FileDial vs Keka
By Himanshu Ranjan · Updated 8 November 2026
Keka is a dedicated Mac archiver that creates 14 formats, including 7Z, ZIP, DMG and ISO, and extracts many more, including RAR. It is a free download, or $6.49 on the Mac App Store to support development. FileDial is a $20 toolkit whose archive tools make, split, protect and extract archives among 525 tools. For archiving alone, Keka is the better pick.
At a glance
| FileDial | Keka | |
|---|---|---|
| Where files are processed | On your Mac, files are never uploaded | On your Mac |
| Platforms | macOS 14+, Apple silicon (M1 or newer) | Mac OS X 10.10 or later |
| Price | $20 once, lifetime license for 2 Macs, 14-day refund | Free download, or $6.49 on the App Store |
| Formats it creates | ZIP, 7Z, TAR.GZ, DMG, ISO, Zstandard | 14, incl. 7Z, ZIP, TAR, XZ, DMG, ISO, ZSTD, WIM |
| Formats it extracts | Extract here; note does not list formats | Long list incl. RAR, ZIPX, CAB, MSI, APK |
| Passwords | ZipCrypto or AES-256 ZIP | AES-256 for 7z; legacy ZIP 2.0 |
| Split archives | 100 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB or custom ZIP parts | Split into pieces of any size |
| Check before opening | List contents, test integrity, verify checksum | Not a focus |
| Delivery packages | ZIP with README and SHA-256 manifest | No |
| Other file types | PDFs, photos, video, audio, documents | Archives only |
Details about Keka come from its own website and documentation, checked 2026-11-09. Prices and features change; check the source links below.
About Keka
A long-running Mac file archiver by Jorge Garcia Armero (aONe) that compresses and extracts a wide range of archive formats.
Platforms: Mac, Mac OS X 10.10 or later. Price: Free download from keka.io; $6.49 on the US Mac App Store (same app, updated through the store, supports development); optional tips.. Where files are processed: In the app on your Mac; its App Store privacy label says the developer collects no data.
Choose Keka if
- You only need an archiver and want it free.
- You extract RAR, ZIPX, CAB or other formats Keka lists by name.
- You want AES-256 7z archives or formats like XZ, LZIP, Brotli or WIM.
- You run an older Mac or a macOS version before Sonoma.
Choose FileDial if
- You want archive jobs in the same dial as PDF, photo and video tools.
- You send deliverables and want Archive › Deliverable package… with a checksum manifest.
- You want to inspect an archive first with Extract › List contents or Developer › Test archive integrity.
- You split large transfers with Archive › Split into 2 GB ZIP parts (WeTransfer).
What Keka does well
Keka has been a go-to Mac archiver for years, and it is easy to recommend. Its site lists 14 formats it can create, from 7Z, ZIP and TAR through GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, LZIP, DMG, ISO, Brotli, Zstandard, LRZIP, AAR and WIM, plus a longer extract list that adds RAR, ZIPX, LZMA, CAB, MSI, APK and more. It encrypts 7z archives with AES-256 and splits big archives into pieces for mail or upload limits.
The download from keka.io costs nothing. The Mac App Store version is $6.49 in the US, and Keka's site says it is the same app updated through the store and that buying it supports development.
What FileDial's archive tools actually cover
FileDial is not a full archiver, and its Archive category is smaller than Keka's format list. It makes ZIP, 7Z, TAR.GZ, DMG and ISO files, with Archive › ZIP each file separately, Archive › ZIP with password… (ZipCrypto that opens in Finder, or AES-256 that needs 7-Zip or The Unarchiver) and Archive › Split into ZIP parts… Extract › Extract here unpacks into a folder named after the archive, but its note does not list which formats, so for RAR and unusual formats Keka is the safer bet.
Where FileDial adds something is around the archive. Archive › Deliverable package… writes a ZIP with a README and SHA-256 manifest plus the ZIP's own checksum. Extract › List contents, Developer › Test archive integrity and Developer › Verify checksum… let you check a download before opening it. And the same dial handles the PDFs, photos and videos inside.
Questions
Is Keka free?
The download from keka.io is free. The Mac App Store version costs $6.49 in the US; Keka says it is the same app and that buying it supports development. Optional tips are also offered.
Can FileDial open RAR files?
FileDial's Extract › Extract here is listed for archives, but its note does not name formats, so try it and read the result card. Keka lists RAR among the formats it extracts.
Which encrypts archives?
Keka uses AES-256 for 7z and legacy ZIP 2.0 encryption for ZIP. FileDial's Archive › ZIP with password… offers ZipCrypto or AES-256 ZIP.