If you have ever downloaded and transferred files, you have probably come across the most popular and frequently used file formats for archiving compressed data – RAR and ZIP files. Both are compression algorithms that effectively compress your files to reduce their size without affecting their content.
In this article, we will outline the difference between ZIP and RAR files and whether one is better than the other.
Top 5 Differences between RAR and ZIP
- Availability
ZIP has been around much longer than RAR. Therefore, it is not surprising that the ZIP archive format is supported by many operating systems: Windows, Mac OS X, Dos, Linux, to name a few. This is the main feature of the format – it can be unpacked, by default, on all operating systems.
ZIP is also recognized or improved by many other programs, such as 7-Zip (free program) and WinZip (shareware). When you need an archive format that is available everywhere, ZIP is an obvious choice.
- Licensing
RAR file format is a proprietary format. A third-party software program, WinRAR is required to open and extract RAR archive content.
On the other hand, ZIP is a format that supports a variety of commercial tools, open-source tools, and libraries. You can use ZIP to compress and decompress files, and there is no need to worry about Licensing.
- Compression Speed
Another difference between ZIP and RAR formats is the speed of compressing files in the archive. Although both RAR and ZIP use the super-fast compression algorithm to compress and decompress content, they slightly differ in terms of speed and efficiency.
ZIP compression is based on Deflate lossless compression algorithm. It is fast to achieve ZIP compression and decompression, whether you use software such as WinZip or the native ZIP support for Windows.
RAR compression with WinRAR, on the other hand, is way faster. The RAR format can compress a file much better than the ZIP format. RAR archives also have smaller sizes compared to ZIP archives, making RAR a slightly better alternative.
Of course, your mileage will vary depending on the archiving application you use, the hardware where you run the archiver, and the type of files you need to compress.
- Compression Ratio
While it is hard to beat the accessibility of ZIP, the compression ratio of RAR is far better. Using WinRAR offers the best efficiency ratio of compression size to compression time: An incredible level of compression overall.
Despite the need for additional software, RAR can compress files much better than ZIP, but keep in mind that the more compressed the archive, the longer it will take to compress.
- Security
Another difference between RAR and ZIP is the ability to password protect the archive. RAR files require WinRAR to compress file contents, which also has password encryption settings. The default support for Windows and Macintosh does not have a password protection feature. Instead, third-party programs (like 7-Zip or WinZip) are required.
How secure password protection is in a ZIP or RAR file depends in part on the program used to protect it. WinRAR and 7-Zip, for example, use AES-256 encryption to keep your data safe. A lot of security also comes down to password quality. ZIP or RAR with AES-256 encryption and a unique password will surely be safely archived.
Conclusion
RAR certainly has an advantage over ZIP in the terms of compression rate, lower data loss rate, better encryption, and speed. It also has error recovery capabilities and supports file spanning. Although a proprietary format, RAR is a popular choice.
In terms of availability and usability, ZIP wins over RAR. ZIP has been around for a long time, making it even more popular than RAR. The fact is, most archives on the Web are ZIP archives. If you have to send an archive to somebody, but you are unsure which file compressor app the person has, it might be wise to use the ZIP format.
To convert any file you have stored online and compress it, use the ZIP converter tool from Compress2Go.com. There is no need to download the file to the desktop first.
FAQs
To zip (compress) a file or folder
- Locate the file or folder that you want to zip.
- Press and hold (or right-click) the file or folder, select (or point to) Send to, and then select Compressed (zipped) folder. A new zipped folder with the same name is created in the same location.
Compress 200 mb JPG to 20 mb winrar in no time
- Visit the DocHub site and start your registration by clicking Sign up.
- Provide your account specifics. ...
- Submit the details to finish your registration. ...
- Make all the modifications required in the document.
- Finish editing and save the file.
There are a few simple things you can do to help keep file sizes down:
- Use low resolution versions of your images where possible.
- Compress images within Word or PowerPoint documents.
- Use Save As…
- Save as PDF (as a last resort)
A compressed file is a type of computer file that has been reduced in size by a compression algorithm. The compression algorithm typically removes redundant information and rearranges the data so that it takes up less storage space.
How do I manually reduce file size? ›
Navigate to File, then click Reduce file size. You'll be prompted to choose the folder where you want to save your compressed document. Double click the folder to save it. These methods are quick and simple, but be warned that it will reduce the quality of images and will remove digital signatures.
How to make a PDF file smaller? ›
Reduce File Size of PDF File in Acrobat Pro
- With Acrobat Pro open, go to File > Open.
- After your file is open, Go to File > Save as Other > Reduced Size PDF....
- Select the Acrobat version that is compatible with the features in your PDF file. ...
- Re-name your file and Click Save.
Free Online File Compressor
- Compress Documents. Compress PDF. A powerful PDF compressor that reduces the file size of your PDF file. ...
- Compress Images. Compress image. ...
- Compress Videos. Compress video. ...
- ZIP Files. Create archive files.
Use an online file sharing service and send a link to download the file to your recipient. Split the file into multiple parts to share and the recipient can reconstitute the parts into a single file. A good example of this is the RAR format, of which there are a number of great (free) solutions such as 7-Zip.
How do I convert higher MB to lower MB? ›
To reduce the image size in KB or MB online, first upload it to ResizePixel's website. Enter a desired file size and select the corresponding unit of measurement (KB or MB). Then proceed to Download page to get the image file.
How do I fix a file that is too big? ›
Compress your file/s to a . zip type to make them smaller. You will find multiple compression tools online, like 7-Zip or WinRAR. If this is a video recording, you could record it in lower quality, which can often significantly reduce the file size.
1. Use a cloud storage service. The easiest way to bypass the size limit is to attach a link to the file uploaded to a cloud storage. Cloud storage allows you to store your files on remote servers that you can access through the internet.
How do I compress a large number of files? ›
How to zip a file or folder
- Go to your Explorer and select one or several files that you want to compress.
- Right-click on your selected file(s) to open the context menu.
- Click on Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder.
- A ZIP folder with the same name as your file will appear in the same location.
You can use the following steps to compress files using the maximum compression rate.
- Right-click the folder or file you want to compress.
- Click Add to archive.
- Ensure "RAR" is selected below "Archive Format."
- Select "Best" below "Compression Method."
- Select "128 MB" below "Directory Size."
A compressed file also requires less time for transfer while consuming less network bandwidth. This can also help with costs, and also increases productivity. The main disadvantage of data compression is the increased use of computing resources to apply compression to the relevant data.
Can you zip a file to make it smaller? ›
You can compress, or zip, the file in Windows, which shrinks the size of the file but retains the original quality of your presentation.
What is the best compression method to reduce file size? ›
What is the overall best compression format? It depends on user's need, with compression ratio being only one factor of the equation. ZPAQ and ARC are the best compressors, but 7Z and RAR formats has a clear advantage in terms of decompression speed, faster than for any other tested format.
How do I reduce the size of a document? ›
Go to File > Options > Save. Under Preserve fidelity when saving this document, do either of the following: Make sure that Embed fonts in the file is not selected. If you do embed fonts, select Embed only the characters used in the document (best for reducing file size) and Do not embed common system fonts.
