You download a file or open an email attachment and your Mac can't open it. It might be a .sit, .rar, .tar.gz or an odd Zip. StuffIt Expander for Mac is a free tool built for that situation.
Quick facts
- Vendor: Smith Micro
- Platform: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher, and OS X Mavericks compatible
- Price: Free. Expander is free whether you download it on its own or get it with StuffIt or StuffIt Deluxe.
- Purpose: Opening and expanding archives, not creating them
Key features
Open StuffIt, Zip, tar, gzip and bzip archives
Expander handles StuffIt files, Zip archives, and tar, gzip and bzip archives. The vendor's comparison chart also lists StuffIt X, encrypted Zip, RAR and 7Zip, plus 25 more formats.
Drag and drop to expand
You drag the archive onto Expander and it unpacks. There are no settings to work through first.
Works with downloads and email attachments
It is meant for files you download from the Internet or receive by email. Older versions of the product were described as working with browsers such as Safari and Firefox.
Who it's for
It suits anyone who receives archives in assorted formats and just needs them opened. That includes people with old StuffIt files from earlier Mac days. If you need to create archives, Expander won't do it.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Free to use.
- Pro: Covers a wide range of formats, including RAR, 7Zip and tar.
- Pro: Very simple to use.
- Con: It only opens archives. Creating Zip or StuffIt X files, browsing archive contents and adding files to an archive need StuffIt or StuffIt Deluxe.
- Con: It requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher, and the vendor's own compatibility claim stops at Mavericks.
- Con: The vendor's download page also offers a trial of the full StuffIt version, so you need to pick the plain Expander download.
FAQs
Is StuffIt Expander really free?
Yes. The vendor says it is always free to use.
Can it make Zip files?
No. Creating Zip archives, encrypted Zips and StuffIt X archives is limited to StuffIt and StuffIt Deluxe.
Can it open RAR files?
Yes. RAR, 7Zip and TAR (including compressed TAR) are in its supported list.
Which Mac systems does it run on?
It needs Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.
System requirements
- Mac OS X 10.5 or higher
- Compatible with OS X Mavericks