BitZipper is an advanced data compression tool for Windows that enables you to unzip 18 different compression and encoding formats with superior ease-of-use.

With BitZipper you can:

• Unzip almost any compressed file (18 formats)
• Protect data with strong AES 256-bit encryption
• Create 8 different types of compressed files
• Browse archives in Windows Explorer style
• Extract and test multiple archives at once
• Backup data using reusable backup configurations
• Get help from an easy-to-use Wizard interface
• Work with WinZip 9.0, WinRAR and WinACE files
• Get free lifetime updates

Download BitZipper 5.1 in Softonic

To extract and compress your files, 7-Zip is a perfectly viable alternative to the better known WinZip or WinRAR. The application works exactly like its main competitors yet manages to mix in WinZip’s selection of tools with WinRAR’s versatility.

The 7-Zip interface is similar to that of its competitors, with a main file manager and a command line to search and select files to extract or compress. The control panel is comprised of the essential buttons like extract, add and test, but also features copy, move and delete functions to allow you to manage your files. 7-Zip extracts and compresses files as fast as WinZip and WinRAR and handles the main archive formats like ZIP, TAR, RAR and ISO.

The archiving process is where 7-Zip differs most from its rivals. Where WinZip only lets you compress to ZIP and WinRAR to RAR or ZIP, 7zip offers you up to 5 different archive formats to choose from. The application lets you choose the update mode, depending on whether you want to add and replace files, refresh the archive or just synchronize files. If you don’t want somebody opening up your archive without your permission, you can set a password to protect your archive.We particularly liked the split tool because it can cut up your archive into equal parts which fit on a floppy, CD or DVD, handy if you need to distribute a particularly large archive.

Security is where 7-Zip lags behind its main rivals. There is no option to scan archives for viruses and you can’t repair damaged or corrupted files. While you can set a password to protect your archive, you can’t choose between different levels of encryption.

7-Zip might not be as secure as WinZip or WinRAR but it is definitely more versatile. It works with more archive formats and offers many useful tools like update mode or splitting. If you feel too limited by WinZip and if you don’t like WinRAR we suggest giving 7-Zip a try and taking advantage of all its possibilities.

Download 7-Zip 4.60 in Softonic

It's been a while since anything came along that could possibly rival WinZIP or WinRAR in terms of speed and compression/decompression power but ZipItFree gives them a good run for their money.

Apart from anything else, the best thing to start off with is by stating this is completely free - no annoying registrations or fees to pay. It's also now fully functional with Vista with an appropriate modern and stylish interface that gives you the feel that you're dealing with a quality piece of software. The key selling point of this program however is the way it compresses files using what the developers call the "Black Hole" method which provides very high compression ratios and ultra fast decompression. The other major selling point is what they call the ZipV2 encryption algorithm which they describe as "by far the most secure encryption for archiving (hundreds of times more secure than even the leading AES encryption)".

How secure this format is is debatable but the fact is that it's certainly one of the less utilised compression ratios that should mean it's less liable to attack. Apart from the fact that it handles multiple formats with ease, what's also nice is that you can leave comments on your archives describing what the archive contains so you don't have to go to the hassle of unzipping it all.

For a free, stylish and powerful alternative to WinZIP and WinRAR, ZipItFree is one of the most impressive efforts out there.

Download ZipItFree 1.80 in Softonic

JZip is a complete platform for handling compressed files. In addition to compressing and decompressing, it allows the user to choose how much space to save, preview files and protect them with a password.

Another function that has become critical in this type of program is the integration into Windows Explorer allowing navigate within compressed files. In short, this is a program that has the functions most commonly used in a compressor, without advanced options which sometimes only serve to recharge the interface and confuse users with less experience. The developers claim that it is jZip is built on proven and reliable 7-Zip technology. 7-Zip technology is basically very fast and achieves compression ratios that the developers claim are higher or equivalent to other leading compression programs. jZip is fully compatible with all your current Zip, RAR, 7z and many other formats so if you're looking for a change, this may well be it.

Fast, free and reliable, if you're sick of WinZip asking you for money or don't like WinRAR, this is a superb free solution.

Download jZip 1.2.0.41079 in Softonic

WinRAR is an incredibly powerful archiver but it's not exactly the best looking app in the world. RarZilla Free Unrar attempts to decompress files in a "sexier"way plus add a few cool features to your zipping.

To decompress a file, you simply drag and drop them into RarZilla, double click on it or right click on "decompress" in the menu context shell. To speed-up the process, RarZilla has the option to define a default output folder or a default password or both. Remember that before you do any of this though, you need to specify an output directory or else you'll end-up searching high and low for your files. Simply go to the folder that contains the RarZilla.exe, use notepad to create a text file named "folder.txt" and put one line in it with the path your desired default output folder (e.g.: F:\Media)

The only annoying thing is that the password prompt dialogue keeps popping up and usually you don't want to set a password. However, this can be deactivated by following instructions in the documentation. This is a better looking alternative to WinRAR although doesn't offer any major advantages.

Download RarZilla Free Unrar 2.00 in Softonic