File archiver with a high compression ratio and built-in encryption functionality.
Official website 7-zip.org
Our take
Almost everyone already has it for archives, and the built-in AES-256 encryption on a 7z file is a perfectly respectable way to lock up a folder before sending it. Just know its lane: this is convenient archive encryption, not full-disk security or a key-management system, and the password is the entire defense. A pragmatic pick for password-protecting a zip; reach for VeraCrypt or a dedicated tool when the stakes are higher.
GitHub at a glance
ip7z/7zip
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2mo ago
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Latest release
26.01
2mo ago
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7-Zip alternatives
VERNAM A free, fully client-side file encryptor that runs in your browser. Drop in any file, set or generate a passphrase, and it seals the result into its own .vrn format. Nothing is ever uploaded, and it works offline.
VeraCrypt It can create a virtual encrypted disk that works just like a regular disk but within a file. It can also encrypt a partition or the entire storage device with pre-boot…
Cryptomator Cryptomator encrypts your data quickly and easily. Afterwards you upload them protected to a cloud service.
PrivacyNotes Zero-knowledge notes, tasks, files, passwords and journal secured by a single 12-word recovery phrase, with no email or password required. The crypto core and database schema are published for audit. No subscription model.
GnuPG GnuPG (GNU Privacy Guard) is the free, GPL-licensed implementation of the OpenPGP standard. A command-line tool for Linux, macOS, and Windows, it encrypts and signs files and email, and manages public-key directories.
Gpg4win Gpg4win is the official Windows installer for GnuPG, bundling the Kleopatra certificate manager and GpgOL for Outlook integration. It provides OpenPGP and S/MIME encryption for files and email on Windows.