Comparisons
WinRAR Alternatives
If you want to stop paying for or evaluating WinRAR, several free and paid programs can open and create archives instead. Here is what each one does and does not do.
WinRAR is paid software distributed with an unlimited-time evaluation, and RARLAB ships only a command-line build for macOS with no GUI app on that platform. That gap is why alternatives are popular on both Windows and Mac. All of the options below can extract RAR files; only RARLAB's own tools can create new RAR archives, so if creating .rar files specifically is a requirement, an alternative will not do that.
Windows alternatives
- 7-Zip — free, open source, extracts RAR, ZIP, and many other formats; creates 7z and ZIP; adds Explorer context-menu integration.
- PeaZip — free, open source, broad format support for extraction, creates several formats including ZIP and 7z, has a more configurable interface than 7-Zip.
- NanaZip — a free, open-source Windows app built around the 7-Zip engine with a modern interface aligned to current Windows design, distributed through the Microsoft Store or GitHub.
- Bandizip — free for personal use, extracts a wide range of formats, creates ZIP and several others, includes preview features for some archive contents.
macOS alternatives
- The Unarchiver — free, extracts RAR and many other formats, does not create RAR archives, popular as a lightweight default handler.
- Keka — free/donation-supported, extracts RAR and other formats and creates ZIP, 7z, and other open formats, with a simple drag-and-drop interface.
- Built-in Archive Utility — included with macOS, handles ZIP natively but does not open RAR archives at all, so it is not a substitute on its own.
Feature comparison
| Tool | Platform | Extracts RAR | Creates RAR | Price | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Zip | Windows | Yes | No | Free / open source | 7-zip.org |
| PeaZip | Windows, Linux | Yes | No | Free / open source | peazip.github.io |
| NanaZip | Windows | Yes | No | Free / open source | Microsoft Store / GitHub |
| Bandizip | Windows, macOS | Yes | No | Free for personal use | Vendor site |
| The Unarchiver | macOS | Yes | No | Free | theunarchiver.com |
| Keka | macOS | Yes | No | Free / donation | keka.io |
| Built-in OS tools | Windows, macOS | Windows 11: yes; Windows 10 and macOS Archive Utility: no | No | Included | N/A |
Migration notes
If you switch away from WinRAR, existing .rar files you already have will still open fine in any tool above. The change only affects new archives you create going forward — those will need to be ZIP or 7z unless you keep a RARLAB tool installed. See ZIP vs RAR if you are deciding what format to standardize on.
For a closer look at the most commonly recommended single alternative, read WinRAR vs 7-Zip. For extraction-only comparisons across more platforms, see best RAR extractors.
Frequently asked questions
Can any free tool create RAR files?
No. RAR is a proprietary format, and only RARLAB's own tools — WinRAR and the command-line RAR utility — can create it.
Is 7-Zip a full WinRAR replacement?
For extracting and for creating ZIP or 7z archives, yes. It cannot create RAR archives, which is the one thing it cannot fully replace.
What is the best free option on a Mac?
The Unarchiver and Keka are both common choices for extracting RAR on macOS, since the built-in Archive Utility does not open RAR at all.
Do I need to uninstall WinRAR to use an alternative?
No, most of these tools can be installed alongside WinRAR. See [WinRAR uninstall](/winrar-uninstall) only if you specifically want to remove it.
Related guides
- WinRAR vs 7-ZipWinRAR and 7-Zip are the two archive tools people ask about most on Windows. Here is how they actually differ, feature by feature.
- 7z vs RAR vs ZIP: Which Archive Format Should You Use?7z, RAR, and ZIP differ mainly in compatibility versus compression: ZIP is the most universally supported, RAR and 7z compress better and offer stronger encryption, and 7z is free and open while RAR requires WinRAR to create.
- RAR File Opener: Which Programs WorkOpening a RAR file requires a program built to read the RAR format — here's what works on each platform and how the free and paid options compare.
- How to Create a RAR FileOnly RARLAB's own tools can create a genuine RAR archive. Here's how to do it in WinRAR, and what to consider if you'd rather not use it.
- Archive Software and Format ComparisonsBefore recommending anything, we compare archive tools and formats against the same set of criteria. This hub explains those criteria and links to every comparison on the site.
WinRAR is a trademark of its respective owner. RareExplorer is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by RARLAB or win.rar GmbH. Read our editorial policy to see how this page was researched.