April 11, 2019: Due to a recently discovered security exploit, we highly recommend that users update to the latest version of Winrar. Read the changelog here.

WinRAR (64-bit) allows you to open, create, and manage various types of compressed files through its intuitive and streamlined interface. This program offers a full set of features for manipulating and managing compressed files, and it works smoothly and efficiently.

Pros

Intuitive interface: When you attempt to open a ZIP or RAR file, this app automatically takes over and presents the contents of the compressed file, so that you can immediately access them. From this main interface window, you can then manage the archive by adding to it, repairing it, or protecting it, all using the tools readily available across the top of the interface. Even novice users will find their way around this program quite quickly.

Quick create or add: In addition to letting you open compressed files, WinRAR also allows you to create new ones or add to existing archives. You can do this either by dragging and dropping the files in, or by adding them using the controls across the top of the interface.

Cons

64-bit systems only: This particular version of WinRAR is for 64-bit systems only. If you have a 32-bit system, you can download a version optimized for that configuration. And if you're not sure, the 32-bit version will work on both 64-bit and 32-bit machines.

Bottom Line

WinRAR is at the top of the list when it comes to programs of this type. It's hard to go too long without having to open some type of compressed file that Windows can't handle, and so it's worth checking this app out. It's free to try for 40 days, but after that, you'll have to purchase a license for $29 to continue using it.

Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of WinRAR (64-bit) 5.01.

What do you need to know about free software?

WinRAR is a 32-bit/64-bit Windows version of RAR Archiver, the powerful archiver and archive manager. WinRARs main features are very strong general and multimedia compression, solid compression, archive protection from damage, processing of ZIP and other non-RAR archives, scanning archives for viruses, programmable self-extracting archives(SFX), authenticity verification, NTFS and Unicode support, strong AES encryption, support of multivolume archives, command line and graphical interface, drag-and-drop facility, wizard interface, theme support, folder tree panel, and multithread support.

Since version 3.90 is also a WinRAR version for Windows x64 is available. If you use Windows x64, it is strongly recommended to install 64 bit WinRAR version. It provides a higher performance and better shell integration than 32 bit version.

Designed to work on Windows 98/NT/2000/ME/XP/2003/Vista/2008/Windows 7 WinRAR provides complete support for RAR and ZIP archives and is able to unpack and convert CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, ACE, UUE, BZ2, JAR, ISO, Z, 7-Zip archives.

WinRAR is available in over 40 languages. There is also a 64 Bit version availabe.The command line version RAR is available for Linux, DOS, OS/2, FreeBSD and MAC OS X. Pocket RAR, the free WinRAR version for Pocket PCs, completes the compression product range.

WinRAR for Windows costs USD 29.00 for a single-user license. We use a volume pricing system that gives our customers better prices the more licenses they buy.

No need to purchase add-ons to create self-extracting files, it is all included.

Unlike the competition WinRAR has already integrated the ability to create and change SFX archives (.exe files) using default and external SFX modules. So when you purchase WinRAR license you are buying a license for the complete technology.

For more information & to download the evaluation copy, visit http://www.win-rar.com.