Can I create a RAR archive?

No — RAR is a proprietary format, and only WinRAR's own software can create RAR files; every other tool, including this one, can only extract them. You can create ZIP, 7Z, TAR, or GZ archives here, all of which are open formats.

Can I archive multiple files and folders together?

Yes, select as many files as you need and they'll be bundled into a single archive, preserving their relative structure.

Which format should I choose?

ZIP is the most universally compatible choice and opens natively on nearly every operating system without extra software. 7Z typically achieves stronger compression for a smaller file at the cost of needing dedicated software to open on some systems. TAR and GZ are common in Unix and Linux environments.

Is there a limit on file size or number of files?

No hard limit is enforced by the tool. Very large archives are only bounded by your device's available memory, since compression happens entirely in your browser.

Does compressing files into an archive reduce their quality?

No, standard archive compression is lossless — every file's exact original data is preserved and can be extracted back out unchanged, regardless of the archive format.

Is my file uploaded to a server?

No. Archive creation runs entirely in your browser using a real compiled compression engine. Your files are never transmitted anywhere.

Is this ZIP file creator free with no limit on how many archives I make?

Yes. This free online ZIP and archive creator has no daily limit, no per-archive cost, and no watermark or restriction on file count.

Which compression level should I choose?

A higher compression level produces a smaller archive at the cost of somewhat longer processing time; a lower level compresses faster but leaves the archive larger — for most everyday use, a balanced middle setting works well, reserving maximum compression for cases where file size specifically matters more than speed.

Can I create an archive from a mix of file types, like documents, images, and videos together?

Yes, an archive doesn't care what kind of files it contains — documents, images, videos, and any other file type can all be bundled together into one archive in the same operation.

Will the folder structure of my uploaded files be preserved inside the archive?

Yes, when you upload a folder or multiple files with a relative structure, that structure is preserved inside the resulting archive, so extracting it later reproduces the same folder layout.

Why would I use 7Z instead of the more common ZIP format?

7Z generally achieves stronger compression than ZIP for the same files, meaning a smaller resulting archive — the tradeoff is that some operating systems need separate software installed to open a 7Z file, whereas ZIP support is built into virtually every modern operating system by default.

What archive format should I use if I am not sure what the recipient can open?

ZIP is the safest default, since it opens natively without any additional software on Windows, Mac, and virtually every other modern operating system.

Does creating an archive compress the files inside it?

Generally yes, most archive formats apply compression as part of bundling files together, though the amount of size reduction depends heavily on what kind of files are included, since already-compressed formats like JPG or MP4 compress much less further than uncompressed formats do.

Can I create an archive that preserves a folder structure, not just a flat list of files?

Yes, an archive can preserve nested folder organization exactly as the files were arranged before archiving, which extracts back into that same folder structure when opened later.

Create Archive

Compress one or more files into a ZIP, 7Z, TAR, or GZ archive.

Processed entirely in your browser. Your file is never uploaded anywhere.

Why create archives with Tools Root

Bundling multiple files into one compressed archive makes sharing, uploading, and storing them far more manageable than handling dozens of individual files — and compression shrinks the total size in the process. This free ZIP and archive creator does all of it directly in the browser.

A real 7-Zip engine, not a reimplementation

Archive creation runs on the actual 7-Zip binary compiled to WebAssembly, rather than a simplified reimplementation of the compression algorithm — meaning genuine, standards-compliant ZIP, 7Z, TAR, and GZ output that opens correctly in any standard archive tool.

A free online ZIP maker with adjustable compression

Whether you need maximum compatibility with a standard ZIP file or the strongest possible compression with 7Z, this tool builds a genuine, standards-compliant archive with configurable compression level, at no cost and with no software to install beyond a browser.

Common use cases

Bundling a project's files into one ZIP before sending them to a colleague, compressing a folder of photos to save storage space, archiving old files for long-term backup, packaging multiple documents together for a single upload where only one file is allowed, or preparing a software project's files as a single distributable archive.

After creating an archive

To later reopen files you or someone else has archived, Extract Archive unpacks ZIP, 7Z, TAR, GZ, and RAR archives back into their original files.

Why bundle files into an archive before sharing them

Sending several individual files separately, through email or an upload form, is often more cumbersome than sending one combined archive, which keeps everything together as a single item, preserves the original folder structure if there is one, and in many cases compresses the total size down as part of the same step.

Choosing an archive format for the destination

ZIP remains the most broadly compatible archive format, opening natively on virtually every operating system without additional software. Formats like 7Z or TAR.GZ can achieve better compression for certain content but are not always as universally supported, which matters most when the recipient's software or platform is not known in advance.

How to create an archive

1Upload one or more files, or an entire folder.
2Choose your archive format: ZIP, 7Z, TAR, or GZ.
3Set a compression level if the format supports it.
4Download your compressed archive.

Frequently asked questions

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