PeaZip is a free archive management tool built with cutting-edge technologies from 7-Zip, Brotli, FreeArc and PAQ open source file compression/archiving projects. It provides a centralized interface for most common archive formats with features like creating multiple archives at once, splitting files or searching duplicates etc.
Compressing and Decompressing Files
PeaZip is an archiver and file management software with an impressive range of features and options, supporting an extremely broad list of archive formats as well as decompressing those created by other programs or utilities.
PeaZip features a user-friendly interface and provides multiple ways to create or extract files from archives. When creating a new archive, PeaZip asks about which type of files will be included as well as desired compression method settings and destination folder. PeaZip then remembers these settings automatically whenever creating similar archives in future.
When extracting files, you have two options for destination paths or allow the utility to open it automatically when complete: you can choose either to set your own or have it open with your system’s default file explorer. Furthermore, this tool provides options for quickly non-recoverable deletion of output directory files when no longer required; either secure deletion formats are offered as quick non-recoverable alternatives.
If you want to protect an archive, using both a password and keyfile are effective ways of doing so. Together they ensure that only authorized users can open it; additionally, software allows you to back up/restore archives as well as scan for errors/viruses.
Other advanced features include the capability of performing a side-by-side comparison between archives, with results displayed clearly in an easy-to-understand chart. You can also use this program to convert existing archives or split up one into several.
This freeware program is built upon the robust open source 7-Zip technology, yet provides users with additional features to provide a comprehensive archiving solution with an attractive and intuitive user interface.
PeaZip is an open source widgetset application available for Microsoft Windows (all versions, including 64 bit), Linux x86 and BSD systems. It includes precompiled binaries for GTK2* and Qt** that work under KDE/Gnome desktop environments as well as other Linux systems or applications supporting these libraries.
Organizing Files and Folders
PeaZip supports multiple archive formats and boasts an innovative security approach with an extensive toolkit designed to protect user files – including encryption and optional identity check elements. Furthermore, PeaZip features fast, intuitive archive creation using function buttons or traditional file browser tools; users may set their desired folder location, name and structure preferences as defaults.
This software also enables the creation of PEA archives with key files, providing advanced protection measures against recovery software using regular passwords to gain entry. This provides valuable protection when working with sensitive files and information.
Other useful functions include multithreaded on the fly image thumbnail generation, system benchmarking, archive conversion, bytewise file comparison, secure file deletion, batch renaming and finding duplicate files; plus system monitoring capabilities. It can automatically schedule extracting/archiving operations at scheduled intervals as well as export the command line scripts for use with any text editor.
PeaZip makes creating archives easy by simply selecting files or folders to add, as well as selecting format and options. After your archive has been made, it can be opened and browsed through either its main window or menu bar; PeaZip even supports drag and drop and can integrate itself with Windows’ system context menu for convenient browsing!
PeaZip opens a dialog with detailed information regarding archived data and its status, in addition to providing quick online tutorials and an extensive FAQ page from within its application.
PeaZip for Linux and BSD can be obtained as either an installable package, or as a natively portable app that doesn’t require installation and can be run directly on removable drives or over network without modifying local systems. Desktop environments with custom user interface themes are supported; system context menu entries may be temporarily hidden if desired.
Extracting and Decompressing Files
PeaZip supports extracting files and folders from an extensive array of archive formats. It can decompress archives without additional software (except in certain rare instances), create password protected archives using AES encryption, create basic image editors such as rotating, cropping or fitting images to custom resolutions as well as fast drag & drop support with fast renaming capability for compressed files.
PeaZip is available as native portable freeware for Linux, BSD, macOS and Microsoft Windows on its official download page. The portable version does not require installation/uninstallation and can be run from removable media such as flash drives. Furthermore, PeaZip can run in both desktop environments as well as command line interfaces.
The program’s interface is user-friendly. Most functions can be accessed from context menus while others are accessible from the main window and toolbar. Furthermore, the app remembers last data compression levels, archive formats, settings preferences or any other options so the user no longer needs to repeat these each time the app is started up.
Saved Task Definition Scripts It is possible to save task definitions as scripts from either the console tab in archive/conversion and extraction interfaces or using saved script button (main Menu > Tools Saved task definition scripts points towards default directory of saved task definition scripts) so advanced users can utilize predefined PeaZip scripts for automating common tasks.
PeaZip goes beyond basic file management functions to offer more sophisticated and advanced ones such as file compare/synchronization, system benchmark, secure delete and diagnostic/testing functions.
This application can be added to the Windows context menu as well as “SendTo” menu, performing file association through Windows’ Compressed Folders utility and uninstalling will remove these associations; they can however be re-associated by using either its original installer package or manually after uninstallation of this program. Furthermore, an error log is generated and available within its GUI user interface for viewing and troubleshooting purposes.
Erase Files
When an archive is created, its contents are encrypted using a sophisticated system which makes it almost impossible for even experienced hackers to break open. This feature is extremely beneficial when keeping files private and secure; in particular when sending via email or uploading them online as it prevents other people from viewing and potentially downloading malware from within your archive.
PeaZip requires a password in order to open an archive, providing additional protection against unauthorized access and accidental deletion of archives. Furthermore, Write Zero or Random Data data sanitization methods can also be used securely erase files and folders; additionally encrypted archives created with PeaZip require keyfile and password in order to extract their contents – proving particularly helpful when dealing with sensitive documents, images and audio files.
Once launched, PeaZip displays its main window which lists supported actions and formats along with short descriptions as well as two menus – File and Options. File allows you to select an action while Options allows accessing its preferences dialog.
PeaZip makes the archiving and extraction process more efficient by enabling you to create and save an archive layout, consisting of an ordered list of objects scheduled to be archived or extracted; then merges and handles these objects automatically; this dramatically cuts archiving/extracting time compared to similar programs.
PeaZip can check downloaded archives for malware automatically if their format supports it, and is enabled by default; or manually for specific archives. PeaZip uses advanced error detection functions based on low level primitives rather than operating system’s high level file browsing API that usually prioritizes speed over accuracy.
PeaZip, as a frontend program, queries all mounted units upon startup and this can cause performance issues if running across a slow network or running on an incompatible machine. Furthermore, depending on disk activity this could also hinder backend programs used for file archiving and extraction processes.
