Does 7z compress better than zip?

Indeed, many people have similar questions about Does 7z compress better than zip. I often package files, and here is a brief summary: Generally speaking, 7z has a much better compression rate than zip for plain text, source code, and office documents, which can be 20%-40% smaller. However, when it comes to compressed files such as pictures, videos, and compressed packages, the difference between 7z and zip is very small.

As for the compatibility issue, there is indeed a point. The Windows system can only decompress zip directly, and 7z requires additional software (such as 7-Zip, Keka, etc.), so if you want to share it with others or transfer it across devices, you have to consider its versatility. Overall, Does 7z compress better than zip? The answer is yes, but it depends on the specific scenario. It is very cost-effective to use 7z for your own storage, and zip is safer to send files to others.

In addition to directly compressing and comparing file sizes, Does 7z compress better than zip can also be compared like this:

Multi-type file test method
Instead of testing only one file, you can prepare a group of different types of files, such as:

Plain text (.txt)

Pictures (.jpg/.png)

Videos (.mp4/.mkv)

Installation package (.exe/.msi)

Use zip and 7z to compress them respectively to see which type has the biggest difference. Only by combining them can you more accurately judge Does 7z compress better than zip.

Comparison of extreme compression parameters
In an environment with 7-Zip (such as the simplified version of 7z that comes with Windows), you can use the highest compression ratio setting, such as Ultra mode to compress, and zip can only use the default compression to see how much Does 7z compress better than zip can compress in the most extreme case. This is the method to maximize the gap.

Decompression compatibility test
Compression is only one aspect, and decompression is another key. You can take the 7z and zip files to different devices (Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile phones) and try to decompress them. During the test, record whether it can be decompressed directly, the decompression time, the error rate, etc., and indirectly compare them from the perspective of ease of use. Does 7z compress better than zip? Sometimes it is a problem that the compressed file is small but cannot be decompressed.

Your question about the "Does 7z compress better than zip?" is well-formulated and covers several important aspects. 

Generally, 7z (especially with the LZMA compression algorithm) offers better compression ratios compared to ZIP. It tends to be more efficient for larger files or those with redundant data, like documents or certain media files.

Best for 7z:
1. Large files (e.g., videos and large databases)
2. Text files and documents (e.g., PDFs, Word documents)
3. Files with lots of repetitions (like software source code)

Best for ZIP:
1. Smaller files or folders that need quick access
2. Files meant to be shared with users who may only have ZIP support
3. Situations where speed is more critical than compression efficiency

Speed vs. Size Trade-off: You mentioned being okay with slower compression speeds for better size. This consideration is essential; users need to balance their priorities (storage space vs. processing time).

Compatibility: ZIP files are widely supported across various platforms without requiring additional software, which can be an advantage if compatibility is a priority for you.

7z Features: 7z format also supports solid compression, which can significantly reduce the size of many files by treating them as a continuous data stream rather than as separate files.

Tools: If you're using software like 7-Zip, you can experiment with various compression settings (like different algorithms and levels) to find the best balance for your specific needs.

To answer the question of whether 7z compress is better than zip, you can do a simple test yourself without installing any third-party software. Here are 3 methods for you to verify:

Compare with Windows' built-in compression function

1. Right-click on the file and select "Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder" to generate a zip file. Then use 7-Zip (if pre-installed) to compress the same file in .7z format. Compare the file sizes on both sides to experience whether 7z compress is better than zip.
2. Manually test with PowerShell commands
   Open PowerShell and enter:

powershell
Compress-Archive -Path "your file path" -DestinationPath "output path.zip"

After generating the zip file, use the command line to call 7-Zip (if it is Windows 11, you can enable the tar and 7z support built into the developer mode) to compress it into .7z, and then compare the sizes. It is clear at a glance and directly verifies whether 7z compress is better than zip.

Use macOS's built-in compression function + Keka test
If you use Mac, you can right-click to compress the zip file. Then use the terminal command:

bash
zip -r filename.zip directory/

Then use p7zip (open source version of 7z) installed after Homebrew is installed on the system,

bash
7z a filename.7z directory/

Compare the size and time, and you can feel more realistically whether 7z compress is better than zip by testing it yourself.

Is 7z better than ZIP?  Let's compare speed with compression ratio:

• Compression Speed: As you've noticed, 7z can be slower, especially with higher compression settings. If you're prioritizing size over speed, 7z is a good choice. However, you can adjust the compression level in 7-Zip to trade off between speed and compression ratio.
• Decompression Speed: Both formats are generally fast for decompression.

Is 7z better than ZIP? The answer is YES.

Here are some free tools you can use to create and manage 7z and ZIP files:

Bandizip- A lightweight and fast archiver that supports a variety of formats, including 7z and ZIP. It provides a clean interface and good performance.
Keka- A free file archiver for Mac that supports creating and extracting 7z files, along with many other formats. It boasts a simple interface and is easy to use.
WinRAR- While not completely free (it has a trial period), WinRAR can create 7z archives and is highly versatile, though compression may not match that of dedicated 7z software.

Does 7z compress better than ZIP? Yes, 7z (using the 7-Zip compression format) generally compresses better than ZIP, especially for certain types of files. Here are some key points to consider regarding the performance and efficiency of 7z compared to ZIP:

Compression Efficiency

1. Compression Algorithms: The 7z format typically uses the LZMA (Lempel-Ziv-Markov chain algorithm) for compression, which provides better compression ratios compared to the standard Deflate algorithm used by ZIP. This results in smaller archive sizes, especially when compressing larger files.

2. Type of Files: The compression efficiency of 7z excels with:
Text-based files: Documents, code files, etc. (e.g., .txt, .csv)
Images: High-resolution, uncompressed file formats (e.g., .bmp, .raw)
Video Files: While videos are already compressed, using 7z can still provide some additional reduction, particularly with lower-compression formats.
Large datasets: Databases or datasets can benefit from 7z’s improved compression ratios.

3. File Types for ZIP: On the other hand, ZIP may be more efficient for pre-compressed files (e.g., .mp4, .jpg, .png), where additional compression may not yield significant size reductions. In some cases, using ZIP may also provide faster compression/decompression speed.