NCH Software, the maker of Express Zip, offers a free version with limited features. For many home users, this free edition may be sufficient for basic zipping and unzipping. Additionally, the paid version includes a fully functional trial period (typically 14–30 days). Using the trial legally gives you time to evaluate whether you truly need the premium features before deciding to purchase.

She sketched a checklist for herself, distilled from the thread’s best advice:

While the economic incentive to avoid paying for utility software is strong, the pursuit of illicit registration codes carries significant externalities.