compression - Compressing with RAR vs ZIP

A lot of people are compressing files with RAR, sending compressed files with RAR and so on.

ZIP is more standard and works on all platforms. Windows users have ZIP included and Linux users have no trouble with that file format.

The tests I did sometime ago showed me that RAR compress better (some kilobytes, no more) but not enough to use a non-free program when ZIP works on almost all computers for free.

Why do some people use RAR rather than ZIP for compressing?

Answer

Stop using these WinRAR and WinZip tools -- shift to 7-Zip.

• It's free


• available across platforms, as command-line and GUI


• available in portable form across platforms


• has good compression ratio (check the site or try for yourself)


• has no pop-up pain


• allows you to use most of the other formats


• it is also open-source


• can be used in commercial and personal development (within GNU LGPL constraints)


• live support forum at Sourceforge


• Vista 32-bit compatibility


• multiple languages supported

The only compression format I find not supported for extraction is ACE.

References.

• Ubuntu Forums: so what's the deal with rar, comparison posted Mar 25, 2007


• Vista 64-bit performance test reference, Nov 1, 2007


• PowerArchiver discussion: gets difficult to charge you for 7-Zip, Jul 24, 2008


• 7-Zip: The Digital Equivalent of a Sledgehammer and Crowbar, Jan 13, 2009


• Ubuntu Karmic proposal with justifications: include p7zip-full in ubuntu-restricted-extras metapackage, May 21, 2009


• Gizmos freeware comparison: Best Free File Archiver/Zip Utility, Jun 27, 2009


• Look at how they compare here at Superuser:
  “Must Have” Windows Software & “Must-Have” Open Source software

---

_{I am told that my opening sentence to this answer feels 'markety'.}

_{I take it with all the good intention, because
without being paid for this free software or
being in any way associated with it or, the people making it,
I strongly feel the desire to push it to everyone I remotely know.}

_{This comes from my innumerable encounters over the years with
people using these other tools and muttering about incompatibilities,
annoying pop-ups and many other problems, yet, somehow
continuing to miss 7-Zip when it arrived on the scene.}

_{I have since decided to take every opportunity to publicize 7-Zip.}