If you compress files regularly to make them easier to send via email and other mediums then you are probably familiar with file compression tools. We have been testing ZipGenius for a while now by using it as our primary file compression option.
ZipGenius has proven effective in saving space, secure and quick file sharing, along with effective file organization.
Everything from the interface to the usage process for ZipGenius is simple and easy to follow. We never ran into a situation where we couldn’t figure out how this tool works and didn’t come across a file format that it couldn’t compress.
Anyone who wants to compress files without losing data should give ZipGenius a try. This article will explain all the reasons why this file compression tool stands out in the sea of file compressors.
What is ZipGenius?
ZipGenius falls under the category of tools that are designed to reduce the size of a file to make it easier to share online. When a file’s size is reduced from hundreds of MBs to a few MBs or even KBs it can be sent over the internet quickly even if you don’t have a high-speed internet connection.
While the major application of ZipGenius lies in professional file sharing this tool also works great for students who want to send their projects to their teachers or classmates without taking up too much space.
ZipGenius goes one step further than traditional file zip tools because it offers file backups. So even if you end up losing your data you can always recover it within the ZipGenius interface.
Note: ZipGenius is moving to zipgenius.it from zipgenius.com and the old address won’t bring up the tool after a while. So if you want to download or simply learn more about ZipGenius then head over to zipgenius.it from now on.
ZipGenius Features
Support for Over 20 Archive Types: If you regularly handle and compress files in multiple formats then ZipGenius’s multi-archive format support is a great feature for you. With over 20 supported archive formats you can compress and extract all major compressed file types.
Handles Large ZIP Archives Over 4 GB: ZipGenius supports compression and extraction of large files with up to 4GB size. So if you have a very large file to compress and your regular zip tool isn’t working then ZipGenius is worth a shot.
OpenOffice.org/StarOffice Optimization: If you work with OpenOffice.org or StarOffice software and looking for a compression tool that is optimized for these files then ZipGenius is the best option for you. This tool can optimize OpenOffice.org files and makes it easy to compress and share them.
Four Viewing Modes for Files: ZipGenius allows you to view your files or documents in 4 different modes. This makes sure that you can identify the correct file to compress and share among a large number of files.
Two Ways to Browse Files: Finding files is also flexible when it comes to ZipGenius as you can either use the folder view to locate files or the integral view depending upon your preference.
Five Compression Levels: You can control how much you want to compress a file using 5 different compression levels. This feature ensures that you get the right compression depending on the usage scenario.
Brutal+UPX Compression for Executable Files: Compressing executable files always comes at a risk that they may not work properly after being compressed. However, with ZipGenius Brutal+UPX compression, you can make sure that the files will remain intact after compression.
Exportable File Lists: ZipGenius allows you to arrange archives based on the file format e.g HTML, CSV, XML, TXT, and more. This feature helps keep your archives organized.
Create Advanced Self-Extracting Files (SFX): ZipGenius has the capability to create self-extracting compressed files. These types of files extract themselves and are ideal if you want to distribute PC software using the executable file.
Smart Extract: Smart extract neatly organizes the files that get extracted. So you know what folder contains all your extracted files arranged in an order.
Multivolume Archive Creation: ZipGenius has many cutting-edge features however one of the most useful ones is multi-volume archiving for large files. This feature allows you to make multiple compressed files spread across multiple parts so they are easier to transfer or store.
Repair Damaged ZIP Files and AutoTest: If you have an important zip file that has been damaged and won’t extract you can use the repair damaged zip feature of ZipGenius. This tool can test an archive and even fix it to make it usable.
Drag and Drop Support: If you can’t locate the correct file within the ZipGenius file import section you can simply drag and drop the files for conversion.
Find Files Inside Archives: ZipGenius allows you to find a file faster with the find files feature. This feature can save you from wasting time on opening the wrong archives.
MultiOpen Feature: This tool can extract multiple zipped files at once saving time and improving efficiency.
7-ZIP Format Supported: 7-Zip is a secure compression format and ZipGenius supports this format.
Favorite Folders: Favorites option in ZipGenius allows you to mark a folder as your favorite so you can find it easily every time.
Install Applications, Themes, and Skins: ZipGenius not only extracts compressed files but it can also install the software, themes or even skins for things like music player within its interface.
File Marker Based on Criteria: You can organize files using different criteria and access them within seconds.MD5 Checksum Control: The MD5 Checksum Control feature in ZipGenius makes it possible to check each archive to make sure its functional.
How is the user interface of ZipGenius?
The interface of ZipGenius reminds you of the classic software with all the features arranged neatly for easy access. Besides ZipGenius provides new users with a ZipGenius Starter guide that explains everything you need to know to run, setup, and use this tool.
On top of the starter guide, you have your First Step Assistant integrated into ZipGenius which shows you the step by step process of using the tool. The tool is compatible with both older versions of Windows and the newer ones.
The menus on the ZipGenius interface and customizable so you can set the features you use the most on top ready to be accessed. With everything arranged right on the main screen, you never have to struggle to find a feature in ZipGenius.
System Requirements to Install ZipGenius
ZipGenius is very well optimized and it can run on devices with low specifications fairly well. However, with higher specs the performance of the tool is greatly enhanced and you can do the compressions and extractions faster. With that said here are the system requirements of ZipGenius:
Minimum Requirements (for older systems):
- CPU: Any Intel Pentium or AMD K5 processor should work.
- RAM: You need at least 16 MB of memory.
- Storage: Make sure you have at least 32 MB of free disk space.
- Operating System: You should have Windows XP installed.
- Input Device: A mouse is required for using the program.
- Internet Access: You’ll need an internet connection for certain features.
Suggested Minimum Requirements (for a smoother experience):
- CPU: It’s better to have an Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon XP processor.
- RAM: Having 2 GB of memory is recommended for better performance.
- Storage: You should have 750 MB of free disk space for storing compressed files.
- Operating System: Windows 7 is a better choice if you’re using a more recent computer.
- Input Device: A mouse is still required.
- Internet Access: This is needed for certain features.
ZipGenius works on all Windows versions from Windows XP onwards, however, the tool won’t run on Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, or any other Windows version that is older than the XP.
Not to mention you can download ZipGenius for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. But that’s not all the tool might be designed for the Windows platform but you can also download and run it on the Mac and Linux platforms using a tool called Wine with decent stability.
However in the future, you may expect to find Linux and macOS versions of ZipGenius that you could download from the official website. The Linux and macOS versions of the tool are already being planned but the exact release dates aren’t known.
Files Supported by ZipGenius
| File Type | External Tool Required? | Extraction | Compression |
|---|---|---|---|
| CZIP, ZIP, EXE (ZIP SFX) | No | Yes | Yes |
| JAR,, WAR (Java Archive), EAR | No | Yes | Yes |
| RAR, R**, EXE (RAR SFX), CBR | No | Yes | No |
| TAR,TAR.BZ2, TAR.GZ, TAZ, TGZ | No | Yes | Yes* |
| ISO, NRG, CMI | No | Yes | No |
| OpenOffice / LibreOffice Documents (OD*) | No | Yes | Yes |
| CAB | No | Yes | Yes* |
| RPM | No | Yes | Yes* |
| DSFZ, BSZ, CBZ, PCV, MSKIN | No | Yes | Yes |
| XPI – Firefox Extension | No | Yes | Yes |
| OpenOffice.org 1.x Documents | No | Yes | Yes |
| ACE, EXE (ACE SFX) | No | Yes | No |
| ARJ | Yes | Yes | No |
| LZH, LHA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SQX, WAL, WMZ, YZ1 | No | Yes | Yes |
These are all the file types supported by ZipGenius for extraction and compression. However, some file types may require a supporting tool to process them.
How secure are your files with ZipGenius?
With ZipGenius you can safely compress and extract files without worrying about your file’s getting accessed by unauthorized individuals. That is because ZipGenius is equipped with four encryption algorithms (CZIP 2.1, Blowfish, Rijndael AES, Twofish) to protect your files and data.
If you are worried that your compressed files may get misused you can create CZIP files that are self-locking/deleting files. So once the file has been accessed it becomes locked or gets deleted to prevent unauthorized access.
You can even make fully encrypted files with self-decrypting capability to share confidential data. You can also store and manage file passwords from within ZipGenius and thanks to the regular backups your data remains secure and accessible at all times.
ZipGenius goes as far as scanning your archives for malware so you don’t extract and install a harmful program. And with the ability to set and view the unique zip file signature for your compressed files, it is easier to identify original files.
How Much Does ZipGenius Cost?
ZipGenius is essentially a free to use software that anyone can download from the official website of the tool. The software earns money by displaying ads to the users which gives them advertising revenue.
With that said you can donate money to ZipGenius if you want to support this tool and allow them to keep updating the program. They accept donations through various gateways however their preferred method is through Ethereum. You can use the following address to donate to ZipGenius (0xF930D3dD7e33b92b4F7b59C87655746e00cc282).
Other Important Tools of ZipGenius
ZipGenius offers a number of additional tools that serve as add-ons to the main compression and extraction tool. Here are all the add-ons ZipGenius has to offer:
1. ZGTools
ZGTools are a collection of tools that users can use in combination with the ZipGenius software or independently. The ZGTools are designed to work alongside ZipGenius and make the overall experience better.
There are quite a few ZGTools that you can download and use today to enhance your workflow with ZipGenius. However, the company has announced that more tools may be available soon. The most prominent ZGTool is Cutter which is available with the ZipGenius Suite edition. However, you can always go to the official website to download more ZGTools.
ZGTools aren’t directly developed by ZipGenius but instead, they are made by a third-party developer. For example, M.Dev Software is a company that is currently making and supporting the ZGTools however any developer can develop software that works alongside ZipGenius.
You get a separate setup and installation program for every ZGTool and once you complete the installation successfully you can go to the Tools section in ZipGenius to access it. ZGTools can help with specific tasks such as splitting large archives, automating certain tasks, and enhancing existing features.
2. Cutter 5
As mentioned in the previous section Cutter 5 is one of the tools you get with ZipGenius and this tool can be used to split a larger archive file into smaller manageable chunks. Once the size of the entire file is split among multiple smaller parts it is easier to share via email, FTP servers, or distributed via multiple CDs.
While you need Cutter to create a split file you don’t need the same tool to extract the split files. So the recipients can extract the multiple parts of a zipped file using the usual methods.
You can use Cutter 5 with Windows 2000, all the way up to Windows 10 however it doesn’t work for Windows versions older than the 2000.
3. ZipGenius Museum
ZipGenius Museum is essentially a collection of every single version of ZipGenius that has been released to this date. So if you have an older operating system and want to download a version of ZipGenius that is compatible with the older OS you can find the compatible version through ZipGenius Museum.
ZipGenius Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Quick processing capabilities
- Easy-to-use interface design
- Prominently sized buttons for key functions
- Step-by-step guidance for users
- Free to use
Cons:
- Somewhat slow performance
Conclusion
Extracting zipped files and creating archives is an important task for anyone who works with files. ZipGenius offers all in one solution to those looking for comprehensive software that can do everything you may want while compressing and extracting files.
Its simple interface and a ton of features make it a must-have for every PC. Not to mention it comes with step by step guides for those who want to make sure they know how to use the tool properly. And you get all these features and convenience for free in return for some ads.
While the tool may get bogged down if used on a slower computer it still performs well on medium to high-spec systems. So if you were looking for a Windows File Compression tool then ZipGenius is the one you should look out for.
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