PeaZip vs WinRAR
PeaZip is free; WinRAR is paid software with a trial. Here is how they actually differ.
PeaZip and WinRAR at a glance
| Feature | PeaZip | WinRAR |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Giorgio Tani | RARLAB |
| Licence | Open Source | Free trial |
| Cost | Free | Paid — free trial |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | No | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile | No | Yes |
| Source code | Public | Closed |
PeaZip: what it's good at
PeaZip handles over 200 archive formats behind a more approachable graphical interface than 7-Zip, adding useful extras such as secure deletion, archive conversion and a duplicate file finder.
- Supports 200+ archive formats
- Strong encryption with two-factor option
- Archive conversion and secure delete
- Portable version available
WinRAR: what it's good at
WinRAR is the reference tool for creating RAR archives and remains excellent at repairing damaged archives and handling multi-volume splits. Officially a paid trial, though it continues working after the trial period.
- Creates and repairs RAR archives
- Multi-volume archive splitting
- Recovery records for damaged archives
- Strong AES-256 encryption
Which should you choose?
PeaZip costs nothing, so you can try it first and lose only the time. WinRAR has to earn the licence fee against that — if it does the job better for how you work, it is worth paying for; if it does not, you have your answer.
Both run on Windows, Linux. Only WinRAR supports macOS, Android. If open source matters to you, PeaZip publishes its source code and WinRAR does not.
We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is PeaZip better than WinRAR?
Neither is universally better. PeaZip open-source archive manager with a friendlier interface, while WinRAR the original RAR archiver, with the famously permissive trial. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.
Are both really free?
PeaZip is open source and WinRAR is free trial. PeaZip can be downloaded and used without paying. WinRAR is paid software — the trial runs for a limited period, after which it needs a licence.
Can I install both?
Yes. Installing PeaZip alongside the WinRAR trial and running both over your own files is the fastest way to find out whether the paid one is worth it to you.