Comparison

WinZip vs Archive Utility

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

WinZip

This app is a powerful file manager for creating, extracting, and sharing compressed files. It supports various formats and integrates with cloud storage services for easy file management and secure sharing.

Highlights
  • Create and extract Zip and Zipx files
  • Open Zip, Zipx, 7z, RAR, and LHA files
  • Encrypt files with AES encryption
  • Share files via email and social media
  • Integrate with Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud
  • View common document and image file types
Features
Read full description

Get the world’s #1 zip file opener utility on iOS! Create Zip and Zipx files, extract files, encrypt, open Zip, Zipx, 7z, RAR or LHA files, send large files by email, share to Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud, Twitter or Facebook. The reviews are unanimous! “Trying to open zip files a zip file on your mobile phone? Good luck -- unless you happen to have this handy tool installed. It launches directly from your inbox to give you a look inside those pesky file packages. “ - Mashable CNET (download.com) gives WinZip for iOS a 5 star rating, saying "We love apps that are simple and straightforward to use. WinZip definitely fits that description. We recommend it for all users." If you frequently use your iOS device to send and receive documents and large image files, you'll find a friend in the new WinZip app for iPhones and iPads, according to CIO.com blogger James A. Martin. From AppPicker: "Why not sink a few dollars into this fantastic full version of WinZip for your iPhone and iPad!" WinZip makes it easy to handle major compressed types of files on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch! Whether you receive a Zip, Zipx, 7z, RAR or LHA file as an email attachment, or want to extract download and view the contents of a Zip, Zipx, 7z, RAR or LHA file from the web, just “Open with WinZip”. Sharing files is safe and simple too, with direct integration with Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and iCloud, and support for AirDrop. Now you can: • Connect directly to your Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and iCloud accounts to zip, unzip and share files • Zip your cloud storage files, unzip files to your accounts, and create and save .zip and .zipx files to your accounts • Send or copy links to your files in your cloud storage accounts • Copy files from your cloud storage accounts and save them on your device • Unzip major compressed file types, including .ZIP, .Zipx, .RAR, .7z and LHA with just a tap • Choose Zip or Zipx format to compress and email large files, photos and videos with ease • Zip and share photos and videos from your Camera Roll • Use WinZip to access music files on your device and save them to your cloud accounts • Send files to other iOS users with integrated support for AirDrop • Protect your files before you save and share with powerful 128- or 256-bit AES encryption • Open and save email attachments to your connected cloud storage accounts or My Documents folder on your iPhone or iPad • Easily view all images in a Zip file with the enhanced image viewer • Browse your Photo Album and easily multi-select, zip and share photo collections • Share photos in your zip files to Facebook and Twitter • Download or upload files from/to WinZip through iTunes/iTools • Unzip and view most common file types, including: .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .pages (including new iWork 13), .numbers (including new iWork 13), .key, .rtf, .pdf, .jpg, .png, .bmp, .gif, .tif, and more View any of the following types of files within your Zip or RAR file: • Word documents (.doc, .docx) • Excel spreadsheets (.xls, .xlsx) • PowerPoint presentations (.ppt, .pptx) • PDF files (.pdf) • Photos and images (.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .gif, .tif, .tiff, .heic) • Text files (.txt, .ini, .inf, .bat, .js, .log, .xml, .css, .java, .cs, .h, .m, .cpp, .c, .sql) • Web documents (.htm, .html, .jsp, .asp) • Rich Text Format documents (.rtf) • Keynote presentations (.key) • Numbers spreadsheets (.numbers) • Pages documents (.pages) • Media files (.m4a, .mp3, .wav, .mp4, .mov) Would you like to translate WinZip from English into your native language? Please contact help(at)winzip.com using the subject line "Translate WinZip into XXX", replacing XXX with your native language. In recognition of your efforts, your name will be included in the application description.

About

Archive Utility

This utility app allows users to create ZIP files and decompress a wide variety of archive formats on their iPhone and iPad. It features a document browser for easy file management, including cloud storage integration and drag-and-drop functionality.

Highlights
  • Create ZIP files
  • Decompress multiple archive formats
  • Document browser view
  • Cloud storage integration
  • File management (move, delete, rename)
  • Drag and drop functionality
Features
Read full description

“Archive Utility” is a small and intuitive application to create .zip file and decompress many different kinds of archive files on iPhone and iPad. It supports to unarchive or expand common formats like Zip, RAR, 7-zip, CAB, Tar, Gzip and Bzip2, as well as older formats like StuffIt, Cpio, LZH, ARJ, ARC, DiskDoubler and LBR. It can also expand unusual formats like ISO, BIN, MDF, NRG and CDI, Windows self-extracting EXE files, and can even extract media from Flash SWF files and images from PDF files. Many more archive formats are supported, tap Developer Website to visit product page for the complete list. Your long time wait for computer like compress-uncompress tool on iPhone and iPad is over with "Archive Utility". It integrates Archive and Expand features with Document Browser View to make easy-to-use yet powerful Archive Utility. * How to create a ZIP file? - Use powerful Browser view to select file(s) and folder(s) you want to compress and tap Archive button to create ZIP file beside original items. * How to expand/unarchive/uncompress/extract an archive file? - Navigate to archive file you want to uncompress in Browser view and tap on it to expand. Decompressed file or folder saved in the same folder as the original archive file. - Use "Copy to Archive Utility" to open archive file received as email attachment, downloaded from the the web or contained in another app. You can even add files in the app's Documents folder from your computer through iTunes file sharing. - It lets you preview files and archives that iOS can support. DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT - "Archive Utility" built upon Document Browser view which allows to access files no matter where they’re located — on your device or in the cloud with Archive Utility. Handles access to iCloud Drive and third-party cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Box within the app. - Browse view to navigate folders, organise your files with tags, move files between folders, search and sort. - Share files using the Share button or a drag-and-drop action. - You can move, delete, duplicate and rename a document and folder. - Drag and drop to select files and organise them into folders. - Inherit tagged and favourite items from Files app and allow to create and change within the app. Note: “Archive Utility” is standalone application running natively to archive files and expand archives securely right on your iOS device. You can refer User Manual for any assistance Or Contact Support.

Screenshots

WinZip4 screens
Archive Utility4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: WinZip at Free against Archive Utility's $2.99. WinZip also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 45 months) and rating (4.3 vs 3.9). Archive Utility's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

WinZip is free to download; Archive Utility costs $2.99 up front. WinZip sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Archive Utility asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WinZip holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WinZip has 2.4K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of WinZip's written reviews are positive against 0% of Archive Utility's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WinZip ships an update every 3 months, Archive Utility every 45 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
WinZip versus Archive Utility: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWinZipArchive Utility
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.3 (2.4K ratings) — better3.9 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews20.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2.4K — better8
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 45 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWinZip Computing LLCRootRise Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Customer experience

WinZip

All ratings2,351 ratings
Positive82.3%
Neutral3.6%
Negative14.1%
Written reviews301 reviews
Positive20.3%
Neutral5.0%
Negative74.8%

Archive Utility

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

WinZip

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when trying to open files
  • Unable to unzip files
  • Freezes when accessing certain features
  • Corrupts files during extraction

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow zipping of entire folders
  • Improve integration with cloud storage
  • Add more compression formats support
  • Simplify user interface

Archive Utility

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

WinZip

Subscriptions1
  • WinZip iOS Pro3 Days trial$9.991 Year
None

Archive Utility

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WinZip free?
WinZip is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Archive Utility free?
Archive Utility costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, WinZip or Archive Utility?
WinZip is rated higher. WinZip averages 4.3 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while Archive Utility averages 3.9 from 8 ratings.
Do WinZip or Archive Utility have ads?
Neither WinZip nor Archive Utility shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WinZip or Archive Utility?
WinZip ships an update every 3 months, and Archive Utility every 45 months. Most recently, WinZip was updated on September 23, 2026 and Archive Utility on September 20, 2026.

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