BetterZip 6.0.6 — macOS

If you already use the command line for archives but want a visual way to peek inside a ZIP or 7z without extracting everything first, BetterZip is the tool. It lives in the Finder menu and in its own window, letting you open, edit, and rebuild archives without leaving a mess of temp files on your desktop.

Add or remove single files from ZIP or RAR

• Quickly adding or removing a single file from an existing ZIP or RAR archive.
• Extracting ISO disk images, which the Finder doesn't handle natively.
• Adding AES-256 encryption to archives you send to clients.
• Writing AppleScripts to automate archive workflows.
• Using a language other than your system language — new in 6.0.6.

Requires macOS 13.5 with Apple Silicon optimizations

• Requires macOS 13.5 or later. Works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
• The 7z helper was updated to v26.03 with Apple Silicon optimizations.
• There’s a Finder extension and contextual menu, but you need to enable it in System Settings.
• A rare crash involving external helper tools was fixed in 6.0.6.

Turn off macOS metadata restoration in Preferences

Before you start working with archives in BetterZip, a few settings are worth adjusting to match how you work. Open Preferences and look for the option to avoid restoring macOS metadata during extraction — it's new in version 6.0.6. When you extract an archive created on another system, this keeps file attributes from being overwritten with macOS-specific data. Handy if you're prepping files for someone on Windows or Linux.

If English isn't your system language but you'd rather use BetterZip in English, the same version added a language override. You can set it to any of the ten available languages: English, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese (Simplified), Polish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, or Japanese. Find the language setting in Preferences and pick what you prefer. It applies immediately to the app window and menus.

Also check the Finder integration setting. BetterZip can add items to the contextual menu, which makes opening archives from right-click faster than launching the app each time. The setting is in Preferences under integration or extensions.

Answers before you install

Does BetterZip work with both ZIP and 7z on Mac?

Yes. It opens, creates, and edits ZIP archives natively, and it handles 7z files as well. You can open a 7z archive, browse contents, extract what you need, or delete files without extracting everything to a folder first. The 7z helper in 6.0.6 was updated to v26.03 and includes Apple Silicon assembler optimizations, so it makes good use of newer Mac hardware.

Can it extract ISO files without extra software?

Yes. The Finder won't open an ISO disk image, but BetterZip can extract its contents directly. Select the ISO, open it in BetterZip, and extract the files you need to a folder. No need for third-party tools or mounting utilities.

What about encryption?

BetterZip supports AES-256 encryption for ZIP archives. You can set a password when creating a new archive or apply one to an existing archive. There's also a password generator built in, so you don't have to think up strong passwords on your own.

Can I use BetterZip with AppleScripts or automation tools?

Yes. BetterZip includes AppleScript integration, which means you can control archive operations from scripts. This works well for batch processing folders or integrating archive management into larger workflows. The operations queue also lets you set up direct compression and extraction tasks that run without further interaction.

Edit files inside archives without repacking

• In-archive editing. You can rename or move files and folders inside an archive without repacking the whole thing. This saves time when you need to reorganize an archive's contents.
• Remove single files directly. Open the archive, select a file, and remove it. BetterZip rebuilds the archive in place without needing to recompress everything from scratch.
• Quick Look previews. Press the spacebar on an archive in the Finder and BetterZip shows you the contents in the preview panel. You can see what's inside without launching the full app.
• Comments on ZIP and RAR archives. You can add notes to ZIP and RAR archives directly in BetterZip. Useful for labeling archive contents or adding version information.
• Password generator. When creating encrypted archives, use the built-in generator to create strong passwords. It's one less trip to a separate password tool.

• Option to use a language different from the system language.
• Option to avoid restoring macOS metadata during extraction.
• Updated 7z helper to v26.03 with Apple Silicon assembler optimizations.
• Fixed a rare crash with external helper tools.

• macOS 13.5 or later
• Intel or Apple Silicon