PeaZip vs 7-Zip
Both archivers cost nothing, name one individual developer and publish no company, country or street address, so the decision rests on reach rather than money. PeaZip is an LGPLv3 program for Windows, Linux and macOS or BSD that opens over 200 formats and adds a password-plus-keyfile option. 7-Zip is a 1.6 MB Windows-only installer with AES-256 in the 7z and ZIP formats, and its newest build is dated 21 October 2026. A mixed fleet points to PeaZip, while a plain Windows desktop pool is well served by 7-Zip.
Sebastiaan SmitsFounderVendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. Every vendor link is marked the same, whatever the arrangement behind it. How that works.
Choose PeaZip ifyou manage a fleet that mixes Windows, Linux and Mac machines and want one archiver with the same options everywhere. You also want a keyfile as a second factor on encrypted archives, or a built-in password manager.
Choose 7-Zip ifyou run only Windows desktops and want the smallest possible installer with no registration step. You value a command-line version and Shell integration more than extra platforms or a large format list.
PeaZip and 7-Zip side by side
| PeaZip | 7-Zip | |
|---|---|---|
| Our file compression software rank | #1 of 12 | #2 of 12 |
| Established in | Not stated by the vendor | Not stated by the vendor |
| List price, 7 November 2026 | Nothing to pay for private or professional use; a donation page exists but lists no prices | No registration and no fee, commercial organisations included; no tiers on the site |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Self-hostable | — | — |
| Built for | Mixed Windows, Linux and Mac teams wanting one open archiver with strong encryption options | Windows desktops where an administrator wants a small installer and no licence handling |
| Not for | Anyone who needs a named company or support contract | Teams with macOS machines or anyone wanting vendor support |
Both are reviewed in full in our file compression software ranking: PeaZip and 7-Zip.
Where they differ
PeaZip 4 · 7-Zip 1 · open 1- 01
One developer, no company behind either
PeaZip names Giorgio Tani as its developer and gives a developer email, but the page shows no company name, country or postal address. 7-Zip names Igor Pavlov with a 2026 copyright line, and its page likewise lists no company, country or address. Neither vendor can be called European or otherwise on the evidence we read, and a buyer who needs a firm to sign a support contract will find nobody on either page to sign it.
Depends on the buyer
- 02
Windows alone against three operating systems
PeaZip lists Windows, Linux on x86_64 and x86 with ARM marked experimental, and macOS or BSD on both Intel and Apple Silicon, plus portable packages for the three main systems. 7-Zip lists only Windows in its download table, with builds for x64, x86 and ARM64, even though it reaches back to older releases such as XP. Anyone with a Mac or Linux workstation in the building cannot standardise on 7-Zip.
Edge: PeaZip
- 03
Archives you can open against archives you can write
PeaZip opens over 200 formats and creates 7Z, ARC, Brotli, BZ2, GZ, PEA, TAR, WIM, Zstandard and ZIP, but making RAR needs WinRAR installed and ACE needs a separate plugin. 7-Zip packs 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP and WIM and only unpacks further formats such as RAR, ISO, DMG, CAB, MSI, RPM and VHDX. PeaZip writes more formats and has the wider open list.
Edge: PeaZip
- 04
Locking an archive: algorithms, keyfiles and shredding
PeaZip offers AES, Twofish and Serpent, optional two-factor protection that combines a password with a keyfile, an encrypted password manager and secure delete. 7-Zip states strong AES-256 encryption in the 7z and ZIP formats, with LZMA and LZMA2 compression for 7z, and mentions self-extracting 7z archives. Neither a keyfile option nor file shredding turned up in the 7-Zip text we read, so PeaZip has the longer security list.
Edge: PeaZip
- 05
What each licence file obliges you to read
PeaZip is released under LGPLv3 for the program, with documentation under GNU FDL, and its GitHub repository carries LGPL-3.0. 7-Zip uses GNU LGPL for most code, BSD 2 or 3-clause terms for some parts of 7z.dll and an unRAR-related restriction. Both are free for private and commercial use. PeaZip is the simpler one to audit, while 7-Zip needs a closer read before you redistribute any of its code.
Edge: PeaZip
- 06
Installer weight, languages and the release stamp
7-Zip gives hard numbers: a Windows x64 installer of 1.6 MB, 87 interface languages and version 26.05 dated 21 October 2026, plus Windows Shell integration. PeaZip shows current version 11.4.0 but no release date on the page, and no installer size or language count appears for it. If a dated, verifiable build and a tiny download matter to your change control, 7-Zip documents more of that.
Edge: 7-Zip
When neither fits
If you need a named company, a support contract or a paid tier, look at WinZip or WinRAR instead. If your staff are mostly on Mac and want a native feel, Keka Archiver is the more focused option than either of these two.
PeaZip or 7-Zip: questions
3 answersCan PeaZip create RAR files without anything else installed?
No, the vendor says creating RAR needs WinRAR installed on the machine. PeaZip can still open RAR files, and ACE needs a separate plugin. 7-Zip is in the same position, since RAR sits on its unpack-only list.
Will 7-Zip run on a Mac or a Linux laptop?
The download list on the 7-Zip page covers Windows only, with x64, x86 and ARM64 installers. No macOS or Linux build is offered there. PeaZip lists both, so a mixed office would need it or another tool.
Is either program restricted for use inside a company?
No, PeaZip states it is free for any use, private and professional, and the 7-Zip FAQ says no registration or payment is needed and commercial organisations may use it.
Neither page shows price tiers. The 7-Zip licence file adds an unRAR-related restriction worth reading before you redistribute code.
Sources
Checked 7 November 2026- PeaZip home page: free for any use, 200-plus formats, creation list, encryption options, platform list, version 11.4.0 and developer Giorgio Tani.
- PeaZip on GitHub: repository licence shown as LGPL-3.0.
- 7-Zip home page: release 26.05 of 21 October 2026, 1.6 MB x64 installer, Windows-only downloads, pack and unpack format lists, AES-256, 87 languages, Igor Pavlov.
- 7-Zip FAQ: no registration or payment, commercial organisations may use it.
- 7-Zip licence file: LGPL for most code, BSD parts of 7z.dll and the unRAR-related restriction.