PeaZip

How PeaZip Changes the Way Archive Tools Work

Most Windows users have encountered WinRAR or WinZip at some point — two paid tools that have historically dominated the archive management space. PeaZip offers an alternative with a broader format range, stronger encryption options, and a genuinely clean install that doesn't ask you to install toolbars or trial subscriptions.

Created by Giorgio Tani, PeaZip is an open-source archive manager that acts as a unified graphical interface over multiple compression backends: 7-Zip, Brotli, Zstandard, FreeArc, and others. The result is support for over 200 archive formats — a number that genuinely exceeds most competing tools.

Supported Archive Formats and Compatibility

PeaZip distinguishes between formats it can read (extract) and formats it can create. Understanding this matters when choosing the right tool for a job.

Formats PeaZip can open and extract: ZIP, RAR, RAR5, 7Z, TAR, GZ, BZ2, XZ, ISO, LHA, CAB, ARJ, ACE, JAR, WAR, APK, MSI, NSIS installers, and over 180 additional formats.

Formats PeaZip can create: 7Z, ZIP, TAR, GZ, BZ2, XZ, PEA (PeaZip's native format), WIM, and several others.

The PEA format deserves specific mention. It's PeaZip's own archive format designed with security in mind: it supports AES-256 encryption, Twofish, and Serpent block ciphers, alongside authenticated encryption that verifies the archive hasn't been tampered with. For sensitive document archiving, this is meaningful beyond standard ZIP password protection.

Encryption Options

PeaZip's encryption capabilities stand out compared to basic archive managers:

• AES-256 encryption for 7Z and PEA formats
• Twofish and Serpent cipher options in the PEA format
• Encrypt archive headers (hides even the filenames from unauthorized users)
• Two-factor authentication for archives using a password plus keyfile combination
• Separate password entry option that doesn't echo to screen

For anyone storing archives of sensitive documents, contracts, or personal records, these options offer meaningfully stronger protection than basic ZIP passwords.

Managing Large Files with Volume-Based Compression

PeaZip can split large archives into multiple volumes of a specified size. This is useful when transferring large backups to media with size limits, or when archives need to fit within email attachment limits. You can set volume sizes in bytes, KB, MB, or GB, or choose from presets designed for common storage media.

Permanent Deletion Tools in PeaZip

A tool often overlooked in archive managers: PeaZip includes a secure file deletion function. Standard file deletion only removes the directory entry — the actual data remains on disk until overwritten. PeaZip's secure delete overwrites file data before deletion, making recovery significantly harder. Options include single-pass and multi-pass overwrite modes.

Interface and Usability

PeaZip's interface takes a file-manager approach rather than a traditional extraction wizard. You browse your filesystem in the left panel and see archive contents in the right panel. Files can be dragged between panels, and context menu integration adds "Add to archive" and "Extract here" options to the Windows Explorer right-click menu.

The interface is configurable: you can choose between a flat layout, a two-panel layout, or an explorer-style view. Themes are available for both light and dark preferences.

Portable Version

PeaZip is available in both an installer version and a portable version that requires no installation. The portable version can run from a USB drive, making it a useful tool to carry for working with archives on systems where you can't install software.

PeaZip earns a recommendation because it doesn't ask anything of you beyond the task at hand. No trial countdown, no bundled installers, no ads. The format support is genuinely comprehensive, and the encryption options go beyond what most competing tools offer. For anyone who regularly works with archives and wants a reliable, clean tool, PeaZip is a sound choice.