7zip 

The linked dot COM website is a fake, impersonating the actual dot ORG. It hosts a malicious download.

7Z DOES NOT SUPPORT ANCIENT *.ARC FILES

WINRAR AND WINZIP DOESN'T SUPPORT *.ARC FILES EITHER

HAD TO DIG UP PEAZIP AND FREEARC

FREEARC WAS A PAIN TO FIND A GOOD DOWNLOAD

Even after removing the world-leader commercial Zip-file program (which had become very slow at opening Zip folders due perhaps to interaction with my virus-checker) 7Zip didn't directly open my Zip folders when I double-clicked on them

I tried to associate the program with Zip folders in W7 but that didn't work either. Eventually I found that you have to associate 7Zip with Zip folders from within the 7Zip program.

It should surely do that automatically!

It also doesn't allow adding or removing password protection from individual files - you have to extract them and then add them back to the Zip folder as non-password protected or password protected

It's annoying that you can't contact 7Zip directly and have to become a member of a forum to make a complaint or get help

The good news is that it solved my (slow opening) problem and now opens Zip folders almost instantly (v.24.09).

And it costs nothing.

Supports multiple file types, encryption types, very quick to install, use, with even more options on the methods of compressing the files with different compression levels, dictionary sizes, even giving you control on how much of your system resources you want to use to compress files. the 7z archive format seems very secure too, although as with anything digital in existence, anything can be cracked with enough time and money. If you haven't used it before, you can just leave the options as they are, and just enter your desired password and tick the option to encrypt file names. If you have used it before, then I shall say no more.

Files were really slow to open. It took two or more attempts to open most files and a few just wpuldn't open.

I had to write a report based on files sent to me and it took more time to download the files than to write my report

I LOVE 7Zip!! Why pay for a Zipper (or Un-Zipper in my case) when you can use this for free?? Absolutely hassle free (running Dell Inspiron Laptop 8/256GB Windows 10) and works seamlessly 100% of the time.

I think it's a disgrace this type of software is needed at all as an add-on, and then to be asked to pay for the privilege of opening your own files- hahahahahahhaha - you just click a zip on a Mac and hey presto! But whatevs, this is the one to go for for sure.

The developer doesn't even have a donate button on the website - hardcore. I would have loved to make a donation so I'm writing this review instead.

Great software, you don't need anything else for .rar and .zip files

I'm using 7-zip like around 8 years, it's free, simple to use and provides great compression comparing to .zip and even .rar archives.