Zip Max

While it is easy enough to create a ZIP archive without the help of a third-party utility, Windows does not allow you to choose between multiple compression levels, a feature many users cannot do without.

Zip Max is a small application that provides you with a simple alternative, making it possible to create smaller archives without too much effort. However, it offers a limited number of features and only supports the ZIP format.

One of the best things about Zip Max is just how easy it is to deploy. No installation is required, which means you can run the application on any PC instantly, even from portable storage devices.

There will be no files left behind in other locations on your PC after using this app, and no new registry entries are created.

It is possible to add one or more files to the archive at once, as well as import every item from a particular folder. However, you do not have the option of including subdirectories, and there is no support for drag and drop.

You can choose between a total of nine compression levels, depending on how small you want the archive to be and how long you can afford to wait. A comment can also be added before creating the archive, but encryption is not supported.

While the program displays a progress bar while file compression is taking place, this does not reflect the actual progress of the operation, so it is pretty much meaningless.

Also, it is not possible to pause or cancel a job, and the application becomes unresponsive until the process is completed.

Overall, Zip Max is a useful tool that still needs a bit more polish, as well as some additional features. However, it does its job, and it certainly helps that the app is fully portable.