Verdict: BetterZip is the best professional archiving suite for macOS power users.
Keka actually started as a replacement for The Unarchiver. Keka's extraction engine is so reliable that many IT departments recommend it as the default RAR opener.
BetterZip, however, sometimes struggles with highly corrupted or non-standard RAR5 archives. Because Keka uses the open-source libarchive and unrar engines, it tends to tolerate bad files better. betterzip vs keka
If you frequently download "scene" releases or corrupted legacy archives: Choose Keka. It just works.
If you are compressing your own pristine files: BetterZip is fine. UI and usability:
Note: Keka can’t create .rar files (only extract them) due to licensing.
This is where the philosophical divide appears. Passwords & encryption:
Keka's UI: Keka looks like a utility from the early 2010s—functional, but not gorgeous. The main interface is a small window with a file icon drop zone. You configure your settings (compression ratio, password, split size) in a pop-out panel. It is fast, simple, and stays out of your way. However, it lacks a native "archive browser" view.
BetterZip's UI: BetterZip looks like a modern Mac app with a three-pane layout. When you open an archive, you see a Finder-like column browser (folders on the left, files on the right). You can drag individual files out of an archive without extracting the whole thing. You can also drag files into an archive to add them. It feels like managing a folder, not a compressed file.
Verdict: BetterZip wins. The ability to browse and modify archives in-place is a massive productivity boost. Keka forces you to extract fully, modify, and re-compress.
Winner: BetterZip. When your job is on the line and an archive won't open, you want a dedicated support team.