Open ZIP file: Mac OS X and macOS solutions

If you want to open a ZIP file on the Apple Mac, you may need a special program for this. On the websites of some software developers as well as in the Apple Mac App Store you can find numerous apps for extracting archives under OS X or macOS. In this guide I would like to explain to you which program is cheap to open ZIP files on the Mac. Free apps and paid software are available for download.

Open ZIP file: Mac software for free

Just like with Open RAR archives you can download software to unpack ZIP archives that can read and unpack the file format and the files in the archive. As in the article on RAR files, we can recommend some free apps for ZIPs on the Mac:

• The Unarchiver by MacPaw Inc.: Opens and unzips Zip, 7-Zip, Gzip, Bzip2, RAR (incl. V5), Tar, StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ, ARC, ISO, BIN image files and even some Windows .EXE installers
• cake: Program for Apple Mac that packs and unpacks archives. You can read which exactly can be packed and unpacked on the linked developer website
• StuffIt Expander: Already described in the article on opening RAR archives and also recommended for ZIP files. You can use it not only to extract, but also to pack and compress

Paid Apple Mac programs for archives

Not every Mac App, which can pack and unpack archive files, is also free. In addition to the many free programs, there are also apps that require a fee to download. Here are two representatives of these little helpers:

• The Archive Browser from MacPaw Labs: Based on the "Unarchiver" for Mac and helps to look through and extract files from the formats Zip, Gzip, 7zip, Bzip2, RAR, Tar, StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ, ARC, CD and DVD images such as ISO , BIN, MDF, NRG, and even CDI, and also self-extracting Windows .EXE files
• WinZip for Apple Mac: WinZip is mainly known to Windows users. The current app version costs € 29,95, but not only includes options for packing, reading and extracting archives on the Apple Mac, but also 20 years of experience in this area, a pack-and-burn function for backups and much more more

Packing and unpacking on the Apple computer

How do you go about compressing, packing, viewing and unpacking archives, what is your favorite app in this area? Or are you sitting on your Apple Mac, iMac or MacBook and can't get any further with your file? Then leave a comment with your experiences or questions on the topic;)

Johannes Domke

After graduating from high school, Johannes completed an apprenticeship as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which resulted in his independence. For several years he has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others. His articles include product introductions, news, manuals, video games, consoles, and more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.