7-Zip vs Winrar

I have been using WinRAR for ages as I have an unlimited company license.

Now I keep seing some programs like DDU for example or some drivers packaged using 7-ZIP and was wondering, is it better than WinRAR?

Shall I switch to it or shall I stay on WinRAR which has never failed me?

 

I have not used WinRAR for years since it run out. I started using 7-ZIP after that and really never had a problem. If you have been using WinRAR this long and it's worked good for you then I would stay with it.

 

I have been using 7-Zip because it allow encryption of files. Don't know if WinRAR can do that.

 

well with WinRAR I can set a password on the ZIP/RAR archive, isn't that the same?

 

I had no problem with 7zip I used WinZip before and since 7zip was free it was a better alternative and now with 7zip v16 update. It still functions and work fine for my everyday needs. I like that it has alot of features to use and configure with.

 

I use 7-zip because it's free and does what I need it to do...

 

Same.

 

I understand, but free or not doesn't matter to me since I have a lifetime license, but what I wanted to know is functionality, UI, speed, etc.

 

I prefer WinRAR. 7zip requires a few extra clicks to get things done and I love the fact I can be lazy and just double click something in an archive and WinRAR will temporarily extract it so I can check it out while I have to extract the archive in 7zip.

 

yeah I remember that while using 7-Zip once, it required a few extra clicks and I am the laziest person on the planet. Thanks for reminding me about that

 

I was a long time winzip user before WinRAR and I find WinRAR to be the most polished. And I'm lazy as well. I get really irritated when I have to extract an archive when all I want to do is install whatever is archived and then delete the archive. That makes 7zip a no go for me.

 

Windows built in unzip works fine for me for 90% of things I use it for. Just that if something is .rar or other extension that Windows doesn't have built in, 7-zip comes in handy. Unless you're a power zip user I don't see a lot of differences between the two. I used to love WinZip but just never seen a need for such a program since the last 7-8 years at least.

 

winrar's free trial is supposed to run out?

 

yes in 40 days, It'll still work but with a nag screen

 

I like 7-zip because I hate the archaic look of WinRAR. 7-Zip's GUI seems cleaner and I can set up easily context menus. Perhaps it's possible on winrar but I don't care to check.

 

I use 7-zip, and haven't looked back. I like that I can open .iso's and look inside of .exe's. Not sure if winzip can do that, I haven't used it in a long time.

 

WinRAR has ISO support as well. Never tried it on an exe.

 

And that's the reason I quit on WinRAR. Nag screen would break my mod installing flow...
But the downside of 7zip, like already mentioned here, no file previews inside archive. You have to extract before opening files. Granted they work exactly like extraction, but still, it's kinda more convenient.

 

File preview is nice, but it's not nearly enough to convince me to pay money for WinRAR. If WinRAR was $10-15 I'd consider it, but $30 is far too much. 7-Zip does everything I need otherwise.