WinRAR - Free Download (2026)

Name: WinRAR
Availability: InStock
Author: win.rar GmbH

WinRAR - Archive Manager

WinRAR is an archive manager for Windows that compresses and extracts files. It handles RAR, ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZ, ISO, CAB, and a dozen other formats. The program has been around since 1995, made by Alexander Roshal (RARLAB). It is shareware - you get a 40-day trial, after which it keeps working but shows a "please buy" popup every time you open it.

The installer is about 4 MB. Current stable version is 7.10. Windows only, 32-bit and 64-bit.

What it does

Right-click any archive and you get "Extract here" or "Extract to folder." Works the other way too - select files, right-click, "Add to archive." You pick between RAR format (better compression, repair records, encryption) or ZIP (everyone can open it). Compression methods range from Store (no compression, fast) to Best (smallest file, slowest).

AES-256 encryption lets you password-protect archives. There is an option to encrypt file names too, so nobody can even see what is inside without the password. You can split large archives into parts for USB sticks or upload limits - set "Split to volumes" to something like 700 MB or 2 GB and WinRAR creates numbered parts.

Self-extracting archives (SFX) create .exe files that unpack themselves without needing WinRAR installed on the other end. Repair records let you recover damaged archives if a few bytes got corrupted during transfer. WinRAR also opens ISO files, which is handy when you just need to pull a file out of a disc image without mounting it.

Advantages

Opens almost every archive format (RAR, ZIP, 7z, TAR, ISO, CAB, and more)
AES-256 encryption with file name hiding
Split archives into parts of any size
Self-extracting archives for recipients without WinRAR
Repair records to recover damaged archives
Small installer (~4 MB), fast

Drawbacks

Not free - shareware with a nag popup after 40 days
Windows only (no Mac or Linux version)
7-Zip is free and handles most of the same formats
RAR format is proprietary - only WinRAR creates RAR files

Editor's take

WinRAR is one of those programs that everybody has used and almost nobody has paid for. The nag popup is easy to dismiss and the program never stops working, which is either generous or a strange business model depending on how you look at it. It does what it says - compression, extraction, encryption - and does it fast.

The honest question is whether you need it when 7-Zip exists and is completely free. If you regularly deal with RAR files or need self-extracting archives and repair records, WinRAR is the better tool. For everything else, 7-Zip works fine.

Who it is for

WinRAR is for anyone who works with compressed files on Windows. It is especially useful if you receive RAR archives regularly, need password-protected archives with AES encryption, or want to split large files into parts. If you only need basic ZIP extraction, Windows can do that natively, and 7-Zip covers the rest for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WinRAR free?

WinRAR is shareware. You get a 40-day free trial, after which the program keeps working but shows a popup asking you to buy a license. The license costs around $30 for personal use.

What file formats can WinRAR open?

WinRAR can extract RAR, ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZ, BZ2, ISO, CAB, ARJ, LZH, UUE, and several other formats. It can create archives in RAR and ZIP formats.

How do I password-protect an archive?

Right-click your files, select Add to archive, go to the Advanced tab, and click Set password. Enter your password and optionally check Encrypt file names for extra security. WinRAR uses AES-256 encryption.

What is the difference between WinRAR and 7-Zip?

WinRAR is shareware and creates RAR archives with repair records and self-extracting EXE files. 7-Zip is completely free and open source, uses its own 7z format, but cannot create RAR files. Both extract the same formats.

Can WinRAR open ISO files?

Yes. Right-click an ISO file and open it with WinRAR to browse and extract its contents without mounting the disc image.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Archive extraction (ZIP, RAR, 7z)	Right-click on archive › Extract here. Or open WinRAR › Drag files. Supports: RAR, ZIP, 7z, TAR, GZ, ISO, CAB, ARJ, LZH, BZIP2.
2	File compression / packing	Select files › Right-click › Add to archive. Choose format (RAR or ZIP) and compression method (Best/Normal/Fast).
3	Archive password encryption	Add to archive › Advanced tab › Set password. AES-256 bit. The "Encrypt file names" option hides the archive contents.
4	Photo / document compression for email	Select files › Right-click › Add to archive › ZIP format (for compatibility) › Send.
5	Password-protected file extraction	Right-click › Extract here › Enter the password when prompted.
6	Windows context menu integration	Installer adds it automatically. Settings › Integration › Check context menu options.
7	Opening ISO files	Right-click on an .iso file › Open with WinRAR. Unpacks the disc image contents.
8	Archive contents browsing without unpacking	Double-click on an archive to open it in WinRAR. You can browse files and open individual ones without extracting everything.
9	Archive splitting into parts 3	Add to archive › "Split to volumes" field › Enter size (e.g. 700M, 4G). Creates files .part1.rar, .part2.rar, etc.
10	Corrupted archive repair	Open archive › Tools › Repair archive. Or add a recovery record when creating the archive (General tab › Add recovery record).
11	Archive integrity testing 3	Open archive › Tools › Test archive. Checks whether files are not corrupted.
12	Self-extracting SFX archive creation	Add to archive › Check "Create SFX archive". Creates an .exe file that extracts itself without WinRAR.
13	Scheduled data backup	Tools › Create report. Or use WinRAR from the command line in Task Scheduler for automated backups.
14	Archive file exclusion	Add to archive › Files tab › "Files to exclude" field (e.g. *.tmp, thumbs.db).
15	Compression with commentary	Add to archive › Comment tab › Enter archive description. Displayed when opening the archive.