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Best Zip Tools Compared - PKZip, WinZip, WinRAR, ZipMagic, 7-Zip etc.

	The best zip tools from our tests are featured in the blue table.  To identify tools, hover over an icon.  For more detail, click an icon, or on a tool's name at the top of the beige panel across the bottom of the page.  To see which tests a featured tool failed, look in the table for negative scores like -½ or -1.		All tests were passed by at least one tool, but not one tool passed all tests.  SecureZIP Express was best, failing a mere 6 out of 63 tests.  If a test result in the blue table is underlined, click it to see a related note in the bottom panel.  Below the table is a Key to all the symbols used in the table, and also our Conclusions.

48 Zip Utilities tested by Capital Ratings Ranking in our tests > 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 rest -- File icon (hover/click) > Hover for full name> SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m No. of fails in 63 tests > -6 -7 -8½ -9½ -9½ -10 -10½ -11 -12 -12½ -14 -16½ -24½ Rating (out of 10) > 9.0 8.8 8.6 8.4 8.4 8.4 8.3 8.2 8.0 8.0 7.7 7.3 6.1 Software types > FW SW SW SW BW FW FW Win TW FW FW SW - Tests when opening or closing the zip tool 1. Annoyances SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m 1.1 Version tested (a) had no 'evaluation' nag screen when opening the tool nor (b) when closing it -½ -½ -½ -¼ -½ ...nor (c) when opening a zip file nor (d) when extracting one, -½ -½ -¼ -½ (e) had no splash screen nor (f) banner ad,  -   -  -½ (g) does not stop working after a trial period nor (h) start showing nag screens that weren't there before, ? - ?  -  - - - - -½ - ? - - - (i) has not abandoned support of Windows 98. -1 -1  -  1.2 When the tool is opened via a shortcut (a) its window is usually empty and, empty or not, (b) a folder can be dragged on to the window and zipped... -½ -½  -   -  -½ ...and the dragged folder is archived in .ZIP format (c) by default or (d) as an option or optional default... - - - -½ - - - - - -½ -½ - ...and the tool's window remembers any changes made previously to its (f) position (g) size... - - -½ -½ ...and (h) column widths. - -1 -1 1.3 If toolbars wrap when in a narrow window, they (a) can be locked to override wrapping or (b) will unwrap automatically if window is widened. -½ -½ -½ -½ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tests when opening a zip file 2. Opening an existing .ZIP file to view the contents SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m 2.1 Can achieve (a) by right-clicking on the zip file (b) without going thru a dialog box - 2.2 Can achieve (a) by dragging the zip file over a tool's shortcut icon (b) without going through a dialog  -   -  -½ -½ 2.3 Can achieve via the right-click Send To menu - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.4 Can achieve via (a) a tool's Open button (b) a toolbar menu Open option. -½ -½  -   -  2.5 The tool (a) keeps a list of recently used archives and (b) has a function to control the list's length or a way to clear it. -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ 3. Viewing nested content in an opened .ZIP file SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m 3.1 Tool provides (a) a 2-pane view with an expandable folder-tree in the left pane... -1 ...with (b) the files and subfolders in any folder selected in the left pane showing in the right pane, - (c) a 1-pane flat folder-view showing all same-level folders and files and (d) ditto for any folders therein that are opened,  -  -  -  -  -  - - - - -  -  -  -  - -½ - (e) a 1-pane flat file-view including (f) a column showing folder paths... - - - - - ...and (g) the 2-pane view was the tool's initial default after installing it and (h) it is simple to switch between all available view styles -½ -½ -½ -½ - -½ -½ - -½ - - 3.2 There is a button (and/or a left pane) to facilitate climbing back up the folder tree one level at a time - 3.3 If there is an Address Bar, it (a) shows long names in full not as short DOS-style names and/or (b) the info can be hidden  -   -  - - - - - - - - - - - - Tests when extracting the contents of a zip file 4. Extracting a .ZIP file, with nested content, to the Desktop SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m 4.1 Can extract all content, with no loss of nested structure, without first needing to create a holding folder, (a) by right-clicking on the zip file and (b) without needing to go thru a dialog,   -½ -½ - (c) by dragging the whole from the tool's window, -1 (d) by a tool's Extract button and (e) by a toolbar menu Extract option.  -  4.2 Can extract a selected file or folder from anywhere in an opened nested zip file (a) by right-clicking on the item, -1 (b) by dragging the item from the tool's window, (c) by a tool's Extract button and (d) by a toolbar menu Extract option.  -  Tests when creating a zip file 5. Creating, on the Desktop, an empty, usable .ZIP file SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m 5.1 Can achieve by right-clicking on the Desktop (a) without going thru a dialog or... -1 -1 ...(b) only thru a dialog - - - - - - - - - - -1 - 5.2 Can achieve via a New button, or toolbar New menu option, (a) without going thru a dialog or (b) only thru a dialog -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½       -½ -½ -½ -½ - -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ 5.3 Double-clicking on the empty zip file will cause it to open and be usable - -1 6. Creating a .ZIP file from multiple selected items (at least one file and one nested folder) with no loss of original structure SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m 6.1 Can achieve by right-clicking on the multiple selected items (a) with no dialog or just a simple 'save' dialog or (b) thru a full Add dialog - - - - - - - - - - -½ -½ -½ - 6.2 Can achieve by dragging the multiple selected items (a) over a tool's shortcut icon, with no dialog or a simple 'save' dialog or (b) thru a full Add dialog, - - - -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½  -   -  - - -½ -½ -½ -½ - (c) over the icon of an empty zip file, with no dialog or a simple 'save' dialog or (d) thru a full Add dialog, - - - - - - -½ -½ - -½ -½ -  -  - -½ -½ -½ (e) over a tool's window, with no dialog or a simple 'save' dialog or (f) thru a full Add dialog. - - - - - - - - - -½ -½ - - 6.3 Can achieve via (a) a tool's Add button (b) a toolbar menu Add option. -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½  -   -  -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ 6.4 Can achieve via (a) a tool's New button (b) a toolbar menu New option. -½ -½  -   -  -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ 6.5 Can achieve by right-clicking on a shortcut (pointing to a file or folder) -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 Tests when adding to a zip file 7. Saving an open .ZIP file during compiling or modifying SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m 7.1 Can save via a tool's File > Save/Save as... menu or similar function -1 -1  -  -1  -  -1 -1 -1 -1 8. Adding a new file or folder to an existing, opened, nested .ZIP file SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m 8.1 Can add anywhere via (a) drag and drop, without going thru a dialog or (b) only thru a dialog, - - - -½ - -½ -½ - - - -½ -½ - -½ -½ (c) an Add button or (d) a toolbar menu Add option. -¼ -¼ -½ -½  -   -  -½ -½ -½ -½ Tests for bonus features 9. Miscellaneous SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m 9.01 Can (a) change positions of toolbar buttons (b) hide unwanted buttons -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ 9.02 Short names are displayable under buttons -1 -1 9.03 Can (a) change positions of columns in a tool's window (b) disable or hide unwanted columns -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ 9.04 Can configure tool to virus-scan an archive -1 -1 -1 -1 9.05 Can create a self-extracting archive (a) via a button or toolbar menu option (b) in plain *.exe style (from .ZIP or native format allowed.) -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ 9.06 Can (a) split or (b) span an archive. (.ZIP or native format allowed.) -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ -½ 9.07 Can delete a file within an open .ZIP file 9.08 Can rename a file within an open .ZIP file -1 -1 -1 -1 -1     SZx PK WZ WR ZM AL EnZ CzF ACD jZ Tug Wrk z-m 9.0