14 DAY TRIAL // Despite the latest advancements in digital file formats, and their inherent capabilities, as well as storage mediums of various shapes and sizes, compressing data still remains at the core of numerous undertakings. I mean, for instance, it would be nice to be able to have all your media collection occupy far less than what is considered to be the norm by today’s standards. The benefits of archiving data are quite obvious, regardless if you’re a data hoarder or not. So, in the end, file compression apps are still very much sought-after.
There can be visible confusion when trying to find the best one for your specific requirements. Some are simpler, with fewer features, and some are more complex, bundling an array of tools that might or not might be all that relevant to the end purpose – zipping your precious data. I, for one, believe that WinZip belongs to the latter category, as it presents a veritable barrage of tools whose scope extends far beyond just data compression, pertaining to a multitude of somewhat related aspects.
Comes sporting a rather unorthodox design, resembling that of Office-type suites, and many features whose functionality is adjacent at best
I must admit that I was very surprised when I saw the design of the app for the first time, as it was quite off from my expectations or from what I was used to when it comes to file archivers. Very much like what you’d find in an Office-type app.
Having dispensed with the initial negative thoughts, I embraced its clever layout and began to realize its benefits. Zipping and unzipping each have their main, dedicated tabs, which makes for easy selection, and leaves little to be desired in terms of handling efficiency.
Nevertheless, in addition to compressing files, you will also find a lot of other tools included, which address aspects such as data management, performing backups and cleanups of your files and directories, as well as format conversions. These are all nice and shiny, and I don’t doubt their usefulness, but for the average user, who only wishes to zip some files, these might remain unused indefinitely.
Thankfully, it integrates automatically with the Windows context menu and offers numerous additional options in that direction
Not everyone wants to open the main interface of a data compressor and add files or directories manually to an archive. Let’s face it, most of us rely on the context menu options for sending data to an archive, and I was relieved to see that WinZip will integrate with the Windows context menu automatically.
And yes, for the nerds out there, seeking to squeeze every bit of available functionality, the Explorer integration menu comes featuring an advanced section, which allows for a very detailed selection of the available zipping options, as well as their availability.
Intuitive data browser, which allows you simple operation, for both compressing and unzipping files, coupled with reports and lots of on-screen functionality
Forgetting the idea that most of us rely on the context menu when zipping data, when actually deciding to use the interface for such purposes, I really appreciated the included data navigator. This allows for quick and responsive file and folder navigation, but I was unable to see any search features provided.
Nevertheless, once you do find the data that is to be archived, it’s as simple as selecting the preferred items from the list and dragging and dropping them onto the "zipping" area in the center. Additionally, there are loads of on-screen features that are provided through dedicated buttons, which enhance the process even more, making things even simpler.
Purposefully useful capabilities for direct sharing of zipped content to social media, or apps and platforms specialized in more professional endeavors
Although initially skeptical about this, I later on realized the advantages of having the ability to share your zipped content directly to either social media platforms or other third-party apps or suites you might be working with, such as Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams.
Including such functionality in a data compression app is debatable, and I for my part prefer to see it as an extra, but not essential by any means.
Data compression offered reliably in many ways, coupled with loads of other features, albeit at the risk of shifting the focus from the main end purpose
My first impression of the latest iteration of WinZip was that it might be a bit overwhelming because it carries so much functionality, which I personally believe is not all that relevant to data compression. As old-school as that might sound, I firmly believe that specialized apps should be focused more on their essential functionality, in our case, data compression and unzipping.
Having said that, it’s hard to deny the advantages of the additional functionality bundled within WinZip. Being able to perform scheduled backup tasks for your data, through pre-programmed compressions, convert files from one format to another, and even scan or print documents and images, is quite advantageous. But not essential.
The Good
Features flawless integration with File Explorer, which can be tweaked in great detail, offering loads of versatility.
In addition to zipping and unzipping data, it will allow you to also schedule backups, manage archives, and perform other useful tasks, such as format conversions or encryptions. It even comes with direct sharing to social media.
The Bad
The inherent complexity of the feature abundance also leads to a quite cluttered-looking design, which might not fare well with all, especially since most users will solely rely on the zipping features.
When compared to other compression tools out there, such as 7-Zip or WinRAR, it offers similar zipping and unzipping times, as well as compression ratios, with negligible differences. However, unlike these, it only offers the ZIP format for compression, making it a bit limiting in that regard. Despite being limited only to ZIP, this must be taken in with a grain of salt, especially when compared with the capabilities of other archive formats, such as RAR or 7z, in the context of your exact requirements.
The Truth
Since it’s being marketed as a do-it-all suite, having data compression at its core, the numerous extra capabilities are part of the deal, and offer a great amount of flexibility and versatility. And in many ways, this can be just the right thing for those who seek that extra edge in a data compression utility.
