Is WinZip still the best?

WinZip, I have used it for years, but sometimes wonder if there is another way, maybe one freeware? WinZip has never failed me though.

 

I have always preferred winRAR to winzip. It's less clutterd and has a better interface IMO.

 

Used WinZIP when there was only ARJ and ZIP around, but since this situation has changed without WinZIP following, then it has required me to change, and I have been trying several "ZIP" utilities:

http://www.rarsoft.com/
http://www.winace.com/
http://www.zipgenius.it/
http://www.florida.plus.com/izarc/
http://www.ultimatezip.com/
http://www.filzip.com/

Recently Gotten used to 7zip.org, mainly because it is very lean and freeware. Though it certainly lacks some user friendlyness

 

Winzip has terrible compression rates so if you count that as important for a compression program it is no good - has been like that for years...

IZarc, TugZip and a few others pretty good. IZarc has a handy "Convert" feature. Also good filemanagers have build in support.

If you want best Zip-compression use 7-Zip http://www.7-zip.org/ even beats winzip at zipping. 7Z format is often better than RAR, ACE btw. And not by 1% more like 10-15%. Totally freeware btw. If you need smallest size for emailing or whatever make a selfextracting exe-file with 7-Zip filemanager. Lacks some features from the great Winrar tool (ie. cant update solid archive) but has more than enough for most.

Didnt see your post Snakefoot 7Zip deserves to be mentioned twice. Yep filemanager only recently got to look fairly ok. Has got a toolbar now I dont use it much tho, 7Zip plug-in for Total Commander does most. Need it for selfextracting exe-files, anyway free it is.

If you insist on paying check out Power Archiver, will soon have 7Zip support. http://www.powerarchiver.com/

 

Thanks Guys.

 

Here was Tugzip http://www.tugzip.com/ Has an annoying "access violation" error at every start, but will be fixed in newer version (see forum)

One thing is performance and features, another interface. Some are better looking than others. The most Winzip look-alike you might fancy. Tugzip most modern?, see screenshots. Freeware programs can be plain ugly, even hard to navigate because of looks. Probably also bigger risk of bugs, mem-leaks and whatever but the good ones are actually supported and updated regulary - ie. IZarc had a 100% cpu-hogging problem, few days later new version out. Not likely to happen with payware like Winzip - more solid when released but some freeware just as good if not better

 

Winrar is the one for me too.

I also use WInace but even though the compresion is better with winace it takes longer and is not as easy to use at winrar

 

Dropped Winzip long time ago. Main reason is that it doesn't automatically retain subfolder structures when you select a group of files with folders in it and "add to zip" with a right-click. Without some extra steps it will just zip the whole thing as if they were under the same folder. (Haven't used recent versions so I don't know if this issue is still there though)

WinRAR is a lot more straightforward, has a built in self extractor (with WinZip you need to pay extra for equivalent features) and better compression ratio. So this is what I use now.

 

Yes if you dont need absolute best compression Winrar rocks. There are many development programs which are better than rar, 7zip, ace but not easy to use, not many features - often no GUI, very experimental. http://www.maximumcompression.com/programs.php many tests on that site. I think that is where 7Zip is coming from, now trying to become popular. Never mind that, I just remembered a test I did. Zipped up a whole game folder, EAF1-2002 with some mods. Ace is missing, didnt bother to install, should be very close to rar I guess.

Best settings used - size on hd 1.842.743.756 byte

678.366.743 Total Commander, generic Zlib/pkzip compression
668.003.275 Winzip 9 beta 2 build 5611 (enhanced deflate)
643.726.574 7-Zip 3.13 Zip-mode "Ultra" "deflate64"
475.662.579 Winrar 3.30 beta4 "Best" "Solid"
305.634.837 7-Zip 3.13 7Z-mode "Ultra" "Solid"

Some formats love certain filetypes etc. Wont say it is a true picture of relationship but I have converted most big zip, rar, ace files on hd to 7Zip and almost every time there are mbs to save. Zip format clearly fastest to use, one of the reasons it is still no. 1. Think 7Zip operation took 2 hours but I can have 2 games on 1 cd

 

Winrar here.

 

Winrar. Tried others. But I keep going back.

 

winrar for me as well

 

i have both, just because

 

another vote for winrar
espicially with the ability to create self extracting archives which can save a lot of problems when sending to people who havent got a clue what to do with a compressed archive
another bonus you can still create zip folders if the recipient requests the file in zipped format

 

http://www.powerarchiver.com/

is my main program, although I do have Winrar installed as a backup.

 

I use ZipCentral. Free and it works fine. I think I found it under 'Archive Tools' at list of lists

 

Well, I still have my WinZip installed, and like I said, it has always done what I wanted done, sooooooo, I think I will keep it.... I did install that free one 7Zip, didn't like the looks of it, but still have it, in case I need to open a .rar file. Thanks one and all, I appreciate the feedback. I guess it still all boils down to what each individual likes to work with. As Paul Harvey says, "Have a good day!"

 

I have been using ZipMagic for years!
The alternative is WinRar.