PeaZip — An Archiver That Doubles as a File Manager
Some archivers are locked into their own formats. PeaZip takes the opposite route: it’s open source, runs on Windows and Linux, and happily works with more than two hundred archive types. On the surface it’s a compression tool, but in practice you can use it like a small file manager — two panes, tabs, previews, drag-and-drop.
What daily use feels like
You click into a .zip or .tar.gz, and it opens like a folder. Need just one file? Pull it out without extracting the rest. Creating archives is flexible: choose algorithm, split into volumes, add AES-256 encryption if the data is sensitive. A checksum tool is built in, which saves running a separate hash utility.
On Windows, the right-click menu is where it shines — compress, encrypt, or extract without opening the main window. On Linux, it hooks into the desktop menus the same way.
Quick reference
| Feature | Detail |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux |
| Formats | 200+ (ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZ, RAR read, etc.) |
| Security | AES-256 encryption, two-factor options |
| UI | Dual-pane style, portable or installed |
| Integration | Explorer/desktop context menus |
| Extras | Hashing, secure delete, split/join |
| License | LGPL, open source |
Why people keep it around
– Works with oddball archive formats others ignore.
– Open source means no hidden licensing traps.
– Portable build is perfect for a “tools” USB stick.
– The extra tools (hash, shred) save carrying separate utilities.
Real-world bits
– An admin checks the hash of backup archives every night, directly from PeaZip.
– A developer pulls a single config file out of a multi-gig tarball instead of unpacking it all.
– A support engineer uses the portable build on a client laptop to handle .7z, .rar, and .zip without installing anything.
Where it falls short
– It can open RAR, but won’t create them.
– The interface is plain — closer to utility than polished app.
– Some compression settings feel “expert-only” if you dig too deep.
Comparison with alternatives
| Tool | Edge | When it’s better |
| PeaZip | Huge format list, open source | Cross-platform users, mixed archives |
| 7-Zip | High compression, scripting | Power users who script and want max ratio |
| WinRAR | Native RAR, recovery features | Environments full of RAR archives |
| Bandizip | Lightweight, clean UI | Windows users wanting speed + simplicity |
Checklist to get going
– Grab latest build (installer or portable).
– Enable shell integration if context menus matter.
– Save presets for the archive types you use most.
– Set up the password manager if you encrypt often.