Keka
free archiver that creates 7z and zip and extracts almost anything
Free
Keka reads RAR but cannot write it, and there is no way to open an archive, swap one file and re-save — that is what paid tools like BetterZip are for. It is also not open source: the repository at github.com/aonez/Keka publishes no code and no licence file and exists, in its own words, to handle issues and host a wiki. Paying $6.49 on the App Store buys you App Store updates and a tip to the developer, nothing functional.
Keka is the archiver you install once and then stop thinking about. Drag a folder onto its Dock icon and you get a 7z or a ZIP; double-click almost anything and it comes back out — RAR, ISO, DMG, CAB, LZMA, the various TARs. Password protection with AES-256 is built in, as is splitting an archive into volumes when something has to fit under a size limit.
The money is worth being clear about. The download from keka.io is free and complete, and it is the same build as the Mac App Store copy, which costs $6.49. The developer says as much on the front page: buying from the App Store supports development and gets you updates through the App Store, and that is the whole difference. The App Store version also offers tip purchases from $0.49 to $49.99. None of them unlock anything.
Two things it will not do. It cannot create RAR archives, only read them. And it cannot open an existing archive, change one file inside and write it back — for that, BetterZip or Archiver earn their price. Also, despite appearances, the GitHub repository is an issue tracker with a wiki, not source code, and carries no licence. Keka is free, actively developed and closed.
What it looks like
What it does
- Creates 7z, ZIP, TAR and GZip archives
- Extracts RAR, ISO, DMG, LZMA, CAB and dozens of other formats
- AES-256 encryption with password-protected archives
- Splits archives into fixed-size volumes
- Finder context menu and drag-to-Dock compression
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Also bought outright in files
The facts
- Price
- Free
- Licence
- Free
- What you get
- No licence to buy.
- Details
- Free from keka.io — the direct download is the full app with nothing withheld. The identical build on the Mac App Store costs $6.49, which the developer describes as a way of supporting development rather than a feature unlock. The App Store version also carries optional tip purchases from $0.49 to $49.99, plus PayPal, crypto and GitHub Sponsors links on the site.
- Free trial
- No
- On Setapp
- No
- Minimum macOS
- not stated
- Developer
- Aone (aonez)
- Price checked
- 2026-09-22 (medium confidence)
Check it yourself - Price band
- Free