Compression Format Comparison: Which One Offers the Highest Capacity?

When we ask ourselves what is the compression format with greater compression capacityThe answer seems simple, but it actually depends on many factors. Different compression formats, as well as the programs that manage them, have their own specificities, advantages, and limitations that you should be aware of. Understanding the options available and which one to choose for each situation will not only save you space, but also time and headaches when sharing or archiving information.

In this article I offer you a Comprehensive comparison of the main file compression formats, analyzing real-world test results, use cases, advantages, disadvantages, and compatibility, along with concrete recommendations so you know which one is right for you based on your goals. If you're looking for clarity, data-driven answers, and don't want to get lost in technical jargon, here's the definitive guide.

Why compress files and what types of compression exist?

La file compression It is a fundamental technique that allows you to reduce the space occupied by one or more files, making it easier to storage and transfer. This is especially useful when we need to send large amounts of information over the internet, save backup copies, or simply free up hard drive space.

Compression eliminates redundancies and, depending on the method, can be no loss (lossless) or at a loss (lossy). In lossless compression, the original data can be recovered exactly upon decompression, while lossy compression removes some information (common in images, video, and audio), sacrificing some quality in exchange for a more aggressive size reduction.

reduce space This means being able to store and transport more data in less time, send smaller email attachments, speed up backups, and share files easily.

Additionally, many formats include advanced options such as password encryption or volume splitting to distribute large files, which is very useful for advanced users or corporate environments.

Main compression formats and features

There are multiple compression formats, but the most common ones in everyday life are ZIP, RAR, 7-ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR and XZBelow we break down how each one works, what advantages it offers, and in what contexts it's ideal.

ZIP

ZIP It is probably the most familiar format for any user, since it is a native part of systems Windows, macOS and most distributions LinuxIts main advantage is the universal compatibility: You can open or create ZIPs on virtually any device without installing anything additional.

It works by lossless compression and is fast both in compressing and decompressing, although its tasa of compresion It's not the highest. If you're looking to reduce size easily and with a portable format, ZIP is your ally, although for maximum space savings, there are superior options.

Admits encryption (albeit weak) and the ability to include multiple files or folders. commands basic in Linux they are:

• zip archivo.zip carpeta_o_archivo to compress
• unzip archivo.zip to extract

RAR

RAR It is a proprietary format, powered by WinRAR, which offers a good compression ratio and advanced options such as solid compression (treats all files as a continuous stream), error recovery, volume splitting and AES-128 encryption.

In Windows environments it is very common; for Linux there are programs like unrar to extract. RAR outperforms ZIP in compression, but still falls behind 7-ZIP in most scenarios based on real-world comparisons.

7-ZIP (7z)

7-zip, based on the 7z format and the LZMA (or LZMA2) algorithm, is a favorite among power users and space-critical environments. Offers the highest compression rate of all popular formats and is also completely free and open source.

7-ZIP supports solid compression, AES-256 encryption, multiple processors for faster processing, and support for a multitude of algorithms. It can compress and decompress 7z files, as well as open many other formats (ZIP, RAR, CAB, TAR, etc.).

The only downside is that it is only natively present on systems where the program is installed, although there are versions for Windows, Linux, and macOS. If you are looking for the maximum space saving, 7-ZIP is your best option.

GZIP

GZIP It is mainly used in systems Unix and Linux and is designed to compress individual files (not directories). It uses the algorithm deflate and offers a balance between compression ratio and speed.

It is generally combined with TAR to pack and compress multiple files into a single archive (.tar.gz). GZIP is ideal when searching for fast and reasonable results, especially when transferring data over the web or making quick backups.

bzip2

bzip2 It improves compression efficiency compared to GZIP but at the cost of consuming more resources and time. It is highly valued for compressing large volumes where space is important, although its speed is lower to that of GZIP.

As with GZIP, it is often used in conjunction with TAR to package directories (.tar.bz2).

XZ

Xz It is a relatively recent format, based on LZMA2, which also offers a very high compression ratio and is commonly used in Linux for packaging programs and distributions. Its efficiency is on par with 7z, although it may take longer to compress.

TAR

TAR It's not a compression format per se, but rather a packaging format. It allows you to combine multiple files and directories into a single file. When combined with other formats (tar.gz, tar.bz2, tar.xz), it offers a flexible and powerful solution, especially in Unix and Linux environments.

ARJ

ARJ It was very popular in the 90s but has now fallen into disuse in favor of more modern options. It can still be found in legacy compatibility scenarios.

Practical comparison: Who compresses more?

To objectively decide which format compresses the most, nothing beats real-life tests with mixed files (documents, images, executables, etc.). Below, we analyze various published results taken from various sources and technical blogs.

Real comparison example

Format	Final size	Percentage with respect to the original	Relative time
ZIP	77,5 MB	45%	100%
GZIP	72 MB	42%	44%
7ZIP	61,7 MB	36%	219%
bzip2	68,4 MB	40%	156%
ARJ	76,5 MB	45%	131%
RAR	74,5 MB	44%	178%

As you can see, 7-ZIP is the format that compresses the most, clearly outperforming the others, although it requires more processing time. GZIP stands out for its speed and reasonable space savings, while ZIP, RAR, BZIP2, and ARJ offer intermediate rates.

Compression tests on different file types

Type of file	ZIP	RAR	7-zip
Documents (5.92 MB)	4.79 MB	3.38 MB	3.22 MB
Applications (76.6 MB)	73.8 MB	72.5 MB	72.8 MB
Images (42.3 MB)	33.2 MB	33.1 MB	20.2 MB
Videos (66.1 MB)	58.9 MB	55.1 MB	54.0 MB
Photoshop (3.64 MB)	2.19 MB	1.56 MB	1.37 MB

The format 7z excels especially in images and documents, while the difference is less noticeable in executables. Older formats (ZIP, RAR) offer acceptable performance but fall behind in modern scenarios.

Advantages and disadvantages of each format

Let's see now the advantages and limitations of each format so that you can choose the most appropriate option according to the context.

• ZIPPER: Universal compatibility, fast, and ideal for hassle-free file sharing. It doesn't excel at compression.
• RAR: Good performance, volume support, error recovery, and advanced encryption. Less support on Linux and proprietary licensing.
• 7-ZIP: Maximum compression, open source, support for almost all formats, and strong encryption. Requires additional software installation.
• GZIP: Very fast, widely used on web servers and Linux, good balance between speed and compression in individual files.
• BZIP2: More compression than GZIP but much slower.
• Xz: Excellent compression, ideal for Linux distributions, somewhat slower in compression.
• ART: It only packs, it doesn't compress by itself, but combined with other formats it gains all the power.

Compression in multimedia files: images, music and video

Not all files benefit equally from general-purpose compression. Images, music and video They are usually already compressed with specific algorithms.

Image formats

• • JPG/JPEG: Lossy compression, ideal for photographs. It allows you to choose compression levels, sacrificing quality. For details on exporting in different formats, see This guide to export images in different formats.
  • PNG: Lossless compression, great for images with transparencies and areas of uniform color.
  • gifs: Only 256 colors, useful for simple graphics, small animations.
  • TIFF: High quality, uncompressed or with LZW, very large files. Suitable for professional editing.
  • RAW: Digital camera output, non-standardized, maximum quality for editing, impractical for archiving or the web.

bmp: Uncompressed image takes up a lot of space.

Other multimedia files

On files MP3 or MP4 They're already compressed; trying to reduce their size further with ZIP, 7z, etc. is usually useless. To reduce them, you have to resort to specific compression (lowering the bitrate, resolution, etc.), which means losing quality. To convert formats, you can consult tools to convert files to different formats.

In the case of PDF, compression usually affects mainly the images contained in them.

Actual uses and recommendations according to context

Which format should you choose? It depends on your needs:

• universal compatibility: ZIP
• Maximum space saving or many files: 7-zip
• Share large split files with password: RAR
• Fast and efficient copies on Linux: GZIP or TAR.GZ
• Archiving and distributing software on Linux: XZ

If you work with large files or many documents7-ZIP will give you the best compression. For home use and ease of use, ZIP is sufficient. If you're transferring sensitive information, look for formats with strong encryption like 7z or RAR.

Recommended programs for compressing and decompressing

Among the most complete and popular tools are:

• winrar: Supports RAR, ZIP and others, strong in compression and security options.
• 7-zip: Free, cross-platform, and excellent compression; simple and intuitive.
• BandiZIP: Compatible with a huge variety of formats and with advanced features.
• Command-line tools (tar, gzip, bzip2, etc.) on Unix/Linux.

Muchos OS They already integrate basic functionalities for ZIP and other formats.

Frequently Asked Questions About File Compression

• Can all files be compressed equally? No. Already compressed files (JPG, MP3, MP4) will barely be reduced in size.
• Can I password protect compressed files? Yes, with 7-Zip, WinRAR, and similar. ZIP too, although the encryption is weaker.
• Is it safe to compress files? Yes, but make copies before destructive processes or when using passwords (to avoid loss).
• Can I open compressed files on other operating systems? In most cases, yes. ZIP is universal; 7z and RAR require compatible software.

Remember that password management and cross-platform compatibility are key to avoiding setbacks.

Online and cloud compression: useful services

Today there are Web services that allow you to compress images (PNG, JPG), audio (MP3) or PDF directly from the browser, facilitating quick tasks without installing programs: tools to convert files to different formats.

This is useful for occasional users or for solving specific space needs on mobile or the web.

Image compression formats and key differences

Image formats have unique properties according to your application:

• JPG: Photos from the web, excellent quality and configurable compression, but not ideal for repeated editing or images with text or uniform areas.
• gifs: Simple graphics with less than 256 colors, supports animations.
• PNG: Graphics and images with transparent background or solid color, lossless compression, and 16 million colors.
• TIFF: Professional editing and scanning where quality should not be lost.

Choose each format according to its purpose: JPG and PNG are the most common for the internet, GIF for simple animations, and TIFF or RAW for professional editing.

El RAW format It is typical in professional photography, although it requires specialized camera software for its management.

Practical tips and common mistakes

• Do not over-compress already compressed files (e.g. JPG or MP3). The benefit will be minimal or zero.
• Don't manipulate JPG images if you're going to edit them repeatedly: Quality loss accumulates. Save intermediate works in lossless TIFF or PNG.
• Organize your documents into folders before compressing. This way you can maintain order when removing them.
• Always save your passwords of protected files to avoid being left without access.

If you need to send large volumes of information by mail or courier, compress them with ZIP for maximum compatibility. If space is at a premium, use 7z or Xz.

The choice of compression format directly impacts the space your files take up, how easy they are to share, and the security you can apply to them. Modern formats like 7z and Xz offer much greater storage capacity, although ZIP remains the standard due to its simplicity and compatibility. Choose the tool that best suits your needs, take advantage of free online compression resources, and remember that, although technology evolves, the most important thing is to protect your information and ensure its portability.