Ark vs WinRAR
Ark
apps.kde.orgWinRAR
win-rar.comSide by side
| Figure | Ark | WinRAR |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 8 |
| Spec score · File Compression Software | 7.9 (#11) | 7.8 (#15) |
| Purpose | Ark is a graphical utility for compressing and decompressing files and archives. | WinRAR is a compression tool with functions for organizing compressed archives. |
| Support | KDE links to the Ark Handbook, UserBase Wiki, and KDE Forum for help. | The support page offers FAQs, a lost-key form and individual sales support in English or German. |
Plans
WinRAR
- WinRAR multi-user license (500–999 users)$6, paid once
- WinRAR multi-user license (200–499 users)$7, paid once
- WinRAR multi-user license (100–199 users)$8, paid once
- WinRAR multi-user license (50–99 users)$10, paid once
- WinRAR multi-user license (25–49 users)$13, paid once
- WinRAR multi-user license (10–24 users)$16, paid once
- WinRAR multi-user license (2–9 users)$21, paid once
- WinRAR single-user license$29, paid once
In their own words
Ark
Ark is a free graphical utility for creating and managing compressed files and archives on Linux and Windows. It can browse, extract, create, and modify archives, and preview file contents without extracting them. Its listed formats include tar, gzip, bzip2, zip, rar, 7z, xz, rpm, cab, deb, xar, AppImage, and CD-ROM images. Ark also supports archive encryption, split archives, and command-line tools. The listed plan costs nothing, with no plan limits stated, and the application is licensed under GPL-2.0+. On Linux, KDE offers installation through AppStream stores, distribution package managers, and Flathub. KDE lists Windows as a platform and provides a Windows nightly installer for testing. Its help links include the Ark Handbook, UserBase Wiki, and KDE Forum; KDE also provides a bug-reporting link and access to the source code. KDE describes itself as an international community developing free and open-source software, represented for legal and financial matters by KDE e.V., a registered nonprofit in Germany.
WinRAR
WinRAR is a compression tool for creating and organizing archives across Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. It handles RAR, ZIP, CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZip, UUE, ISO, BZIP2, Z and 7-Zip formats, and selects compression methods automatically for multimedia files, executables and object libraries. Archives can be divided into volumes for storage or transfer. AES 256-bit encryption protects archive contents; an option can also encrypt file names and other archive details. RAR 5.0 recovery records use Reed-Solomon codes to help recover data from partially damaged archives. The Windows version adds a password manager, backup options, drag-and-drop, Unicode filenames and self-extracting archive creation. Mac and Linux versions are command-line only. RAR for Android creates and unpacks popular archive types and is described as free, with a paid ad-free option. WinRAR offers a 40-day trial but no free plan. A single-user license costs $29 as a one-time purchase, excluding VAT; multi-user licenses range from $21, paid once for 2–9 users to $6, paid once for 500–999 users, also excluding VAT.