder tree, clear protocols, install themes, and more.

See the Help section for more information and latest version programs and visit the developer's page.

Key Benefits of WinRAR

Millions of people around the world tend to download WinRAR for Windows 10, since this archiver has a number of advantages over analogues:

integration into Windows Explorer;
the possibility of free use;
easy addition of files by drag and drop;
version in Russian;
high speed of work;
support for multi-core processors;
support with 15 extensions;
extended functionality.

Download WinRAR in Russian - final versions:

Programs for working with archives (files that contain one or more other files inside) are the first thing that is installed on a computer after installing the operating system. They are included in the set of the most necessary software, since without them it is impossible to install any driver downloaded from the Internet on a PC, and many applications too. Each Windows archiver has its own strengths and weaknesses, and today we will try to find out which of these programs are the best.

Why archives are needed

Archival formats today store vast amounts of information. Why? Yes, because it is much more convenient than keeping it in its original form. The benefits are:

Archives take up less disk space than unarchived files.
Archive formats support encryption and password protection, while regular files do not.
One archive can contain a large number of files of any type and folders of any nesting depth (of course, there is a nesting limit, but it is determined by the capabilities of the file system). That is, it can serve as a container for other objects.
Archives are useful for transferring files via e-mail and file-sharing services, as well as for creating installation distributions of applications. Most of them are supported by different operating systems, not just Windows.
Large archives can be divided into parts (volumes) and stored separately, but files cannot.
Some archives can unpack themselves without additional programs(more precisely, they are unpacked by the operating system).
Separate archive formats can be used as disk images (yes, ISO format files are also archives).

These are the capabilities of archives in general, however their different types support different functions. The most common - ZIP, RAR and 7Z, are also the most functional, but besides them there are more than 100 types of archive formats and each has its own purpose. In a word, we cannot do without archives and programs for working with them.

5 best archivers for Windows

WinRAR

WinRAR is perhaps the only archiver for Windows that everyone knows about. This is one of the oldest applications in its class, but despite its age and many competitors, it is still considered the best of the best.

Strengths of WinRAR:

High speed and compression ratio. Ready archives are 8-15% less voluminous than similar products.
Making the most of multi-core processors.
Automatic recognition of the content type and selection of the optimal compression technology.
Unpacking most existing archive file formats (more than 50). Compress to RAR, ZIP, ARJ, CAB, TAR LZH, ACE, ISO, GZip, BZIP2, UUE, Z and 7Z formats.
Support for creating multi-volume and self-extracting archives.
Support for 128-bit encryption and electronic digital signatures.
The function of repairing damaged ("broken") archives.
Built-in content scanning for viruses (it is not known how effective it is, but it is).
A function to quickly send a compressed file (folder) by email if a mail client is installed on the computer.
Russian language support.
Creation in the Explorer context menu of quick access points to the main functions: pack, unpack, send the archive by email.

WinRAR is released not only in the version for Windows, but also for Android. It has a convenient, intuitive interface, built like a Windows Explorer, so it does not take time to master.

The main and, perhaps, the only drawback of the program is that it is paid. WinRAR is free to use for 40 days, however, even after this period, the utility retains full functionality, and a pop-up window reminds you of the need to reward the author. The cost of a license to use WinRAR on all devices is $29.

7-Zip

The utility with the short and memorable name 7-Zip is more focused on working with files in the 7Z format, but it does a great job with many others. Even more - it supports almost all existing archive data formats, including disk images (allows you to view and extract files from them),

The speed and quality of content compression in 7-Zip is not lower than that of Win Rar, it also has support for the Russian language, but most importantly, you can download the program and use it for free. And no annoying windows.

Advantages of 7-Zip:

Excellent speed and high compression ratio.
Unpacking most of the existing archives (more than 50 formats), packing in 7Z, ZIP, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ.
Creation of self-extracting 7Z archives.
Strong encryption and password protection for 7Z and ZIP files.
Intuitive interface built like Windows Explorer.
The function of sending archives by email, if a mail client is installed on the machine.
Integration with Windows Explorer - adding commands for packing, unpacking, including in an existing archive and mailing 7Z and ZIP files.

The disadvantage of the 7-Zip archiver is that many people say that it is configured by default to work with the 7Z format, which is less reliable than ZIP and RAR, and in case of damage it is almost impossible to recover.

There is an opinion that 7-Zip and the 7Z format have a sacred connection with Windows 7, but do not work correctly on Windows 10, 8 and XP. Fortunately, this is not the case: the seven in the names is a mere coincidence, and the product itself is also available in versions for Linux and other desktop systems.

winzip

WinZIP is another well-known archiver with a wide range of features that clearly outperform the competition. Sharpened to work with ZIP files, but supports many others.

Key features of WinZIP:

It is easy to guess that you have to pay for the use of these sweets. Free version WinZIP functions with restrictions and only 21 days, after which its work is suspended. The cost of the license is $39.95.

is a simple, omnivorous and free archiver with support for many operating systems, including Windows. One of the few available in both installation and portable versions. Distributed under the GNU GPL (free software and open source).

A key feature of PeaZIP is support for decompressing more than 180 archive file formats, which is perhaps a record.

Other strengths of the program:

Packaging in BZIP2, GZIP, ARC, ZIP, PAQ, XZ, TAR, UPX, WIM, QUAD and some other formats.
Creation of multi-volume archives.
The proprietary archive file format is PEA, with a high compression ratio and resistance to damage.
Built-in password and key storage.
Built-in file shredder (shredder).
Support for batch execution scripts.
The installation version is integrated into Windows Explorer.

PeaZIP is a worthy product, especially considering that it is free, but with its main task - fast and high-quality packaging and unpacking, it copes worse than the rest. Archives are more voluminous and take longer to create than in analogue programs. In addition, not every release of the utility supports the Russian language.

Before installing PeaZIP, check the bitness of your version of Windows, since you need to download different distributions for 32 and 64-bit systems.

Developers position their product as the simplest utility for archiving files. And also quite nimble. The check showed that they have reason to say this, however, the "hamster" is trained to create archives in only two formats - ZIP and 7Z, although it unpacks many.

Advantages of Hamster Free ZIP Archiver:

Hamster Free ZIP Archiver successfully copes with the assigned functions - this is a plus. And support for only two compression formats is the biggest disadvantage. Another drawback is the constant opening of the developer's site in the browser.

The review did not include all existing archiver programs for Windows, most of which offer to download themselves for free and use without restrictions, but their presence would not change the order in our rating. The first places are consistently and deservedly occupied by WinRAR - the best paid archiver, and 7-Zip - the best free. The rest can supplement them, but, alas, they fall short of a full-fledged replacement.

WinRAR is a commercial application for working with popular types of compressed files that works on the following platforms:

Windows, starting from MS-DOS and ending with Windows 10 32 and 64 bit;
popular Linux distributions and FreeBSD;
macOS;
mobile Android and Windows Phone.

The free version has no restrictions except for regularly appearing offers to purchase a license and will work for 40 days. Here you can download WinRAR in Russian for any platform with a key that will remove all restrictions.
However, please note that the use of an activation code is a violation of intellectual property rights, for which you may be held liable. Although who is responsible for piracy in our time. Thousands of movies with games leaked into the network, and no one pays for it.

What is an archiver

Since 1993, when the first console version of RAR and the UNRAR unpacker were released, the RARLab development team has not stopped developing and improving the product. The application provides comprehensive support for working with archives: creating, extracting, opening, encrypting, splitting, etc. We will consider all these functions later.

The archiver is designed primarily to save disk space. A compressed file, depending on the mass of variables, can take up several times less space than the original one, or by several percent. And even they, you see, are sometimes very valuable, for example, when sending documents over the network.

Functions

WinRAR allows you to compress any single file, their list or directories while maintaining their structure into one archive. The following functions are available:

settings profiles - you can use ready-made presets or add your own;
archive format (can only pack in ZIP, RAR and RAR5);
compression method - the degree of compression (without compression, you can simply add several objects to one archive for the convenience of sending over the Internet or uploading to a file exchange / cloud;

dictionary size - the larger, the faster the compression and decompression, but more RAM is also required;
update mode - choose what to do with documents that have the same name if they have already been placed in the current archive (relevant when backing up);
other archiving options.

In the future, you can work with compressed data as usual, but with large delays (it takes time to unpack the file you are accessing).

Advanced settings

The developers have taken care of the ease of use of the program. So, for example, if you pack something for archival storage, the source files after compression can be deleted from the computer. If you need to get a self-extracting archive (to unpack it, WinRAR or another archiver is not required, all modules are integrated into the compressed file itself).

Also, archives are split into parts for shipment or storage on CDs and their integrity is checked after compression is completed. In order to increase security, the developers have added the function of checking the contents of the archive before extracting it.

With the development of the network, the need for file sharing is constantly increasing, and the archiver is able to facilitate this task in three steps:

it allows you to reduce the amount of data sent by compressing them;
large files are divided into several small fragments, which can later be put together on any other computer where the cracked WinRar is installed;
encrypt their content, thus increasing security and privacy.

Recovery tools

WinRAR contains a broken archive recovery wizard that works with zip and rar. It can decompress archives with defects resulting from transmission, compression, or storage on damaged media.

Encryption

Let's look at how to put a password on an archive through the WinRAR program, how to do it using a faster and powerful competitor you can find out.

We open the application and select the data for packaging with the left key.
Click "Add" or select the same command from the context menu.

If necessary, we set other options, in particular the degree of compression.

Click "Set password".

We enter the cipher and remember it, otherwise it will not be easy to access the data, and in the case of a complex password (it is recommended to use it), it is almost impossible.

If you want to hide filenames, check the box to encrypt document names so no one can see what's inside.

We click "OK" and wait.

We managed to password-protect the archive. When you try to open a document or unzip it, you will be asked to enter a key.
Advanced options allow you to effectively manage your backups and backups.

Unpacker

The Russian version of the program only supports compression into three types of files (zip, rar and rar5), but almost any common archive (including an outdated format like uha, tar, arj), an application installer or an image (iso, img) can unpack.

The search function inside archives (except for password-protected ones) will help you find Text Document, based on the fragment of text in it, or a file by its exact name or mask.

The converter will turn any supported type into one of the three above, advanced options command line is a truly powerful tool for working with compressed data for advanced users.

Convenience

The application interface is very outdated, however, support for official and third-party skins (themes) will brighten up this shortcoming. Adding the necessary commands to the context menu of the Explorer, which speeds up the call of the necessary dialog box and the packing of data on the PC.

The function of WinRAR associations with certain types of files will help you open them by double-clicking without first launching the program and going to the desired directory.

The wizard will help any beginner to update, create or decompress compressed data by making simple clicks in dialog boxes.

New compression algorithm

A new format has been added to the latest version of the program - RAR5. Although it has the RAR extension, it is radically different from the usual format and is incompatible with it (the previous one is now called RAR4).

The new archive type allows you to create files up to 8.6*10 9 GB in size.
Removed support for comments.
Improved test and media compression algorithms.
New naming scheme for multi-volume archives.
Increased dictionary size limit to 1024 MB.
The use of the progressive AES-256 algorithm, which has long been exploited by competitors.
To check the integrity, the BLAKE2 hashing technology is used, which replaced CRC32.
The new version supports longer file paths (up to 2048 characters).

Comparison with competitors

Developers constantly compare their product with WinZip and its old Zip format, but the battle between these archivers has long been over, because more powerful and efficient ones have appeared on the market, for example, 7-Zip. Their comparison is carried out here (Windows 7 and 10 x64 showed a similar result) and here. The tests revealed a clear favorite, despite the fact that it is distributed free of charge.

Download WinRar with key for Windows 10

Until 2009, no one could crack the digital signature of WinRAR, which is why it was believed that its algorithm was perfect, until a team of hackers attacked the RarLab servers and created a license generator.

The official site allows you to download a trial version of WinRAR for 40 days with an English interface.

Here you can download a repackaged edition with an activation code and a Russian-language interface for any Windows, starting with XP SP3, Linux and mobile platforms.

For treatment, place rarreg.key in the folder with the program.