Are you tired of the advertising windows that appear every time you open an archive with WinRAR or WinZip? You can purchase a license to unlock the full version of these programs, or use the standard version in Windows or macOS.  How do you say? Do not you spend money and do you think compression utilities included in Windows and macOS are too limited? Then I do not see any other solutions, you have to download a free application for compressed archive management: There are so many to choose from, you just have to find the one that best suits your needs.

Whether you have a Windows PC or a Mac. I assure you that you will find a program that can open free ZIP files and resolve all of your compressed file management issues. You can also extract ZIP-protected ZIP files and multi-volume archives (multiple partitions) without annoying ad screens or interruptions. And it does not end there! The recommended programs allow you to open other compressed file formats like RAR and 7z and create compressed archives from saved files and folders on your PC.

The second part of the post provides free apps for opening ZIP files on smartphones and tablets if needed. The chat will explore the best free solutions for managing archived files on major software platforms. Good reading and good fun!

How to open ZIP files on your computer

If you are looking for a solution to open ZIP files for free on your computer, here are a lot of satisfaction: below you will find a list of software for Windows and MacOS that allows you to open the ZIP, RAR and many other types of compressed files at no cost without showing annoying shots promotional.

7-Zip (Windows)

Unable to talk about free software to open ZIP files without mentioning 7-Zip , the best free and open source alternative to WinRAR and WinZip. It is compatible with all major compressed file formats (ZIP, 7z, DMG, RAR etc.), including password-protected and multi-volume archives, and also allows you to create new ones in ZIP and 7z format.

To download 7-Zip on your PC, connect to its official website and click on the download link next to the  64-bit x64 entry (or next to the 32-bit x86 entry if you still use a 32-bit operating system ). Then open the 7zxx-x64.exe file that you just downloaded on your PC and, in the window that opens, first click on the Yes button and then on Install and Close to complete the 7-Zip installation process. If you are asked to restart your PC, you agree.

7-Zip allows you to open any ZIP file by right-clicking on its icon and selecting “7-Zip> Open” from the menu. Choose whether to open the individual files in the archive, by double-clicking them, or extracting them to a folder of your choice: To do this, you can drag the files with the mouse out of the 7-Zip window or you can click on the Extract button that is located at the top left and then choose the file destination folder using the […] button .

Do you want to make sure that 7-Zip automatically opens ZIP files when you double-click their icons? Nothing is easier: open 7-Zip File Manager (you can find it in the Windows Start menu ), go to the Tools> Options menu at the top and, in the window that opens, click the column next to the zip icon until the word 7-Zip appears. Click the Apply button to save the changes and complete the game.

PeaZip (Windows / Linux)

PeaZip is a great free and open source software for managing compressed archives. This software is compatible with Windows and Linux, supports major archive formats like ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR, ZIPX, encrypted files. They contain multi-volume archives, and ZIP, ZIPx, and ZIP archive creation. The portable version of this software does not need any installations to use.

How to open ZIP files for freeTo download PeaZip on your PC, connect to the official program site and click on the PeaZip 64 bit Free Download button (or the PeaZip Free Download button if you are still using a 32-bit operating system) and then on the Download PeaZip button. When the download is complete, open the file PeaZip-xx.WIN64.exe that you just downloaded to your computer and, in the window that opens, click on the Yes button and then Next. Click Next, select file formats ( ZIP, ZIPX, RAR) to open automatically with PeaZip, and finish the installation process by clicking Next and then Install and Finish.

How To Open PeaZip File

Now you just have to double-click on a ZIP file, wait for PeaZip to open and choose what to do. If you want to open one of the files in the archive, simply double-click on it. To extract archive contents into a folder. use the Extract button on the top left or drag files out of the PeaZip window. Easier than that ?!The Unarchiver (MacOS)

If you have a Mac and you need to open ZIP files for free, you can contact the “serial” utility included in macOS or The Unarchiver , a free application that allows you to double-click all the files in the archives ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, ZH, ARJ and ARC format (including encrypted archives and multi-volume archives). To install the app, go to the homepage of the Mac App Store and click on the Get / Install button in the top left corner.

The Unarchiver can be automatically opened by sizing its icon from Launchpad and selecting the Archive Formats tab after installation. Then, tap the check mark next to Zip archive and the game is done.

Double-click a ZIP file icon to extract its contents into the current folder. Modify this behavior by selecting the Extract tab and choosing the default folder.

BetterZip Quick Look Generator (macOS)

Use a Mac and would you like to have the contents of the ZIP files before you extract them? One can do it. The BetterZip Quick Look Generator plugin. It allows users to view a list of files in ZIP archives without extracting them first. It is compatible with all macOS versions and is extremely easy to use.

To download BetterZip Quick Look Generator. click on Legacy version 1.5 on the website and install the BetterZipQL.qlgenerator file.  you just downloaded on the Mac and copy it to the / Library / QuickLook / folder  (if you do not know how to reach this folder, right-click the Finder icon  in the Dock bar, select  Go to the folder  from the menu that appears and pasts the path / Library / QuickLook /  in the window that opens. At this point, open the  MacOS Terminal and the qlmanage – rcommand so reset Quick Look and make the actual changes.

BetterZip Quick Look Generator (macOS)You can not! From this moment on, by selecting a ZIP file in the Finder (or Desk) and by pressing the spacebar on your Mac’s keyboard, you can view the contents of the archive without first extracting it. Comfortable, right?

How to open ZIP files on smartphones and tablets

Do you often receive ZIP files via email. Are you looking for a way to open them in mobility using your smartphone or tablet? You can rely on several apps, excluding limited ones on Android and iOS, like iCloud Drive.

X-plore File Manager (Android)

X-plore File Manager  is a great free file manager for Android. Among its many features and also allows you to open ZIP files. Extract the contents into a user’s choice folder. It supports password-protected archives, multi-volume archives, and also provides access to cloud storage services, such as Dropbox or Google Drive.

Download X-plore File Manager from the Play Store, select its icon, and install/accept. Start the app, extract ZIP files, and click on the archive icon to view contents.

Readdle Documents (iOS)- How to open ZIP files

Readdle Documents  is a free iOS file manager. It enables users to manage and view various types of files, including ZIP files. It also supports cloud storage services (eg Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud Drive) and local network devices. To download it on your iPhone or iPad. To install an app, search for it in the App Stores, click on the Get It button, then select the search result icon and click the Install button.

After installation, start Readdle Documents and select the ZIP archive path. To access a cloud storage service or FTP server, sign up for Services on a network or online service path.

To extract and open a folder with the same archive name as the current folder, tap the ZIP file icon. All the data extracted from the archive is inside the folder.

Other apps to open ZIP files for free

If none of the applications. I’ve just listed has fully met your expectations. Explore top apps for Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile 10 that effortlessly open ZIP files and other compressed archives.