BetterZip lets you quickly inspect archives without first extracting their contents.
Extract Only Files You Really Need: If you only need a few files or folders from a larger archive, you don't have to extract the whole thing. Simply drag the files you need from the BetterZip window to any Finder window or the desktop.
Open Archives Without Extracting: Not only can BetterZip open archives without first extracting them but you can also search for a file using the iTunes-like interface. BetterZip can open and extract archives with the most common formats: ZIP, SIT, TAR, XAR, XZ, GZip, BZip2, RAR, 7-Zip, CPIO, ARJ, LZH/LHA, JAR, WAR, CAB, ISO, CHM, RPM, DEB, NSIS, BIN, HQX, DMG, EPUB, and Winmail.dat.
Create Archives: Simply drag files and folders from your hard drives, disks, or network places into your new zip file. You no longer have to copy all the files into a temporary folder first. The supported formats are ZIP, TAR, GZip and BZip2 compressed TAR, XAR, 7-ZIP, and RAR (using the external RAR commandline tool). Large archives can also be split.
Protect Your Data: BetterZip can protect your data with a password and create AES-256 encrypted archives. 7-zip and rar archives can also be protected.
Update Archives: Add new or updated files to existing archives. Remove any file or folder from an archive, or even move files around inside the archive as if it were a normal folder.
Make Archives Compatible: Strip Mac-specific files and resource forks from archives for best compatibility with systems like Windows or Linux.
Regularly updated and works well. I'm a huge fan of the built-in Quick Look Generator so you can view the contents of a zip archive in the Finder without opening it. (I tried to write a review but the page wouldn't save/complete.) I'd give it 4.5 stars.
Betterzip freezes when opening a folder using 100% CPU resources. Had to force quit and resorted to Keka. Much simpler, more compression options, and doesn't freeze. A shame as I just spent $10 to upgrade to a newer version of Betterzip. WOM (waste of money).
Have been using this app since version 2. Never let me down. A must have if you deal with Windows/Linux users on a regular basis (BetterZip filters out all the pesky .DS_store files and other Mac specific cr*p that nobody cares for). Creating compressed files in whatever format is a breeze. Also extracting only selected files from large archives. Developer is very responsive (contacted him twice).
Does the job when it works, freezes/hangs more often than it works. I try to avoid using it. Been waiting 5 minutes on "Extracting items temporiarily 0B of 224B"...it can't extract 244B???