StuffIt for Mac

Overview of a leading Mac archiver

StuffIt (previously known as StuffIt Standard) remains one of the longest-standing and most frequently used archive utilities for macOS. If you already rely on StuffIt Expander to open compressed files, you’ll find the full StuffIt application a powerful companion for creating and managing archives across many formats.

Ease of use and workflow

The program is designed for simplicity — drag files onto the DropStuff area and the app will package them automatically. Its interface is approachable for casual users while still offering features that professionals rely on.

Formats and compatibility

• 7-Zip and other high-compression formats
• Split and segmented archive handling for multi-part packages
• RAR archives support
• Native StuffIt archive creation and extraction
  (Over 30 different archive types are supported in total.)

Typical uses

• Preparing archives for CD/DVD burning
• Uploading packages via FTP or to online storage (for example, MobileMe iDisk)
• Breaking large files into segments for transfer or storage
• Applying encryption to protect archived contents

Considerations and system impact

Although straightforward to operate, StuffIt installs a number of auxiliary components alongside the main app. Some users may find this increases the application's footprint on their system more than expected.

Recommended companion tool

If you only need to extract archives, the free StuffIt Expander is a lightweight alternative that handles many common compressed formats without the full installer.

New and improved features

• Proprietary 24-bit image compression (patented)
• Dedicated compressors for TIFF, PNG, GIF and BMP images
• Enhanced recompression for ZIP files to reduce final file size
• Ability to shrink MP3 files while retaining original audio quality