For more than 17 years, WinRAR has been a go-to name for every PC user. I, from my childhood, have been using WinRAR because I didn’t even know about any other file archiver.
So, after all these years, has WinRAR managed to keep its throne? Or, is it just a relic of the past?
Let’s find out the details about how WinRAR performs in 2024!
Hands-on Review of WinRAR
You can obviously download the WinRAR software from any trusted source. The installation process does not require any tedious or rigorous process. The only two additional things that you’ll need to select are the Windows integration and archive formats selection.
I ticked the box because why not? It can be helpful for the compression and decompression process. The installation may require some time depending on your PC. It didn’t take me a single minute to finish the whole process.
User Interface
I could already tell that the UI would be a bit disappointing. Because WinRAR hasn’t changed that much since the beginning. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the interface is totally unusable. However, apart from the icon changes, there hasn’t been a major upgrade in the UI/UX.
So, don’t be too excited about the UI because that’s not the main reason why you would get WinRAR on your PC in the first place. Plus, if you’re an old user of WinRAR, you will be happy to get the same feeling even after 5 years!
Performance
When it comes to the overall performance, WinRAR definitely has some cool functions. Due to Windows shell integration, you can archive any file with just a single click.
On top of that, you can also use the lock function and recovery option to add extra security to your RAR files. I went into the settings and set the system to Multithreading mode which allows my files to compress and decompress faster.
Another great thing about WinRAR now is it does not limit the Zip archives to 2 GB anymore. So, I didn’t find any issues while using that archiving format as well.
For testing purposes, I kept the compression parameter to “Auto” as WinRAR identifies the optimal file compression settings.
On average, I could compress a 1 GB JPG folder to RAR format in just 20 seconds. Furthermore, the file size was reduced by 347 MB. The archiving performance holds true for TXT or MP3 files as well.
Compared to Zip format, RAR can be 10% more efficient, depending on the file format. For example: TXT files can be reduced by almost 80% with RAR format whereas Zip can only manage around 60% size reduction.
In my limited time usage, I definitely found the RAR format to be more efficient and swift.
WinRAR Pros & Cons
Now, let’s wrap up the whole discussion with the strengths and drawbacks of this great tool. First of all, WinRAR is very easy to download and use. You don’t have to struggle with the interface or any settings. You can just start compressing or decompressing your file.
Then, the compression and decompression speeds are high (depending on your PC). I found the speeds to be quite serviceable and no issues were found while compressing some old files together in the RAR format.
Lastly, the application supports many file formats which is a great utility to have. I often have to rely on multiple applications just because other tools can’t handle the RAR format properly.
While there are many positive sides to WinRAR, there are also some negatives. The application can definitely welcome a new, modern look. Moreover, the backdated UI needs to be revised with the pricing.
Another big drawback is that Zip formats are better in other alternative apps, compared to WinRAR. So, you should rely on WinRAR if you use the RAR format regularly.
Bottom Line
Overall, WinRAR is the benchmark for any file archiver to date. I don’t think there is any better tool (even though the interface is very outdated) if you consider the functionalities and performance.
So, it’s an easy recommendation from our side! Download the software now and witness the greatness of WinRAR.
