About Pea Zip

The story behind one of the most capable free file archivers available today, and the resource we built around it.

What Is Pea Zip?

Pea Zip is a free, open-source file archiver and file manager that handles over 200 archive formats. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD, giving you a single tool for compressing, extracting, and encrypting files across every major platform.

Built as a graphical frontend for proven compression engines like 7-Zip/p7zip, Zstandard, and Brotli, Pea Zip combines raw compression power with a full-featured file manager. You get tabbed browsing, bookmarks, duplicate file detection, hash verification, and secure file deletion – all in one lightweight package that runs under 11 MB on Windows.

200+
Archive Formats
LGPLv3
Open Source License
2006
First Released

Development History

Pea Zip has been under active development for close to two decades. Created by Giorgio Tani using Free Pascal and the Lazarus IDE, it started as a straightforward archive utility and grew into one of the most format-rich file management tools in the open-source ecosystem.

September 2006
Giorgio Tani releases the first version of Pea Zip, providing a GUI frontend for several open-source compression libraries.
2007 – 2010
Format support expands rapidly. Pea Zip adds cross-platform Linux builds and grows its compression backend to cover dozens of archive types.
2011 – 2015
Strong encryption becomes a focus area. AES-256, Twofish, and Serpent algorithms are integrated, along with two-factor authentication using password plus keyfile.
2016 – 2020
macOS support arrives. Format coverage crosses the 200-format mark. The file manager adds tabbed browsing, smart filters, and batch archive conversion.
2021 – 2025
Modern compression algorithms (Brotli, Zstandard, ZPAQ) are added. Dark mode themes ship. Apple Silicon native builds become available.
February 2026
Version 10.9.0 launches with overhauled image and text viewers, improved RAR handling, customizable middle-click actions, and a refreshed Pea 1.29 backend.

What Pea Zip Does

At its core, Pea Zip handles the everyday task of compressing and extracting files. But it goes further than most archivers by bundling a genuine file manager and a set of security tools into the same application.

  • Create and extract archives in 7Z, ZIP, TAR, RAR, ISO, and 200+ other formats
  • Encrypt files with AES-256, Twofish, or Serpent algorithms
  • Two-factor authentication with password and keyfile
  • Browse files with tabs, bookmarks, and search
  • Find duplicate files across folders
  • Calculate checksums and verify file integrity
  • Securely delete files beyond recovery
  • Export GUI tasks as command-line scripts
  • Convert between archive formats in batch
  • Run portable from a USB drive with no installation
What sets Pea Zip apart: It is the only free archiver that offers two-factor authentication for encrypted archives, combining a password with a keyfile for an extra layer of protection. Commercial tools like WinRAR and WinZip do not offer this.

The Developer Behind Pea Zip

Pea Zip is maintained by a single developer, Giorgio Tani. He has kept the project alive and evolving since 2006, releasing consistent updates with meaningful improvements rather than chasing trends or adding unnecessary complexity.

Giorgio Tani

Solo developer and maintainer of Pea Zip since its initial release in 2006. Writes the project in Free Pascal using the Lazarus IDE, and manages everything from compression backends to the cross-platform GUI.

github.com/peazip

The project is hosted on GitHub and SourceForge, where it consistently receives high ratings from users. Giorgio takes a practical approach to development: fix real problems, add useful features, and keep the application lightweight. No subscription fees, no nag screens, no bundled software.

Why People Use Pea Zip

Power users gravitate toward Pea Zip because it fills a specific gap. 7-Zip is fast and minimal but lacks a real file manager, cross-platform consistency, and advanced encryption options. WinRAR works well but costs money and only runs on Windows. WinZip has become a subscription product.

Pea Zip sits in between: it is free, handles more formats than any of its competitors, runs on every major operating system, and provides encryption features that even commercial tools lack. For users who regularly deal with varied archive formats or need to send encrypted files, Pea Zip is a practical daily tool.

The portable version is popular with IT professionals and system administrators who carry a USB toolkit. No installation means no registry entries, no leftover files, and no admin privileges needed.

About This Website

Independent Resource

peazip.app is a fan-made, independent informational resource dedicated to Pea Zip. We are not affiliated with Giorgio Tani or the official Pea Zip project in any way.

Our goal is to provide clear, accurate information about Pea Zip – including download links, usage guides, feature explanations, and frequently asked questions – so that users can get the most out of this software.

We always link to official sources for downloads. We do not host, modify, or redistribute any software files. We respect the developers and their intellectual property, and we encourage users to support the official project.

This site was created because we genuinely appreciate what Pea Zip offers. A tool this useful, maintained for this long by a single developer, deserves a dedicated resource where users can find answers without digging through forums or outdated documentation.

Get in Touch

Have questions about the information on this site, or spotted something that needs correcting? We welcome your feedback.

For questions about this website, reach out through our contact page.

Contact Us

For official Pea Zip support, visit peazip.github.io