PeaZip vs 7-Zip: is it a good Linux alternative?

PeaZip as a Linux alternative to 7-Zip

Updated October 18, 2026

Our verdict

PeaZip is a good replacement for 7-Zip on Linux, especially for users who want a GUI-driven tool with broad format support and extra features like duplicate detection, file preview, and encryption with two-factor authentication. It uses p7zip under the hood, so 7Z handling is reliable. While power users may find its CLI less direct than 7-Zip's command-line version, the scripting engine helps bridge that gap by converting GUI actions into CLI commands. It’s ideal for those who prefer visual tools but still need scripting and solid compression options.

Feature parity90%

License: LGPL-3.0-only
Price: Free
Latest version: 11.4.0 (October 17, 2026)
Rating: —

Install PeaZip Website ↗

PeaZip file / archive manager

What works the same

Both support 7Z, ZIP, TAR, GZ, and XZ formats with high compression ratios
Open-source and free to use, with strong community support
Support password protection and strong encryption for archives
Offer command-line scripting capabilities alongside GUI
Handle splitting and joining of archives

What is different

PeaZip has a richer GUI with tabs, bookmarks, and built-in file management
Includes extra tools like hex viewer, duplicate finder, and content filtering
Can export GUI tasks as CLI scripts, but lacks a native CLI as standalone tool like 7-Zip
Supports over 200 formats, including more niche ones than 7-Zip
Two-factor authentication for encryption is unique to PeaZip

Opening your 7-Zip files

PeaZip fully supports reading and writing .7z files using the p7zip backend, ensuring compatibility with archives created by 7-Zip on Windows. You can open, extract, create, and modify 7Z archives with the same compression levels and encryption (AES-256). Format conversion between 7Z and other types like ZIP or XZ is possible without extraction. Since it relies on the same open-source technologies as 7-Zip, there are no known compatibility issues with standard 7Z archives.

Switching from 7-Zip to PeaZip, step by step

Install PeaZip via your package manager or from Flathub
Set PeaZip as default handler for 7Z, ZIP, and other archive types in your file manager
Use the scripting engine to export common tasks as CLI commands for automation
Import bookmarks or recreate archive access points using PeaZip’s tab and bookmark system
Test creating and extracting 7Z files with password protection to verify workflow

Key features of PeaZip

Supports over 200 archive formats, including 7Z, RAR, ZIP, TAR, XZ, ZPAQ, Zstd, and PEA
Integrated file manager with tabs, bookmarks, and search
Built-in viewers for text, hex, and images
Archive encryption with optional two-factor authentication
Duplicate file finder and content filtering
Convert between archive formats without extraction
Scripting engine to export GUI tasks as CLI commands
Cross-platform: works on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD

How to install PeaZip on Linux

Flatpak (Flathub)flatpak install flathub io.github.peazip.PeaZip

Fedorasudo dnf install peazip

Arch / Manjarosudo pacman -S peazip

openSUSEsudo zypper install peazip

Frequently asked questions

Can PeaZip create self-extracting 7Z files like 7-Zip on Windows?

No, PeaZip cannot create self-extracting archives in 7Z format. This feature is not supported, as it's primarily a Windows-specific capability and not available through p7zip on Linux.

Is PeaZip just a frontend for 7-Zip?

It uses p7zip (the Linux port of 7-Zip) for 7Z support, but it also integrates other tools like Zstd and Brotli. It’s not just a frontend—it’s a standalone archive manager with broader backend support.

Does PeaZip integrate with my desktop file manager?

Yes, it can integrate with file managers like Nautilus, Dolphin, or Thunar via context menu entries, allowing you to create or extract archives directly from the right-click menu.

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