Keka alternatives for Mac
By Himanshu Ranjan · Updated 8 November 2026
Keka is free and creates more archive formats than most paid apps, so it is hard to beat on value. If you want AES-256 ZIP passwords, ready-made split sizes, contents listings and integrity checks from a dial in Finder, FileDial is a good Mac alternative. For browsing and editing inside archives, BetterZip leads; for opening rare formats, The Unarchiver is free.
Why people look for a Keka alternative
- ZIP encryption strength: Keka's site lists AES-256 for 7z but legacy Zip 2.0 encryption for ZIP files.
- Settings window workflow: Keka works by dropping files on its window or Dock icon with the format chosen in the app; some people prefer picking the outcome per job.
- Checks and extras: listing contents, testing integrity, checksums and packaging deliverables are outside a pure archiver.
About Keka: A Mac file archiver by aONe that creates 7Z, ZIP, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, LZIP, DMG, ISO, Brotli, Zstandard, LRZIP, AAR and WIM, and extracts about 32 formats. Platforms: Mac, Mac OS X 10.10 or newer (legacy versions for older systems).. Price: Free download from keka.io; $6.49 on the US Mac App Store, which supports development and is the same version.. Where files are processed: A desktop app that compresses and extracts on your Mac.
Every Keka tool, and its FileDial equivalent
| Keka | FileDial (offline) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compress to ZIP | Archive › Make ZIP | New copy beside the original |
| Compress to 7Z | Archive › Make 7Z | New copy beside the original |
| Compress to TAR and GZIP | Archive › Make TAR.GZ | New copy beside the original |
| Compress to DMG | Archive › Make disk image (DMG) | Compressed read-only DMG |
| Compress to ISO | Archive › Make ISO | ISO 9660 + Joliet image, readable on Windows and Linux |
| Compress to Zstandard | Archive › Compress with Zstandard | file.zst with the zstd tool when it's installed, else .tar.zst |
| XZ | Convert › Convert to TAR.XZ | Converts an existing archive; new copy beside the original |
| Password-protected ZIP | Archive › ZIP with password… | Standard (ZipCrypto) opens in Finder; Stronger (AES-256) needs 7-Zip or The Unarchiver |
| Split archives | Archive › Split into ZIP parts… | Numbered .zip.001, .002… parts in a new folder |
| Extract archives | Extract › Extract here | Into a folder named after the archive; the note does not list formats |
| Extract password-protected archives | Extract › Extract with password… | Into a folder named after the archive |
What FileDial does not replace:
- Formats: Keka creates BZIP2, LZIP, Brotli, LRZIP, AAR and WIM, which FileDial does not, and lists RAR among about 32 formats it extracts. FileDial's extract note does not list formats, so we cannot confirm RAR.
- 7z encryption: Keka encrypts 7z with AES-256. FileDial's password tools are for ZIP; Archive › Make 7Z has no password option in its note.
- Price and compatibility: Keka is free and runs back to Mac OS X 10.10 on Intel or Apple silicon. FileDial is paid and needs macOS 14 on Apple silicon.
Details about Keka come from its own website, checked 2026-11-09. FileDial tool names match the app exactly.
The best Keka alternatives for Mac
1. FileDial
Pick Archive › Make 7Z, Archive › ZIP with password… or Archive › Split into 100 MB ZIP parts from the dial, with no settings window. Extract › List contents, Developer › Test archive integrity and Batch › Checksums (SHA-256) write reports, and results land beside the originals.
- AES-256 ZIP option
- Integrity checks, checksums and deliverable packages
- Needs macOS 14 or later on an Apple silicon Mac
- Fewer formats to create than Keka
2. BetterZip 6
BetterZip previews archives through a free Quick Look extension, edits files inside archives, saves presets and encrypts with AES-256. It creates ZIP, 7-Zip, DMG, ISO, Zstandard, Brotli and more, and needs macOS 13.5 or later.
- Edit and preview inside archives
- Built-in password manager
- The most expensive option here
- Creating RAR needs an external command-line tool
3. The Unarchiver
MacPaw's free extractor lists ZIP, ZIPX, RAR (including encrypted and multi-volume), 7z, CAB, ISO and BIN images, plus old Mac formats such as StuffIt and Compact Pro. It needs macOS 10.13 or later.
- Very wide format list, including legacy Mac formats
- Free, on the Mac App Store or as a direct download
- Built for extracting; its site describes opening archives, not making them
4. Finder (Archive Utility, built in)
Apple's guide: Control-click a file or folder and choose Compress to make a .zip, or double-click a .zip to expand it into the same folder. Several items go into Archive.zip.
- Nothing to install
- ZIP opens everywhere
- ZIP only from the Compress command
- No passwords, splitting or format choice
Why most people should keep Keka
Keka is free from its site, runs on very old Macs, and creates 7Z, ZIP, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, LZIP, DMG, ISO, Brotli, Zstandard, LRZIP, AAR and WIM. It extracts about 32 formats including RAR, splits archives for email or server limits, and encrypts 7z with AES-256. If you pay, the $6.49 Mac App Store version is the same app and supports the developer. That is a lot of value, and no alternative here beats it on format count or price.
When FileDial is the better fit
FileDial makes sense if archives are one of many jobs you do on files. Select a folder, hold the right Option key and choose the outcome: Archive › ZIP each file separately, Archive › Split into 2 GB ZIP parts (WeTransfer), or Archive › Deliverable package…, which makes a ZIP with a README.txt and a SHA-256 manifest inside plus the ZIP's own .sha256.
Password protection has two strengths. Standard (ZipCrypto) opens in Finder, which matters when the recipient has no extra software. Stronger (AES-256) needs 7-Zip or The Unarchiver to open, so tell the recipient.
- Select the files or folder in Finder.
- Hold the right Option key and move to Archive.
- Choose Archive › ZIP with password…
- Pick Standard for Finder compatibility or Stronger (AES-256).
- Send the password separately from the archive.
Checks Keka does not do
Before sending or opening, FileDial can write reports: Extract › List contents lists what is inside without extracting, Developer › Test archive integrity reports OK or FAILED, and Developer › Verify checksum… checks a download against a published hash. Batch › Compressed size report writes a table of raw, gzip, Brotli and LZFSE sizes per file, which helps choose a format.
Sending archives people can open
The format you choose matters more to the recipient than to you. A plain ZIP opens with a double-click in Finder and on Windows. A 7z is usually smaller but needs an app on a Mac. A ZIP with Stronger (AES-256) protection needs 7-Zip or The Unarchiver. When in doubt, send a ZIP, and use Archive › Split into 2 GB ZIP parts (WeTransfer) when a transfer service has a size cap.
For handing over finished work, Archive › Deliverable package… adds a README.txt and a SHA-256 manifest so the client can confirm every file arrived intact.
Other directions
BetterZip 6, at $35, is for people who want to browse, preview and edit inside archives without extracting. The Unarchiver is free and opens more legacy formats than anything else. Finder makes and opens plain ZIP files with no extra software.
Questions
Is Keka free?
Yes. Keka is a free download from keka.io. It is also sold on the Mac App Store, $6.49 in the US, and buying there supports development; it is the same version. The site also accepts optional tips and donations. If you use it often, paying once through the App Store is an easy way to keep it maintained.
Does Keka use AES-256 for ZIP files?
Keka's site lists AES-256 encryption for 7z files and legacy Zip 2.0 encryption for ZIP files. If you need AES-256 inside a ZIP, FileDial's Archive › ZIP with password… has a Stronger (AES-256) option, which needs 7-Zip or The Unarchiver to open, or use a 7z archive in Keka.
Can FileDial open every format Keka extracts?
We cannot say so. FileDial's Extract › Extract here is listed for archives, but its note does not list formats. Keka lists about 32 extract formats, including RAR, ZIPX, CAB and MSI. Keep Keka or The Unarchiver installed for unusual archives.
What is the best paid alternative to Keka?
It depends on the job. BetterZip 6 ($35) is best for browsing and editing archives in place, with a Quick Look extension and a password manager. FileDial ($20 once) suits people who want archive, PDF, photo and video jobs in one Finder dial, with checks like Developer › Test archive integrity.