WinRAR
Archiving utility for compressing, extracting, and encrypting RAR and ZIP files.
win-rar.com — this link takes you to the developer's own website.
- Version
- 7.23.0
- License
- Trial
- Platforms
- Windows
- Publisher
- win.rar GmbH
WinRAR is a desktop archiving tool for Windows that compresses files into RAR or ZIP archives and extracts a wide range of other archive formats. It runs on Windows 10 and 11, ships in more than 40 languages, and integrates into the Windows shell so archives can be created or unpacked from the right-click context menu.
Beyond basic compression, it supports AES-256 encryption with password protection, splitting large archives into multiple volumes for easier transfer, building self-extracting executables, and repairing damaged or incomplete archive files.
WinRAR is closed-source and not free software. It can be used without charge for a 40-day trial period; after that, continued use requires purchasing a perpetual license from the official shop. The base license never expires, but an optional annual Support and Maintenance package is sold separately for access to new version upgrades.
Because of this it suits users who want a full-featured, long-established archiver and are willing to pay after the trial. Users who need an entirely free tool for the same task have open-source alternatives such as 7-Zip to consider instead.