7-zip is a free and open source file archiver, a utility used to place groups of files within compressed containers known as "archives". 7-zip uses its own 7z archive format, but can also read and write several other archive formats. The 7-zip program can be used from a command line interface, graphical user interface, or with a Window Explorer integration. Follow the link on this page to download the official version of 7-zip for free. It is available for Windows, Mac OS and Linux operation systems.

The main options of 7-zip

7-zip's main options:

  • decompress an archive;
  • extract an archive;
  • display help information;
  • list the contents of an archive;
  • test an archive;
  • update an existing archive;
  • verbose output - 7-zip will display progress information and diagnostic messages while working. 

How to download 7-zip

Click Download link on this page and get started. Once downloaded, 7-zip can be installed like any other software program. Follow the prompts during setup and accept the default options unless you know you need to change something. The 7-zip interface looks like many other file compression tools: there is a main window with a toolbar and various options for creating and extracting archives.

Conclusion

There are a number of reasons to download 7-zip, a free and open source file archiver. 7-zip offers high compression ratios, support for multiple formats and more. 7-zip is an ideal tool for backing up data or for sharing large files. 7-zip is frequently updated, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on the project's website for new releases.