PeaZip: The Cross-Platform Archive Manager You Can Actually Rely On

This article answers: “What can PeaZip do for daily compression tasks on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and how do I get productive in minutes?”

Quick Glance: 30 Seconds to Know PeaZip

Background: Why I Switched Away From Paid Archivers

Author’s reflection

Two years ago I needed to extract a .rar on a client’s locked-down Ubuntu laptop. My corporate license did not cover Linux, and the CLI utilities were outdated. I downloaded PeaZip portable, extracted the archive in under a minute, and never looked back. The same binary later ran on my M1 Mac mini without recompilation—one tool, zero friction.

Core Question 1: How Do I Install PeaZip on Each OS?

Windows

1. Grab the installer (PeaZip-x.y.z.WIN64.exe) from the official site.
2. Run the InnoSetup wizard; tick Integrate in Explorer context menu for right-click convenience.
3. Launch → Settings → Language → English or 简体中文.

Linux

macOS

Download the universal .dmg (PeaZip-x.y.z.DARWIN.aarch64.dmg).
Drag to Applications; if Gatekeeper blocks, allow via System Settings → Privacy & Security.

Core Question 2: 200+ Formats in Practice—Real Scenarios

Core Question 3: Security Beyond “Just a Password”

1. Encryption standards

   • AES-256 for 7z, ZipCrypto or AES-256 for ZIP, custom PEA format.
2. Two-factor archive protection

   • Password + keyfile (any file you choose).
   • Use case: Store keyfile on a USB stick; archive is useless without both factors.
3. Secure deletion

   • Tools → Secure delete → 3-pass DoD 5220.22-M overwrites data.
4. Scripted encryption example

   peazip -add2archive \
     -archive_path="./backup.7z" \
     -compression_level=9 \
     -encryption=AES256 \
     -password="Sup3rS3cret" \
     -keyfile="$HOME/key.bin" \
     /var/www
   

Author’s reflection

I once uploaded a mis-labelled archive to a public share. The keyfile was on an encrypted micro-SD in my wallet; without it the file was unreadable. Lesson learned: two-factor is not paranoia—it is policy.

Core Question 4: Automation & Scripting—Turn GUI Clicks into One-Liners

Export a Console Script

After configuring a compression job in the GUI:
Job → Export script → choose .bat (Windows) or .sh (Unix).
Copy that single line into your CI pipeline.

GitLab CI Example (Linux Runner)

archive_site:
  stage: package
  script:
    - peazip -add2archive \
        -archive_path="site-$(date +%F).7z" \
        ./public/
  artifacts:
    paths:
      - site-*.7z

Cron Integration

# Daily 3 a.m. DB dump → encrypted 7z
0 3 * * * /usr/bin/peazip -add2archive \
  -archive_path="/backups/db-$(date +\%F).7z" \
  -encryption=AES256 \
  -password="$DB_BACKUP_PASS" \
  /var/lib/mysql/dump.sql

Author’s reflection

My first cron job failed because the snap package could not access /var/log. Switching to the native .deb solved path issues—always test file-system permissions when containerizing.

Core Question 5: Plug-ins & Add-Ons—RAR, ACE, UPX in One Click

No extra configuration; the GUI lists newly supported formats automatically.

Core Question 6: Performance Snapshot

Testbed: ThinkPad T14s (Ryzen 7 5850U, 16 GB, NVMe)
Dataset: 4.3 GB mixed files (code, images, binaries)

Author’s reflection

When CPU cycles are cheap, 7z Ultra gives the smallest footprint; when the pipeline is under load, tar.gz trades size for speed intelligently.

Common Pitfalls & How to Dodge Them

1. Character encoding in ZIP
   Windows-created ZIP with Chinese filenames may garble under Linux → tick Use OEM codepage during extraction.
2. Missing volume parts
   Ensure all .z01, .z02… reside in the same folder before starting extraction.
3. Flatpak sandbox limits
   Grant path access with flatpak override io.github.peazip.PeaZip --filesystem=/custom/path.
4. macOS quarantine flag
   After first launch, allow via System Settings → Privacy & Security if Gatekeeper blocks.

One-Page Overview

• Install: grab matching package → 30 seconds → ready
• Extract: right-click any archive → Extract here → 200+ formats handled
• Encrypt: AES-256 + optional keyfile → two-factor archives
• Automate: GUI → Export script → drop into cron/GitLab CI
• Extend: drop UNRAR5/UNACE/UPX into res/ folder → restart → new formats appear
• Backup: volume splitting + secure delete → GDPR / compliance ready

Action Checklist / Implementation Steps

Today’s 5-step plan:

1. Visit peazip.github.io and download the package for your OS.
2. Install, then open Settings → Language → choose your locale.
3. Right-click any folder → Add to archive → select 7z, AES-256, enter password.
4. After job completes, Job → Export script → copy the command into crontab -e.
5. Bookmark the add-ons page and update UNRAR5 whenever new RAR5 variants appear.

FAQ

1. Which Apple Silicon chips are supported?
   All aarch64 variants including M1 and M2; use the DARWIN.aarch64.dmg.

2. How do I extract multi-part RAR sets?
   Place every .part1.rar, .part2.rar, … in one folder, then right-click any part → Extract here.

3. What is the difference between PEA and 7z formats?
   PEA is PeaZip’s native format with integrity checks and recovery records; 7z offers broader third-party compatibility.

4. Can PeaZip run on a headless Linux server?
   Yes—use the -console flag for pure CLI operation.

5. How do I give Flatpak access to external drives?
   Run flatpak override io.github.peazip.PeaZip --filesystem=/media/user.

6. How do I verify the installer checksum?
   The site publishes SHA-256 hashes; run sha256sum peazip-*.deb (or *.dmg, *.exe) and compare.

7. Is the password visible in exported scripts?
   By default yes; use environment variables ($PEAZIP_PASS) to avoid plaintext secrets.