FileOptimizer vs PowerArchiver
FileOptimizer
nikkhokkho.sourceforge.io
PowerArchiver
powerarchiver.comSide by side
| Figure | FileOptimizer | PowerArchiver |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 6 |
| Spec score · File Compression Software | 8.1 (#7) | 8.1 (#8) |
| Automation | The maker describes command-line automation and says files or directories can be passed to the program for processing. | Professional Toolbox includes PACL, the PowerArchiver command-line tool. |
| Deployment | The maker lists deployment restrictions for the current user and all users, and documents silent installation and an all-users installer option. | Business and higher editions provide MSI installation, Group Policy support and silent deployment. |
| Support | The maker points users to SourceForge discussions for suggestions and bug reports and does not guarantee support or answers for users outside the community. | Technical support is free for all users, while active PA Select customers receive priority engineering support with a one-business-day response commitment. |
Plans
PowerArchiver
- PowerArchiver FreeFree
- Business$22.95, paid once
- Professional$34.95, paid once
- Professional Toolbox$49.95, paid once
- Enterprise$59.95, paid once
- Enterprise Unlimited$4,995, paid once
In their own words
FileOptimizer
FileOptimizer is a free Windows program that recompresses already-compressed files to reduce their size while retaining their format and behavior. It supports batch processing and accepts files through its interface or command line; optimization replaces them with optimized versions. The maker says it handles more than 600 file extensions and identifies types by examining file contents, regardless of extension. Listed formats include APNG, AVIF, BMP, BPG, DDS, DNG, GIF, HEIC, HEIF, ICO, J2C, J2K, JP2, JPEG, JPG, JXL, MNG, MPO, PCX, PNG, PSD, SVG, TGA, TIF, TIFF, and WEBP. By default, it removes extra metadata and keeps originals in the recycle bin. The program includes more than 90 third-party tools as plugins and supports command-line automation. It is provided under the GNU Affero General Public License, free for personal and commercial use without feature limits. The maker lists Windows XP through Windows 11 and Server 2022 among its requirements. Lossy options are also documented for PNG, JPEG, and GIF.
PowerArchiver
PowerArchiver creates, extracts and manages more than 60 archive formats, including ZIP, 7Z, RAR, TAR, ISO and CAB. It supports archive encryption with AES-256, split archives and archive repair. Its proprietary PA codec provides lossless compression and is described as reducing documents by 30–70%. The Windows edition supports Windows 7 through Windows 11 and Server 2008 R2 through Server 2025; PowerArchiver Pro for Mac is a separate macOS codebase with Finder integration and native drag-and-drop. Edition features vary: Professional includes Outlook, Word and Excel add-ins, while Professional Toolbox adds a cloud browser for S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, Azure and Box, as well as the PACL command-line tool. Business and higher editions include MSI installation, Group Policy support and silent deployment. Enterprise adds FIPS 140-2 validated encryption and lists HIPAA and DFARS support. The free edition is restricted to non-commercial personal, student and nonprofit use. A 30-day trial unlocks the highest Toolbox edition’s features. Prices range from PowerArchiver Free at free to Enterprise Unlimited at $4,995, paid once.