Ziplark › 7-Zip for Mac
Free & open source · reads & writes .7z · AES-256
7-Zip for Mac,
the free way
There's no official 7-Zip app for macOS — just the command-line
p7zip port. Ziplark is a free, open-source alternative with a
real Mac app that opens and creates .7z (with AES-256), plus ZIP, RAR, tar
and the compressed-tar family.
or brew install --cask zhitongblog/tap/ziplark
Ziplark vs 7-Zip / p7zip on Mac
| Ziplark | 7-Zip (official) | p7zip (CLI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native Mac app | ✓ | Windows only | terminal only |
| Open .7z | ✓ | not on Mac | ✓ |
| Create .7z (AES-256) | ✓ | not on Mac | ✓ |
| Also ZIP / RAR / tar / ISO | ✓ | ✓ (Win) | 7z/zip/tar |
| Drag-and-drop GUI | ✓ | — | — |
CLI with --json | ✓ | — | — |
| AI / MCP integration | ✓ | — | — |
| Maintained & open source | ✓ | ✓ | stale port |
Why people search "7-Zip for Mac"
7-Zip is the go-to archiver on Windows, so when people move to a Mac they look for the same
thing — and hit a wall: the official 7-Zip has no macOS app. The usual workarounds are the
aging p7zip command line or a paid App Store utility.
Ziplark gives you the part you actually wanted: a small, native Mac app that reads and
writes .7z with AES-256, handles ZIP, RAR (extract), tar and ISO too, and — if
you liked 7-Zip's scriptability — ships a real CLI plus an MCP server for AI agents.
Create a .7z on Mac
In the app, open Create, drag your files in, pick 7z and a compression level, add a password for AES-256, and save. From the terminal:
ziplark create archive.7z ./folder --level best
ziplark create secret.7z ./folder --password hunter27-Zip on Mac — FAQ
Is there an official 7-Zip for macOS?
No — only the p7zip command-line port. Ziplark is a free, open-source app that
opens and creates .7z on macOS with a GUI.
How do I extract a .7z file on Mac?
Install Ziplark, then double-click the .7z or drag it onto the window and choose
where to extract.
Can I make encrypted 7z archives?
Yes — Ziplark writes AES-256 encrypted .7z (and ZIP) archives on every OS.
Does it work on Apple Silicon?
Yes, the macOS build is universal and notarized for Apple Silicon and Intel.
Related: Open RAR on Mac · Free WinRAR alternative · Ziplark home