lzip

Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hostedWindows

What lzip is

lzip is a free lossless data compressor that creates .lz archives using a simplified form of the LZMA algorithm. Its format is intended for sharing and long-term storage, with CRC32 and other integrity information to detect errors in compressed data. It supports 64-bit compressed and uncompressed sizes, and uses multiple members for larger inputs, allowing unlimited total file size. Its maximum dictionary size is 512 MiB, which permits decompression on 32-bit machines. GNU Tar can create and extract lzip-compressed archives; lzip files can also be extracted with tar or by piping lzip output to tar. The related lziprecover program can repair bit-flip errors and merge damaged copies with error checking. The manual includes source code for a simple decompressor. The reference implementation is free software under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later. The site documents compiling with ./configure and make check, with make install as an optional step. Lzip supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and other Unix-like systems, and includes command-line tools and split archives.

Who it suits

lzip may suit users who want command-line compression for sharing or long-term archiving, including those working with GNU Tar. Its documented build process is for users comfortable compiling software.

What it does well

Free lossless compression using a simplified LZMA form
CRC32 and other integrity information detect errors
Unlimited total file size through multiple members
Related lziprecover can repair certain damaged files
GNU Tar supports lzip-compressed archives

What to know first

Maximum dictionary size is 512 MiB
Build instructions require compiling with configure and make
The listed interface is command-line tools

Limits

The maximum dictionary size is 512 MiB. The facts list no free-plan quotas or feature limits.

Getting started

Visit the lzip website.
Choose the build route for your platform.
Compile with `./configure` and `make check`.
Optionally run `make install`.
Use lzip with tar or GNU Tar to work with compressed archives.

Verdict

lzip emphasizes interoperable .lz archives, integrity checks, and long-term access, with a related utility for certain recovery tasks. Its documented use centers on command-line tools and compiling the software where needed.

Questions

How much does lzip cost?

Lzip is free software distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or any later version.

Which platforms does lzip support?

It supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and other Unix-like systems.

Can lzip archives be used with tar?

Yes. GNU Tar can automatically create and extract lzip-compressed tar archives, and lzip output can also be piped to tar.

Can lzip repair damaged files?

The related lziprecover program can repair bit-flip errors and merge damaged copies with error checking.

Who maintains lzip?

Lzip was written and is maintained by Antonio Diaz Diaz.

Facts from lzip's own pages

Archiving: The lzip file format is designed for data sharing and long-term archiving, with attention to data integrity and decoder availability. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Build: The site documents compiling lzip with ./configure and make check, followed optionally by make install. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Compression format: Lzip uses a simplified form of LZMA and is designed for interoperability between implementations. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Data preservation: The lzip format is designed for data sharing and long-term archiving, and its manual includes source code for a simple decompressor. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
File size: Lzip supports 64-bit uncompressed and compressed sizes and automatically uses multiple members for larger data, allowing unlimited total file size. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Integrations: The site lists GNU Tar as able to automatically create and extract lzip-compressed tar archives. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Integrity checks: Lzip provides three-factor integrity checking of compressed data. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Interoperability: Lzip files can be extracted with tar or by piping lzip output to tar. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
License: Lzip is free software distributed under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or any later version. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Maintainer: Lzip was written and is maintained by Antonio Diaz Diaz. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Memory limit: The maximum dictionary size is 512 MiB, allowing lzip files to be decompressed on 32-bit machines. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Platforms: The site provides a Windows 32-bit port and describes lzip as suitable for Unix-like systems. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Purpose: Lzip is a lossless data compressor based on the LZMA algorithm. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Quality assurance: The manual says lzip, clzip, and minilzip/lzlib are tested to produce identical output, and that the implementations have been tested with lziprecover, valgrind, and american fuzzy lop. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Recovery: The related lziprecover program can repair bit-flip errors and merge damaged copies of a file with error checking. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Release updates: Users may subscribe to lzip-bug to receive an email when a new version is released. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Source availability: The reference implementation is copylefted, and the site says this guarantees it will remain free forever. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026
Support: Bug reports can be sent to the lzip-bug mailing list at [email protected]. · nongnu.org, 5 Oct 2026