Keka vs The Unarchiver
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Keka is a native macOS file archiving utility built around drag-and-drop simplicity. Users drop files or folders onto the Keka window or dock icon to compress them into 7z, ZIP, TAR, DMG, ISO, and other formats, with optional AES-256 password encryption for sensitive data. It can also split large archives into smaller chunks for easier transfer or storage on removable media. On the extraction side, Keka handles more than 30 archive formats including RAR, WIM, and APK, so Mac users are not limited to whatever format a file happened to arrive in. The app is distributed free directly from the developer's website, with an optional paid copy available on the Mac App Store as a way to support development, and its core engine is open source on GitHub.
The Unarchiver is a free macOS application that extracts a wide range of archive formats beyond what Apple's built-in Archive Utility supports, including RAR, 7z, Tar, Gzip, Bzip2, CAB, and many legacy formats like StuffIt, ARJ, and LZH. It can be set as the default handler for these formats so double-clicking any supported archive just works. The app also handles archives with foreign-language filenames, encrypted and multi-volume archives, and can extract files from self-extracting Windows EXE installers. A companion iOS app called Archives brings similar extraction capability to iPhone and iPad.
- Genuinely native and lightweight compared to bundled Finder compression
- Free to use in full from the developer's own site
- Broad format support for both compressing and extracting
- Simple enough for non-technical users while still offering encryption options
- Completely free with no in-app purchases or ads.
- Supports a far wider range of archive formats than macOS's built-in tool.
- Lightweight and simple; installs quickly and just works as a default handler.
- Handles edge cases like foreign filenames and old, obscure formats well.
- macOS only, so it is not an option for Windows or Linux users
- No cloud sync or team-sharing features built in
- Advanced automation (scripting, CLI batch jobs) is limited compared to command-line tools
- Mac-only for the desktop app, though a separate iOS app exists.
- No archive creation features; it only extracts, it does not compress.
- Interface is minimal, with no advanced repair or password-recovery tools.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Keka
View all →Free, open-source file archiver supporting 200+ formats with strong encryption on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Fast, cross-platform archiver supporting 10+ compression formats and 40+ decompression formats.
Free Mac app that opens RAR, 7z, and dozens of other archive formats the built-in tool cannot.
Alternatives to The Unarchiver
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataKeka offers both compression and extraction with encryption on macOS, while The Unarchiver is a free, extraction‑only tool with broader legacy format support.
Key differences
- •Keka can create archives in many formats (7z, ZIP, TAR, DMG, ISO, etc.) and encrypt them; The Unarchiver only extracts.
- •Keka is freemium (free core, paid Mac App Store version optional) whereas The Unarchiver is completely free with no paid tier.
- •Keka’s core compression engine is open source; The Unarchiver is closed source.
- •The Unarchiver handles a wider range of legacy and obscure formats and can be set as the default macOS handler; Keka focuses on common modern formats.
- •Keka includes archive splitting for large files; The Unarchiver does not provide creation or splitting features.
Pricing & value
Keka is freemium with optional paid version, but its full core features are free; The Unarchiver is free but offers fewer capabilities.
Ease of use / learning curve
Both are lightweight macOS apps, but The Unarchiver’s default‑handler setup makes extraction immediate for most users.
Features & depth
Keka compresses, encrypts, splits, and extracts many formats; The Unarchiver only extracts.
Integrations & ecosystem
The Unarchiver integrates with macOS Finder as default app and has an iOS companion; Keka has no such integration.
Collaboration
Neither tool includes cloud sync or team‑sharing features.
Scalability
Keka’s archive splitting supports handling very large files; The Unarchiver lacks creation/splitting.
Support
The Unarchiver lists a website FAQ; Keka provides no specified support options.
Security & privacy
Keka offers AES‑256 encryption for archives; The Unarchiver can open encrypted files but cannot create them.
Migration / lock‑in
Both use standard archive formats; no proprietary lock‑in, and both are macOS‑only.
Choose Keka if…
Mac users who need to create, encrypt, or split archives and prefer an open‑source core.
Choose The Unarchiver if…
Mac users who only need to extract a wide variety of formats and want a simple, completely free default handler.
Common questions
Can I create archives with The Unarchiver?
No, The Unarchiver only extracts archives; it does not have creation capabilities.
Does Keka support encryption?
Yes, Keka can encrypt archives with AES‑256 password protection.
Is there any cost to use the full features of either tool?
Keka’s core features are free from the developer’s site (optional paid Mac App Store version); The Unarchiver is completely free.