Forget WinRAR: These Are the Best Native Archive Managers for Linux

On Linux, you tin tally WinRAR done Wine, but mounting it up is challenging—especially for those switching from Windows who aren't utilized to the command-line interface. The bully news? Linux has plentifulness of autochthonal archive managers that are free, reliable, and amazingly casual to use.

Unlike Windows, wherever WinRAR and 7-Zip dominate, Linux offers a assortment of built-in compression tools. These programs are designed specifically for the Linux environment, meaning they integrate seamlessly with your system. No weird crashes, nary compatibility issues, and nary request to instal Wine conscionable to tally Windows software.

So, if you're acceptable to ditch WinRAR and clasp tools built for Linux, here's a rundown of the champion autochthonal archive managers you should try.

5 PeaZip

If there's 1 archive manager that genuinely goes supra and beyond, it's PeaZip. What makes PeaZip basal retired is its extended format support. It tin unfastened and extract files from implicit 200 formats, including ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, and its autochthonal PEA format—which stands for Pack, Encrypt, Authenticate, successful lawsuit you're curious. And it's not conscionable for Linux; it besides works connected Windows and macOS, which is useful if you power betwixt systems.

PeaZip lets you encrypt archives with AES-256, securely delete files truthful they can't beryllium recovered, and negociate saved passwords. It besides offers a built-in record manager, enabling you to browse wrong archives without extracting everything.

However, PeaZip isn't disposable successful the default repositories of astir large Linux distributions. You'll request to download the DEB oregon RPM packages specifically from the official PeaZip website. Alternatively, the easiest and astir cross-platform-friendly installation method is done Flathub.

First, acceptable up and instal Flatpak if it's not already installed. Then, instal PeaZip from Flathub with this:

flatpak instal flathub io.github.peazip.PeaZip

To motorboat it, either usage your exertion paper oregon run:

flatpak tally io.github.peazip.PeaZip

I personally emotion its clean, user-friendly interface, implicit with hunt and past tools for intuitive navigation. It besides features a flat-view mode for speedy entree wrong archives. On apical of that, PeaZip includes options for scheduling tasks, email integration, a duplicate record finder, and hash tools.

The lone downside is that it's not the lightest app retired there—especially compared to minimalist tools similar Xarchiver. But if you're aiming for a feature-rich solution nether 1 roof, PeaZip is hard to beat.

4 File Roller

If you've utilized a GNOME-based Linux desktop similar Ubuntu oregon Fedora, you're apt already acquainted with File Roller. It's the default instrumentality for handling compressed files successful astir GNOME environments. With File Roller, you tin simply right-click files successful the record manager and instantly compress oregon extract archives.

File Roller supports galore fashionable archive formats specified arsenic ZIP, TAR, GZ, and BZ2. If you brushwood a RAR oregon 7z file, you'll request to instal a tiny add-on similar unrar oregon p7zip. Behind the scenes, File Roller doesn't execute compression oregon extraction itself—it relies connected backend command-line tools similar tar oregon gzip. Its main relation is to supply a simple, user-friendly interface truthful you tin debar utilizing the terminal.

File Roller comes preinstalled connected assorted Linux distributions, but if it's not available, you tin easy instal it done your default bundle manager.

On Ubuntu oregon Debian:

sudo apt instal file-roller

On Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S file-roller

On Fedora oregon RHEL:

sudo dnf instal file-roller

To extract an RAR record utilizing File Roller, unfastened the application, navigate to your RAR file, right-click connected it, and prime Extract.

While File Roller is optimized for GNOME, it besides works connected different desktop environments. However, the idiosyncratic interface mightiness not consciousness arsenic seamlessly integrated extracurricular of GNOME.

3 Ark

Just arsenic File Roller is the autochthonal archive solution for GNOME users, Ark serves that relation for the KDE environment. Like File Roller, Ark acts arsenic a front-end that relies connected different installed tools to grip assorted archive formats. This modular plan means you tin widen Ark's functionality by installing further packages, specified arsenic p7zip for 7z files oregon unrar for RAR archives.

Creating archives with Ark is straightforward. The interface intelligibly presents options for choosing the archive format, compression level, and password protection, making the process user-friendly.

The easiest mode to instal Ark connected immoderate Linux organisation is done Snap oregon Flathub. For Snap, run:

sudo drawback instal ark

Or, to instal via Flathub:

flatpak instal flathub org.kde.ark

Then tally it with:

flatpak tally org.kde.ark

While Ark tin beryllium utilized connected desktop environments similar GNOME, Xfce, oregon others, it volition bring successful immoderate KDE dependencies and whitethorn not lucifer your system's taxable visually. Also, since Ark depends connected outer tools for compression and extraction, you'll request to guarantee those tools are installed to entree its afloat capabilities.

2 7-Zip (via p7zip)

7-Zip isn't conscionable for the Windows world—there's a mentation called p7zip that brings its almighty compression capabilities to Linux systems. However, it's chiefly a command-line tool, truthful it's not perfect for those who similar graphical interfaces.

That said, you don't request to debar p7zip conscionable due to the fact that it runs successful the terminal. Many fantabulous graphical archive managers connected Linux, similar PeaZip and File Roller, which we've already discussed, tin usage p7zip successful the background. This allows you to payment from its show without ever touching the bid line. Additionally, p7zip integrates with record managers similar Nautilus, Dolphin, and Thunar via plugins. This means you tin simply right-click files to compress oregon extract them, without opening a abstracted application.

However, if you inactive similar to usage the p7zip command-line tool, you'll archetypal request to instal it utilizing your distribution's bundle manager. For example, to instal p7zip connected Ubuntu oregon akin distributions, run:

sudo apt instal p7zip-full p7zip-rar

This volition instal afloat 7-Zip support, including the quality to grip RAR files if needed.

For Fedora, CentOS, RHEL (YUM/DNF-based systems) tally this:

sudo dnf instal p7zip p7zip-plugins

On Arch Linux, usage this:

sudo pacman -S p7zip

Once installed, you tin usage p7zip done the terminal oregon via your record manager's graphical interface. For example, to extract a 7Z record successful the terminal, tally this:

7z e file.7z

To compress files into a 7Z archive, usage this:

7z a OutputFile files_to_compress

For a ZIP archive, specify the .zip hold successful the output record name. You tin besides compress via the GUI by selecting Compress and choosing the 7Z format.

What makes 7-Zip peculiar connected immoderate level is its exceptional compression efficiency. When utilizing its autochthonal 7Z format, it often achieves higher compression ratios than formats similar ZIP oregon RAR. This results successful smaller record sizes, which is particularly utile erstwhile emailing ample attachments oregon conserving disk space.

1 Xarchiver

Xarchiver is simply a lightweight archive manager that's cleanable for older hardware oregon minimalist setups wherever each byte counts. It's the default archive instrumentality for Xfce and LXDE desktops, but it works conscionable arsenic good connected GNOME, KDE, oregon virtually immoderate different Linux desktop environment.

Despite its tiny size, Xarchiver doesn't compromise connected functionality. It supports each large archive formats, including ZIP, TAR, RAR, and more. You tin besides usage different formats similar RAR and 7z, depending connected having the due backend tools (such arsenic unrar oregon p7zip) installed connected your system.

You tin instal Xarchiver with the default bundle manager similar connected Ubuntu, run:

sudo apt instal xarchiver

For Fedora oregon CentOS, tally this:

sudo yum -y instal xarchiver

On Arch Linux, use:

sudo pacman -S xarchiver

The programme includes each the basal features you'd expect: creating archives, extracting files, adding files to existing archives, and password extortion for supported formats.

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Ultimately, the champion instrumentality for you depends connected your circumstantial needs, the desktop situation you use, and your idiosyncratic preferences. Try retired 1 oregon 2 and spot which 1 fits your workflow best—it's each astir uncovering what feels close for you.