PowerArchiver 2015 Review - Impressive Features and Compression Speed

excellent
key review info
application features
  • Compress files and extract archive content
  • (17 more, see all...)

Built as a comprehensive archiving utility, PowerArchiver 2015 not only is capable of rapidly creating archives at a good compression ratio, but it also has a few bonus tools up its sleeve for experienced users, such as a built-in FTP client, disc burner and backup manager, along with support for various cloud clients.

It supports a wide range of file types for creating archives, including .zip, .zipx, .7z, .lha, .cab, .bh, .tar, encoded files, .iso and .rar (if WinRAR is installed). However, this list is extended when it comes to extracting files from archives, making room for .lzh, .ace, .jar and .gzip, among others.

License type and installation

The trial edition runs for 30 days without any feature limitations. At the end of this period, you can either uninstall PowerArchiver or purchase the Standard package for $22.95 / €19.95.

There are two more editions available: PowerArchiver 2015 Pro offers full support for Dropbox, Google Drive, Sky Drive and other cloud services (among other features), while PowerArchiver 2015 Toolbox has an even richer skillset lined up. You can check out a list with the differences between the three versions on the PowerArchiver website.

During setup, you can associate the app with the supported file types, as well as enable PowerArchiver Queue (add multiple tasks to a queue for sequential execution) and PowerArchiver Mini (adds a preview window for archive content in Windows Explorer). Although this isn't mentioned, the application integrates entries into the Windows Explorer shell extension for quickly compressing files and extracting archive content.

Comfortable and customizable interface

At program startup, you can select the interface mode (with smart tabs for novices, or with a preview window and explorer for advanced users), as well as make file type associations.

The main app window has clear-cut structure that borrows the ribbon bar and flat "File" menu look from Microsoft Office 2013 . You can open archives to view the name, format, last modification date, size, compressed ratio, and packed size of each file.

The UI can be personalized by changing the skin, language and viewing mode (e.g. thumbnails, list, details). It's possible to show the toolbar and breadcrumb bar, together with a Command Prompt dialog and preview window. Plus, the main frame can be set to stay on top of other windows. Other customization options are available too, like displaying grid lines, handpicking the columns to display while hiding the rest, or modifying the colors used in the color-coded filelist.

Create new archives and configure settings

When creating a new archive, you can begin by specifying a file name, saving directory and format. Files can be added and replaced, updated and added, freshened, or moved and replaced. You can also choose the compression algorithm (e.g. deflate, optimized) and mode (e.g. normal, maximum), along with the encryption algorithm (e.g. 128-bit, 192-bit or 256-bit AES).

It's possible to store relative or full paths or don't store them at all, include or exclude subfolders, system and hidden files, use the current directory as the temporary location, encrypt filenames, as well as add the task to a queue, in case you want to prepare more archive jobs for consecutive execution (especially if they have a large size).

PowerArchiver 2015: The filelist is color-coded
PowerArchiver 2015: The filelist is color-coded

There are other options too, in case you want to enhance PowerArchiver's functionality. Archives can be burned to a CD, DVD or Blu-ray disc, uploaded via FTP, sent via email, or verified for integrity as soon as the task is completed. They can be split into multiple parts for storage across multiple small-sized devices. Volume Shadow Copy is enabled by default for processing files currently in use.

During an archiving job, you can view the completion percentage and elapsed time, pause the task to temporarily allocate system resources to other applications, as well as minimize the app to the tray or taskbar to make it non-intrusive.

Create PGP encrypted or SFX archives, along with backup scripts

Archives can be created with files and folders encrypted in different secure formats: .zip, .7z, .pae2, OpenPGP, or .pae. The items can be grouped into a single file or encrypted individually, and you can select the encryption type along with the compression algorithm and mode.

The software application also integrates a feature that permits you to put together auto-backup scripts (.pbs format), providing you with a wide range of advanced settings to tinker with. For instance, you can apply a timestamp to the file name, burn the script to a CD, DVD or Blu-ray disc, upload it via FTP, SFTP or cloud, perform a full, incremental or differential backup, delete the original files on task completion, password-protect the archive, set time and size filters, log program activity to file for later inspection, as well as schedule automatic backups to run on a regular basis.

Self-extracting archives with the .exe format can be easily built by just indicating the output name and directory (with or without subfolders), files and folders to include, password, compression algorithm and format (.zip, .cab or .7z SFX). You can store relative folder data, include system and hidden files, and set PowerArchiver to execute and test the archive once it's done.

ISO creator, archive extractor, cloud storage, virus scanner, and more

As far as ISO images are concerned, it's possible to edit the disc label, choose the filesystem between ISO and UDF, and create a bootable disc.

Less options can be modified when it comes to file extraction. You can extract all files or filter them by name or format, overwrite existing files, extract pathnames, add the task to the queue, or set the tool to open the destination directory on job completion.

PowerArchiver 2015: Burn files to disc, clone discs, create ISO images, or erase rewritable discs
PowerArchiver 2015: Burn files to disc, clone discs, create ISO images, or erase rewritable discs

The utility can be linked to cloud accounts to seamlessly upload or download files, as well as to save PowerArchiver auto-backup scripts to. It supports Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Azure, S3, Attachment Cloud, Attachment Cloud Beta, and Box. It can password-protect existing archives, convert them to other formats (.zip, .7z, .cab, .lha, .bh, .tar, .rar), extract files from archives and create program groups under the Start Menu, test archive integrity, run scans using a third-party antivirus solution, or add archive comments. A simple search function can narrow down results by applying a date range and size limit.

Additionally, you can sign files with OpenPGP, use a batch tool to automatically create multiple archives from individual files as well as to extract two or more archives simultaneously, encode files with UUencode, XXencode, Base64 (MIME) or vENC, span ZIP archives into multiple files and then put them back together, or fix corrupt or damaged ZIP archives.

Built-in FTP client, backup manager, and disc burner

A notable aspect of PowerArchiver is that it also acts as an FTP client, accessible from another button in the ribbon bar. It supports FTP and SFTP, together with FTP with TSL implicit and explicit. It's multi-tabbed, which means you can establish more than one connection at the same time. Furthermore, it's possible to manage permissions for remote files, create a queue with multiple file transfers, limit their number and global transfer, as well as set an automatic post-task action - stay idle, disconnect from the FTP server, or shut down the PC.

All created auto-backup scripts are added to a manager that you can access anytime to delete, run, schedule or edit scripts, or to create new ones.

The disc burner is designed not only for archives, but also for ISO images and any other file types. It can compile discs into ISO images, copy discs to discs, or erase rewritable discs. Although it's listed, the virtual disc mounting function is available only in PowerArchiver 2015 Toolbox.

Configure program settings

It's possible to set a default startup location, indicate an external virus scanner and viewer, specify WinRAR's location on the disk for creating RAR archives, customize the Windows Explorer shell extension in detail, manage plugins, disable the PowerArchiver queue, manage FTP profiles and connection parameters, use an SSL certificate or a private key for authentication, and more.

All program settings can be restored to default, and history can be cleared. It's also possible to import and export settings to file or cloud.

Performance results

We evaluated the archiving and extraction speed of PowerArchiver 2015 alongside WinRAR and 7-Zip, by repeating the same tests from Bandizip's review: compress a 4.09GB directory into .zip format and extract the files by applying default settings. Since speed varies, we ran five tests for each utility and calculated the average time. The machine was an Intel Core i5-3470 with CPU @3.20GHz and 12GB RAM, running Windows 8.1 Pro. Because we ran the tests for PowerArchiver 2015 in the same conditions as for the other three tools, we copied the results for WinRAR and 7-Zip from Bandizip's review.

PowerArchiver created a 3.81GB ZIP archive in the average time of 76.2 seconds, and extracted files from the same archive in the average time of 105.4 seconds.

WinRAR created a 3.81GB ZIP archive in the average time of 101.2 seconds, and extracted files from the same archive in the average time of 84.2 seconds.

7-Zip created a 3.80GB ZIP archive in the average time of 110.2 seconds, and extracted files from the same archive in the average time of 67.2 seconds.

According to these results, PowerArchiver was the fasted compression tool with an average time of 76.2 seconds, followed at a great distance by WinRAR with 101.2 seconds and 7-Zip with 67.2 seconds. As for extraction, 7-Zip was the first app with 67.2 seconds, followed by WinRAR with 84.2 seconds, while PowerArchiver lagged behind with 105.4 seconds.


The Good

It lets you create archives and extract files from a wide range of file types (including .rar if WinRAR is installed). The app is wrapped in a comfortable and customizable interface with several interchangeable skins. It's possible to create PGP encrypted archives, self-extracting archives, and auto-backup scripts with a scheduler. Archive and extraction jobs can be added to a queue for sequential execution (PowerArchiver Queue).

It inserts a preview window into the file manager for archive content (PowerArchiver Mini).

It has a built-in FTP client with support for SFTP and FTP (with TSL implicit and explicit), in addition to a disc burner that can burn archives, ISO images and other types of files to discs, compile discs into ISO images or clone them to other discs, erase rewritable discs, and create new ISO images.

It facilitates access to cloud storage accounts powered by Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Azure, S3, Attachment Cloud, Attachment Cloud Beta, and Box, thus enabling you to quickly download and upload files.

It can scan files for malware using any antivirus solution that you have installed on the PC, encrypt and decrypt files, sign them with OpenPGP, check archive integrity, convert archives to other formats, extract files from multiple archives in bulk or create multiple archives from individual files, merge and split ZIPs into multiple archives, encode files using popular Internet encoding formats, as well as repair ix corrupt or damaged ZIPs.

It offers support for multiple languages, hotkeys, plugins, and complete help documentation.

The Bad

According to our tests, PowerArchiver was slower than WinRAR and 7-Zip at archive extraction.

The Truth

Taking into account its rich features and customization preferences designed for advanced users who are not only looking for a simple archiver and extractor, but also for extra functionality, PowerArchiver continues to impress with its 2015 edition.

NOTE: You can also check out our previous reviews for PowerArchiver Professional 2013, PowerArchiver 2011 and PowerArchiver 2006.

user interface 5
features 5
ease of use 4
pricing / value 4


final rating 5
Editor's review
excellent
 
NEXT REVIEW: SumatraPDF

PowerArchiver 2015 (49 Images)

PowerArchiver 2015: The filelist is color-codedPowerArchiver 2015: In the initial configuration at the first startup, you can choose the interface display modePowerArchiver 2015: In the initial configuration at the first startup, you can make file associationsPowerArchiver 2015: Create a new archive by including files and setting conditionsPowerArchiver 2015: Create a new archive and burn it to disc, upload it via FTP, or send it via email
+44more