A ZIP archive bundles many files into one. That is handy when an upload form takes a single file, when you email a set of documents, or when you want to keep a set of files together.
Does zipping make files smaller?
Sometimes. ZIP uses lossless Deflate compression, so nothing inside is changed and every file comes back exactly as it went in. Text, CSV, spreadsheets, uncompressed images such as BMP and TIFF, and WAV audio often shrink a lot. Files that are already compressed, such as JPG, PNG, MP4, MP3, PDF and Office documents, barely shrink at all, since there is little left to squeeze. For those, the gain is having one file instead of many.
To make photos or PDFs genuinely smaller, compress them first with Compress Image or Compress PDF, then zip the results.
Will the ZIP open on every computer?
Yes. Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android all open ZIP files without extra software.
What happens with files that have the same name?
Each file keeps its name inside the archive. If two files share a name, the second gets a number added, so nothing is overwritten. Files are placed side by side at the top level of the archive, without folders.
Can I add a password?
No. These ZIPs are not encrypted. For a sensitive document, protect it first, for example with Protect PDF, then zip it.
Is my file stored?
Zipping runs on our server. Your files are uploaded over an encrypted connection, packed in Germany and deleted with the archive automatically within two hours.
Is it free?
Yes, for up to 5 files. Each file can be up to 50 MB. Packing up to 5 files is free without an account and up to 10 with a free account; Pro packs up to 500 files of up to 500 MB each. The Archive preset in the pipeline builder strips photo metadata and zips the set in one run, which you can try on up to 3 files for free.
How to create a ZIP file
- Drop the files onto the drop zone.
- Click Create ZIP.
- Download the archive.
FAQ
What file types can I zip?
Any. The archive does not care what is inside.
Can I zip a whole folder with subfolders?
Files are added side by side, without their folder structure. To keep folders, zip them on your computer: right-click and choose Compress or Send to compressed folder.
Why is my ZIP almost as big as the files?
The files were already compressed, for example photos, videos or PDFs.
How do I open a ZIP I received?
Double-click it on a computer, or tap it in the Files app on a phone. You can also use Extract ZIP.