File Compression Software Review

File Compression Software ReviewFile compression is commonly used when sending a file from one computer to another over a connection that has limited bandwidth. The compression basically makes the file smaller and, therefore, the sending of the file is faster. Of course, when compressing a file and sending it to another computer that computer has to have a program that will decompress the file so it can be returned to "normal" and used. The next step to compressing a single file is the combining of multiple files into a single compressed archive. By performing this combination process the archive both serves to make the transmission faster for all the files and manages to keep them together for convenience.

Rank #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8
Software WinZip

 WinRar

 StuffIt

 7-Zip

 ALZip

 BitZipper

 PKZip

 WinAce
           
Reviews Review Review Review Review Review Review Review Review
Price Buy
$49.95		 Buy
$29.00		 Buy
$49.99		 Buy
Free		 Buy
$29.95		 Buy
$24.95		 Buy
$29.00		 Buy
$29.00
Our Rating
Features
Compress Common Formats Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Wizard Mode Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No
Drag & Drop Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No
Access from Windows Explorer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Password Protection Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Multi-Volume Archives Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Create Self Extracting Files Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes
Repair Damaged Archives Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes
Thumbnail Viewing Yes No Yes No Yes No No No
Shows Overall Compression Ratio Yes No No No No No No Yes
Works with Virus Scanner Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Convert Archives No Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes
Supported Compression Files
ZIP Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RAR No Yes No No No No No No
7z No No No Yes Yes No No No
ACE No No No No No No No Yes
ALZ No No No No Yes No No No
BZip/BZ2 No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No
CAB No No No No Yes Yes No Yes
LHA/LZH No No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
SITX No No Yes No No No No No
TAR No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Supported Extraction Files
ZIP Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RAR Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
7z Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
ACE No Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes
ALZ No No No No Yes No No No
ARC No No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes
ARJ No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bzip2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CAB Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
LHA/LZH Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
SIT No No Yes No No No No No
SITX No No Yes No No No No No
TAR Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
WIM No No No Yes No No No No
ISO Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes
IMG Yes No No Yes Yes No No No
Supported Operating Sytems
Windows 7 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Windows Vista Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Windows XP Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Windows 2000 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Tech Support
Phone Support No No Yes No No No No Yes
Email Support Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Online Help Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No
Forums No No No Yes Yes No No No
Knowlegde Base Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Purchase
Price Buy
$49.95		 Buy
$29.00		 Buy
$49.99		 Buy
Free		 Buy
$29.95		 Buy
$24.95		 Buy
$29.00		 Buy
$29.00
Software WinZip WinRar StuffIt 7-Zip ALZip BitZipper PKZip WinAce

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