Licensing model
PowerArchiver: Perpetual licensing — you own the license forever. maintenance Premium PA Select is a separate add-on (25%/yr or 50% for 3 years), priced well below any subscription comparable.
WinZip (since 2024): Annual subscription only for new customers. Stops working when you stop paying. Existing perpetual users no longer receive free upgrades.
Product focus
PowerArchiver: Compression and archive management is the only product line. 25+ years of focused development on a single mature codebase.
WinZip: Compression bundled with PDF tools, image management, and cloud backup as a productivity suite. Different value proposition for users who want bundling.
Ownership & stability
PowerArchiver: Privately held by ConeXware, Inc. (U.S.-incorporated, independent since 2001). No PE rollup, no parent conglomerate.
WinZip: Owned by Alludo (formerly Corel), backed by KKR private equity. Subscription pivot was a portfolio-wide strategic decision.