The RAR format is a popular proprietary file type for data compression. While you probably work with RAR files on macOS and Windows more often than your phone, sometimes you need tools for when you’re on-the-go.
Check out the best RAR file extractors for Android below.
Why Use a RAR File Extractor for Android?
While you probably don’t prefer to work on your phone or tablet, you might use it to manage files in a pinch. Since RAR is a common format, you’ll likely need to extract RAR filesHow to Extract Files From ZIP, RAR, 7z and Other Common ArchivesHow to Extract Files From ZIP, RAR, 7z and Other Common ArchivesWere you ever faced with a .rar file and wondered how to open it? Fortunately, managing ZIP files and other compressed archives is simple with the right tools. Here is what you need to know.Read More on your Android, or wish to compress files into a RAR container.
These apps are useful for both extracting and compressing files. Often when traveling, I use my Samsung Galaxy Note tablet as a laptop. Having a RAR opener on my device proves incredibly useful.
6+ Best Rar Extractor Free Download for Windows, Mac. Downloadcloud.com WinZip is the extractor that can compress files into zip files and unzip the compressed zip files. The software is basically designed for iOS but works on other platforms like Windows, Mac, and Android as well.
The Best RAR File Extractor for Android
There are loads of RAR apps you can download on Android. Most options are free, though only a handful are completely free. Often, RAR extractors for Android operate on a freemium modelWhy You'll Never Stop Seeing Ads & IAPs in Mobile AppsWhy You'll Never Stop Seeing Ads & IAPs in Mobile AppsAdvertisements and in-app purchases in mobile apps and games can be really annoying. Unfortunately, they won't be going away any time soon. Here's why.Read More with paid upgrades adding premium features and removing ads.
For determining the best, I focused on a mix of features as well as the number of ads. If you’re like me, perhaps you’re fine with substantial ads so long as an app is packed with features. Yet ads can be pretty annoying, so our criteria for the best balances robust capabilities with the fewest ads.
Let’s start with the top choice for RAR file management.
1. ZArchiver
ZArchiver is completely free, a rarity among Android RAR openers. Its decluttered interface is easy on the eyes and ad-free. With ZArchiver, you can create archives including 7z, ZIP, XZ, and GZ. For extraction, it’s able to decompress everything from RAR and 7Zip to DEB and ISO files. Plus, you can view archive contents without actually extracting them, and even edit the contents of archives by adding or removing files.
Moreover, ZArchiver doubles as a solid file manager. This makes it a multi-functional app worthy of your precious storage space. Delivering excellent features and remaining free of advertisements, ZArchiver is the best Android RAR opener you can download.
Download: ZArchiver from Google Play | Standalone APK from APKMirror (Free)
Android RAR File Extractors: Runner-Ups
ZARchiver handily wins as the best RAR file extractor for Android. But it’s far from the only option. A quick search for these apps on Google Play yields loads of results.
These are the best alternatives to ZArchiver for Android.
2. RAR
From RARLAB, the developers of WinRAR, comes the aptly named RAR for Android. With RAR, you can create both ZIP and RAR files. Additionally, this free RAR file extractor can decompress TAR, XZ, ISO, ARJ, and 7z files. You can also unzip niche formats like ZIPX, PPMd, and LZMA. Onboard, you’ll find utilities for volume recovery and encryption.
With its simplicity balanced by robust features, RAR is a top choice as an Android RAR program. RAR works well with multi-part RAR files and encrypted archives. Though free to use, RAR for Android includes ads which are at times a bit bothersome. You can remove these via optional in-app upgrades, however.
Download: RAR from Google Play | Standalone APK from APKMirror (Free)
3. WinZIP
WinZIP for Android includes an interface that’s clean with minimal ads. Along with standard features for archive extraction and creation, it provides integration with cloud services such as Dropbox and Google Drive. This makes it easy to manage files even if they’re not stored on your device.
I like the modern user interface and cloud integration. WinZIP handled any RAR and ZIP files I threw at it with ease. Though file compatibility isn’t as beefy as ZArchiver, cloud integration and a pretty look make WinZIP a worthy consideration.
Download: WinZIP from Google Play | Standalone APK from APKMirror (Free)
4. B1 Archiver
B1 Archiver sports compatibility with a total of 37 file formats including B1, ZIP, and RAR. Thus, B1 Archiver can handle virtually any format you throw at it.
Aside from its file compatibility, B1 Archiver handles multi-part RAR files with ease. For encryption, B1 can extract password-protected zipped files. There’s even an option for extracting specific files for partial archive extraction. That’s handy for retrieving certain items from an archive instead of the entire contents.
Navigation is simple, and the interface is intuitive. It could be the best RAR extractor for Android, but its plentiful (and sizable) ads keep it from the top spot. A paid upgrade does remove those ads, though.
Download: B1 Archiver from Google Play | Standalone APK from APK4Fun (Free)
5. ES File Explorer
While dedicated Android RAR extractors work fine, many Android file managers also tout decompression capabilities. Of these, ES File Explorer is one of the most popular. It’s one of the best file managers for AndroidES File Explorer: Is It the Best File Manager for Android?ES File Explorer: Is It the Best File Manager for Android?Is EF File Explorer the best option for viewing and managing the files on your Android device?Read More, and my go-to manager on my phone, tablet, and even Nvidia Shield TV Android TV box.
With ES File Explorer, you can preview what’s inside your RAR and ZIP files, as well as extract them. It might lack the file compatibility of B1 Archiver, but ES File Explorer is arguably the most utilitarian app here considering its capabilities beyond RAR extraction. It’s also one of the few file managers with networked drive support.
Rar Extractor For Mac Cnet
It’s compatible with everything from FTP to Samba shares and more, making it a go-to file manager. You’ll just have to put up with ads or upgrade to the pro version to remove them.
Download: ES File Explorer from Google Play | Standalone APK from APKMirror (Free)
Don’t Bother With Paid RAR Apps
Generally, almost any RAR for Android extractor will work. However, we don’t recommend using paid apps like RAR Sharp Pro. There’s no reason to shell out money for this taskSave Your Money: 9 Apps You Shouldn't Pay ForSave Your Money: 9 Apps You Shouldn't Pay ForSome subscriptions are really worth the cost, but others you should cut out of your spending. Here are several popular subscriptions you can replace with free alternatives.Read More when you can simply download any of the many free or freemium Android RAR file extractors.
If you’re willing to put up with regular ads, the above apps will work fine (don’t forget ZArchiver is free of ads). Most free apps offer a low-cost in-app purchase for removing ads if you can’t stand them.
Keep an Android RAR Extractor Handy
All of the above free RAR file extractors for Android will serve you well. My preference is ES File Explorer, since I require a file manager on my devices anyway. It’s rare that I need to extract a file other than a standard ZIP or RAR. Still, B1 Archiver is a nifty app I keep installed because of its whopping 37 file extension compatibility.
Generally, stick to well-known Android RAR file openers. No-name apps with few downloads may bundle in excess ads or even malware. Most of the time, you’ll find superb free versions that provide paid upgrades to remove ads and add some features.
For extracting RAR files anywhere, check out the best online RAR extractorsThe 7 Best Online RAR ExtractorsThe 7 Best Online RAR ExtractorsWant to open RAR files online? Here's the best free online RAR extractor you'll find---no software required.Read More.
Explore more about: Android Apps, File Compression, File Management.
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but if you find yourself stuck on any of the steps, our guide can clarify what to do next.
There is a built-in archive utility for Mac that works well. But when you search for an unarchiver for Mac, not easy to find one. There are dedicated Mac unarchive apps to unzip compressed files with nice features. If you are looking for free solutions to unzip or compress files on Mac, there a few good quality apps to accomplish file compression.
We listed the best unarchive apps for Mac that is available for free and paid Mac unzip apps coming with premium features.
Winzip
Winzip can zip or unzip on Mac, and open .7z file on Mac. This Winzip app on Mac support email and share files to Dropbox and Google Drive directly with WinZip on Mac. WinZip for Mac is packed with tools to maximize your productivity and minimize file sizes. You can use Winzip to zip and unzip files instantly on Mac, protect confidential data with strong AES encryption, share directly to Dropbox and Google Drive.
This unarchiver app can back up photos and projects and fit more onto CDs or DVDs using the ‘Zip and Burn’ feature. You can use Mac’s ‘Quick Look’ tool so you can browse the contents of a Zip file before you decide whether to unzip it. WinZip Mac Edition helps you over the hurdle of sharing or receiving compressed folders or archives from PC users. WinZip keeps files completely secure with strong, 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption for password protected files.
Key Features: Password protection with AES-256 | View contents without Extract | Modify Existing Archives | Search within Archives | Selective File Extract | Cloud support to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive
Extract File Formats: RAR | 7Z | BZ2 | LHA | LZH | CAB | ISO | IMG | TAR | GZ | TAZ | TGZ | TZ | Z | Uuencoded | XXencoded | MIME | BinHex | Zipx | Zip
Download From:Website $29.95 | Mac App Store $29.99
Related: 6 Best All In One Security Software for Mac
Entropy
Entropy has been designed specifically for Mac to archive files on Mac. This dedicated Mac unzipper app supports OS X specific technologies like extended file attributes and resource forks, and also directly reads and writes archives.
You can preview RAR files on Mac without extracting the ZIP file and modify existing archives without extracting and re-archiving files. Entropy protects data with industrial strength encryption technology. This app has a built-in password manager and filters out unnecessary files that clutter archives.
Key Features: Password protection with AES-256 | View contents without Extract | Modify Existing Archives | Search within Archives | Selective File Extract
Archive To: 7z, APK, ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, CRAMFS, DEB, DMG, FAT, FLV, GZIP, HFS, ISO, JAR, LZH, LZMA, MSI, NTFS, RAR, RPM, SIT, SQUASHFS, TAR, UDF, VHD, WIM, XAR, XPI, XZ, Z, ZIP, ZIPX, Etc.
Best Rar Extractor For Mac Free
Download From:Website $19.00 | Mac App Store
Related: 5 Built-in Mac Security Software you Never Knew in OS X
Better Zip
BetterZip 2 is a powerful archive manager for MAC. If you only need a few files or folders from a larger archive like RAR Mac file or any other compressed file format, you don’t have to extract the whole thing. Just drag the files you need from the BetterZip window to any Finder window or the desktop.
BetterZip allows opening archives without extracting. You can just drag files and folders from your hard drives, disks, or network places into a new compressed file. No longer have to copy all the files into a temporary folder first and can split large archives. You can add new or updated files to existing archives or remove any file or folder from an archive, or even move files around inside the archive as if it were a normal folder. BetterZip can protect your data with a password and create WinZip compatible AES-256 encrypted archives.
Key Features: Password protection with AES-256 | Modify Existing Archives | Remove File from Archive | Drag and Drop Archive
Unarchive From: ZIP, SIT, TAR, XAR, XZ, GZIP, BZip2, RAR, 7Zip, CPIO, ARJ, LZH/LHA, JAR, WAR, CAB, ISO, CHM, RPM, DEB, NSIS, BIN, HQX, DMG, EPUB, ZIP To: ZIP, TAR, GZip and BZip2, TAR, XAR, 7-ZIP, RAR | Archive To: ZIP, TAR, GZip and BZip2, TAR, XAR, 7-ZIP, and RAR
Download From:Website $19.95
Archiver
Archiver app makes reducing the file size by compressing files, extracting archives and splitting files on your MAC. With Archiver 2 you can take a sneak peek and preview archives and extract only the files you need with just a drag and a drop.
Archiver 2 can protect sensitive files by packing them in a compressed file, encrypted and password-protected archives by entering the password. With Archiver 2 you can create split archives by selecting a size of each chunk.
Key Features: Password protection | Preview Archive Content | Drag and Drop Archive | Split and combine | Cloud support to Google Drive, OneDrive, DropBox, Box, Yandex. Disk
Rar Extractor Free Mac
Unarchive From: 7z, RAR, zip, tar, GZ and bz2 formats | Archive To: 7z, zip, tar, GZ, and bz2 formats.
Download From:Website $19.99 | Mac App Store $19.99
Related: iOS Autofill Passwords: How to Set up on iPhone and Use?
iZip
iZip is a simple to use, the efficient and powerful utility built for Mac with compression and encryption technology. iZip allows you to zip, unzip, secure and share your files. You can save documents directly to a zip file or even drag-and-drop files between archives. iZIp allows browsing photos and videos in Cover Flow mode, viewing a slideshow and also playing videos – all without having to extract anything from the file you sent them.
iZip features up to 256 bit AES zip encryption so you can rest assured unauthorized users will not be able to view any of confidential information. With iZip, you can share your archive in a few clicks using the tight integration with the wonderful, fast and secure files.com file sharing service. Securely send and receive files amongst your friends and colleagues – even those running Windows or Linux.
Key Features: Password protection with AES-256 | Preview Archive Content | Drag and Drop Archive
Unarchive From: ZIP, ZIPX, RAR, TAR, TAR.GZ, and 7ZIP.
Download From:Website
Keka
Keka can compress files with just drag and drop your desired files and folders to Keka in the Dock. You can drop as many as you want at once, and all of them will be archived into one compressed file.
Keka main window lets to choose your desired format to compress like 7z, Zip, Tar, Gzip or Bzip2. If you’re compressing a big file, you can split it into parts just selecting the size you want, in Bytes (B), Megas (MB) or Gigas (GB). With 7z and Zip, you will have the opportunity to create password-encrypted files to protect your privacy better. You can create archives that look clean in non-Mac systems, like Linux or Windows.
Unarchive From: RAR, 7z, Lzma, XZ, Zip, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, ISO, EXE, CAB, PAX | Archive To: 7z, Zip, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, DMG, ISO
Download From:Website $0.00 | Mac App Store $1.99
iPack
iPack is a archives manager integrated with Finder that can compress and decompress files in Finder directly. iPack supports quick preview files without extracting them and can achieve a quick decompression by dragging files to the drop basket. iPack offers full support of password-protected archives, drag and drop archive, multi-volume archives, and allows to search file names inside archives with fancy highlight effect.
Archive To: 7z, zip, jar, rar | Unarchive From: 7z, zip, jar, rar, cab, deb, iso, arj, gz and bz2 archives.
Download From: Website | Mac Apple Store $3.99
Related: 10 Best Video & Photo Editing Software for Mac Professionals
The Unarchiver
The Unarchiver is a small and easy to use program that can unarchive many different kinds of archive files. Unarchiver app will open common formats such as Zip, RAR (including v5), 7-zip, Tar, Gzip, and Bzip2. It will also open many older formats, such as StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ, and ARC. It will even open other kinds of files, like ISO and BIN disc images, some Windows.EXE installers. The list is much longer – see the program homepage for the full list.
Download from:Mac Apple Store
StuffIt Expander
StuffIt Expander opens files created with WinZip®, 7zX, iShrink, SimplyRAR, Rarify, Rucksack (formerly iArchiver), BetterZip, RarMachine, GUI Tar, CleanArchiver, Springy, TarPit, RAR, Ez7z, Keka, and the compression utilities built into recent versions of Windows and Mac OS X.
Download from: Mac App Store
RAR Extractor Free
RAR Extractor Free is a specialized application program which aims at Rar, Zip, Tar, 7-zip, Gzip, Bzip2 files, and you can use it to extract archive files conveniently, fast and safely. This app can extract files from Rar, Zip, Tar, Gz, Bz2, 7z files, support extracting password-protected archive files and also batch extracting.
Download from: Mac App Store
Apps to Unarchive/Archive Files on Mac
There are a couple of paid Mac unachiver apps in Apple Store those can decompress or compress file even with a password cost between $0.99 and $29.99 depends on the features. Most of these paid Mac Unzip apps are feature-rich and well supported by the developer. There are a couple of paid Mac unachiver apps in Apple Store those can decompress or compress file even with a password cost between $0.99 and $29.99 depends on the features.
Most of these paid Mac Unzip apps are feature-rich and well supported by the developer. There is no need to unzip the files all the time to see the contents of the compressed files. Most of these apps support Preview Mode and Finder Search that help you to preview the archive file without decompressing. Another advantage of using these apps is most of these app various formats to archive and unarchive files. These apps support 256 bit AES zip encryption for your password zip files.
There are dedicated Mac apps to archive unarchive files with more features. Even if the Mac has a built-in option to an archive file. These Mac archiver apps are offering premium features such as password protection, drag and drop archive, etc. The unarchiver apps for Mac are available both for free and paid with additional features.