How to Compress Files on Mac

What "compressing" means on macOS

Compressing files means packing one or more files into a single archive, usually to make the total size smaller or to keep several files together. macOS includes a basic compress command in the Finder, but it only produces ZIP files and offers no control over the compression method, encryption or split volumes.

A dedicated archive utility such as ZipGood gives you a choice of output formats and a set of options for each one.

How to compress files with ZipGood

1. Install ZipGood from the Mac App Store.
2. Drag files or folders onto the ZipGood window or the Dock icon.
3. Choose an output format from the format row.
4. Set the per-format options you want — method, split volumes, password.
5. Click Compress. Progress, speed and ETA are shown live.

Which output format should you choose?

• ZIP — the safest choice for sharing, because Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile devices all open it.
• 7z — the best compression ratio, with AES-256 encryption, solid archives and split volumes.
• TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ — standard Unix formats, ideal for servers and developer workflows.
• Zstandard, Brotli, LZ4 — modern formats optimised for speed or web delivery.
• DMG, ISO, WIM — disk images, useful for distributing software or a full volume.

What happens if the archive already exists?

When the output file already exists, ZipGood appends a number instead of overwriting your data — so you get "Archive 2.zip", "Archive 3.zip" and so on. Nothing is silently replaced.