You might ask yourself if knowing how to create and open Zip files are really worth taking the time out to know. Part 2: How to Zip a File on Mac for Free Do you now see the marked difference between the two formats? Zip files are well and truly capable of saving over 80% or more of the space in your Mac's hard drive. And when it comes to the archive creation process, its speed is relatively faster than that of the Rar format. Thus, the majority of users have software that can open Zip files primarily. The Zip file format is a free and open-source, making it more popular. The same can't be said for the Rar format because it often requires third-party software to be opened. Because the Zip format is older, both Windows and Mac come pre-installed with software that is capable of opening it. For one, Zip files were invented long before Rar, meaning there are more software out there capable of opening and decompressing Zip files because it is a standard file format.Īlong the same vein, compatibility is also a difference. Rar is very similar to the Zip but they are quite different too. Zip is simply a data archive and compression format. Part 4: How to Recover Deleted Zip Files on Mac.Part 3: How to Unzip and Open Files on Mac for Free.Part 2: How to Zip a File on Mac for Free.