ArkLinux
vs
WinAceWindows
Ark as a Linux alternative to WinAce
Updated
Our verdict
Ark is a solid replacement for WinAce for most KDE users. It handles ZIP, RAR, and 7z files well, covering the core needs of creating and extracting archives. However, it lacks native ACE support, which was a key WinAce feature. If you rarely encounter ACE files, Ark works fine. If you need ACE extraction, you must install unace separately and use the command line. The GUI is intuitive, integrates deeply with Dolphin, and offers a clean interface. It is not a 1:1 clone, but it covers 90% of typical archiving tasks on Linux.
- License
- GPL-2.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 26.04.3 (July 2, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Supports ZIP and RAR formats for both creation and extraction
- Provides a graphical interface for browsing archive contents
- Allows extracting files without unpacking the entire archive
- Integrates with the file manager via context menus
- Open-source licensing (GPL-2.0+)
What is different
- No native GUI support for ACE archives (requires external tool)
- No native support for CAB files in the main UI
- Tied to the KDE ecosystem, less portable than standalone WinAce
- Command-line interface is a wrapper, not as feature-rich as dedicated CLI tools like 7z
- Does not support creating ACE archives
Opening your WinAce files
Ark opens ZIP, RAR, and 7z files created by WinAce without issues. It can also open TAR, GZIP, and BZIP2 archives. For ACE files, Ark cannot open them directly; you must use the unace command-line tool. CAB files are generally not supported natively in Ark’s GUI, though some Linux tools can handle them. If you have legacy ACE archives, plan to use the terminal to extract them.
Switching from WinAce to Ark, step by step
- Install Ark via your package manager or Flathub
- Install
unaceif you need to extract ACE files - Configure Dolphin to use Ark as the default archive manager
- Test extracting a ZIP and RAR file to verify functionality
- Use the terminal with
unacefor any ACE archives - Bookmark the Ark command for quick CLI access if needed
Key features of Ark
- Supports tar, gzip, bzip2, zip, rar, 7z and many other formats
- Create, extract, and modify archives from a single UI
- File preview inside archives without extraction
- Drag‑and‑drop integration with KDE file manager
- Batch extraction and compression
- Context‑menu actions in Dolphin and other file managers
- Command‑line wrapper (ark) for quick operations
How to install Ark on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.kde.arkFrequently asked questions
Can Ark create ACE archives?
No. Ark does not support creating ACE archives. You would need a different tool for that, which is rare on Linux.
Does Ark work on GNOME or XFCE?
Yes, Ark can run on other desktop environments, but it is designed for KDE. It may look out of place and lacks some integration features outside Dolphin.
How do I extract an ACE file with Ark?
You can’t directly in the GUI. Open a terminal and run unace x filename.ace to extract the contents.
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