I recently started using ZST compression more often, and the reason is simple: it is fast.
The comparison in the graphic shows it clearly. ZST is not the smallest archive format - 7Z usually wins there - but ZST is much faster when compressing and extracting files. In everyday use, that matters.
ZIP is still useful because everyone can open it. But ZIP is mainly the compatibility format now. If I send files to someone and I do not know what system they use, ZIP is still the safe choice.
For my own workflow, ZST makes more sense.
It usually creates smaller files than ZIP, compresses much faster, and extracts very quickly. That makes it a good fit for backups, project folders, data exports, logs, source code, and other files that are compressed and unpacked often.
This is also why ZST is becoming more common in technical environments. It is used in data storage, server workflows, package systems, and other places where speed matters. Zstandard is designed as a fast lossless compression algorithm with high compression ratios and a very fast decoder. GNU tar also supports Zstandard compression when the zstd tool is available.
The only real downside is tooling.
On Linux, ZST is already common and easy to use from the command line. On Windows, archive support is improving, but depending on the version and workflow, you may still want a dedicated tool. On macOS, Finder does not make ZST feel like a native archive format, so you usually need the command line or an app.
That is why I use packZST and unpackZST from unpackzst.com.
They are simple tools for creating and extracting ZST archives. No cloud upload, no account, no complicated interface.
My conclusion is simple:
ZIP is for compatibility.
7Z is for maximum compression.
ZST is for speed.
And for everyday work, speed is often the better trade-off.
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