WinZip is an alternative to basic RAR or Zip programs with all of the functions other programs lack. While the functionality of RAR or Zip might be enough for simple use, the limitations of these file formats might leave some users looking for more. Users will have to buy and download WinRAR or search for a free alternative in order to make use of the RAR compressed file format.

RAR is the proprietary format of the program WinRAR, which is not free. Windows computers do not have the built in ability to extract RAR files. RAR files differ from other computer files because they need special software to extract the contents for viewing and use. RAR files can be password protected and encrypted to shield their contents. Beyond simple compression, RARs are also useful for file protection. Instead of individually downloading each file, users simply download one compressed RAR file with all of the other files included within it. They are often used to share computer software or large groups of files that would involve many downloads. Short for Roshal Archive Compressed file, RARs are similar to regular computer files used for storage and organization. Below, we'll outline the differences between RAR vs Zip compression, as well as some of the reasons why you may want to look for an alternative to help organize and make use of compressed files. There are two major types of compressed files: RAR and Zip.

Large files can take up a huge amount of space, have long upload or download times, and can even be limited from attaching to emails.Ĭompressed files are the solution to fixing the issues that sharing large files can create. When transferring folders or files, especially over the internet, it can be useful and even necessary in some cases to reduce the overall size of the group of files.

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