WinZip is a standard way to open compressed zip files on Microsoft Windows and even Mac computers for many people, but it's possible to open zip files without the program on most modern computers using built-in operating system functionality. Third-party zip programs still have some benefits for some people, such as integrating with cloud storage tools and supporting other types of compression.
Tip
On a Windows or Mac computer, you can open a zip file without any special program simply by double-clicking it.
Open Zip Files on Windows
Zip files are commonly used to reduce the size of one or more files in order to store them more succinctly or transmit them more quickly online. They're often available for downloading photos or software from various websites, and they're often sent as attachments to emails. The zip file system and format is standardized, so many different tools can read and write zip files. Note that zip files can contain malware, so it's good to be wary of one that you receive unexpectedly, such as in an email, until you verify it's safe by contacting the person who sent it.
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If you receive a zip file or otherwise come across one on your computer, you can easily open it using built-in tools on Windows. You can either extract all the files in the zipped folder by right-clicking on it, then clicking "Extract All," or open it essentially as a standard folder by double-clicking it, then dragging any files inside to your desktop or another preferred location.
You can also make a zip file on Windows by right-clicking on a file or folder, then selecting "Compressed (zipped) folder" in the "Send to" menu.
Open Zip Files on Mac
MacOS also enables you to open a zip file without any special software tools simply by double-clicking it. A zip read or created on Windows, MacOS or another operating system will behave the same way.
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Third-Party Zip Utilities
There are still a number of third-party compression programs that you can get for free or purchase if you prefer. Among them are WinZip, 7-Zip and WinRAR. Many of these tools can handle additional file formats, such as the RAR file format used by WinRAR or the .7z file format used by 7-Zip, and many provide different interfaces that can be useful if you need to make especially complex zip files or frequently work with zip files.
Many also boast integration with cloud services such as Dropbox and OneDrive to easily upload compressed files, and some have other options as well, such as splitting up large files to fit on certain types of recordable media, such as CDs or small USB memory sticks.
