Here are 10 WinDirStat alternatives to help manage your disk space
WinDirStat alternatives such as Filelight, SpaceSniffer, Czkawka, and Baobab offer modern, cross-platform disk usage visualisers and cleanup tools. Many of these applications feature faster scanning speeds and more responsive interfaces, making them efficient options for both Windows and other operating systems.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- WizTree is faster than WinDirStat, offering up to 46 times faster performance by reading the NTFS Master File Table directly.
- TreeSize provides advanced analysis and reporting tools, with both free and paid versions suitable for personal and enterprise users.
- Cross-platform options like JDiskReport, Czkawka, and Baobab provide flexibility for macOS, Linux, and BSD users.
- Several tools outperform WinDirStat in speed and visual clarity; such alternatives are SpaceSniffer and QDirStat.
What are the alternatives to WinDirStat?
In compiling the list of WinDirStat alternatives, we relied on publicly available data as of the time of writing. We have utilised data from authoritative sources, including official application websites, AlternativeTo, and AlternativePedia, as well as user experiences on discussion forums such as Reddit and Quora. While these tools offer valuable insight into disk usage, performance varies depending on system configuration, user needs, and file systems.
WinDirStat alternatives | Competitive edge |
WizTree | Reads the NTFS Master File Table directly for lightning-fast disk scans. |
TreeSize | Delivers enterprise-level reporting, faster performance, and a modern interface. |
JDiskReport | Lightweight, ad-free, and cross-platform with clean interactive charts. |
QDirStat | Enables direct deletions and custom cleanup commands from treemap view. |
DiskSavvy | Analyses multiple drives, NAS, and network shares for enterprise users. |
Filelight | Features interactive radial charts and supports remote disk scanning. |
Baobab Disk Usage Analyzer | Auto-detects local and remote devices with smooth GNOME integration. |
SpaceSniffer | Portable tool with real-time treemap updates and instant file filtering. |
Czkawka | Multi-threaded duplicate finder with GUI and command-line flexibility. |
FolderSize | Integrates with Windows Explorer for instant folder and file size insights. |
1. WizTree
Source: Twitter
- Platform: Windows
- Country of origin: Australia
- License model: Free personal, proprietary
- Application types: Disk usage analyser, duplicate file finder
WizTree is considered the fastest disk space analyser for Windows operating systems. Simply put, this tool reads the Master File Table (MFT) for New Technology File System (NTFS) drives directly, bypassing the operating system and allowing it to outmatch other cleanup assistants. For non-NTFS drives, the tool uses an optimised traditional scanning method.
When compared against WinDirStat, the application was 46 times faster on the HDD on an Acer laptop running Windows XP. This alternative is significantly faster than WinDirStat, as it was 22 times faster on an SSD on an ASUS laptop running Windows 10.
2. TreeSize
Source: Twitter
- Platform: Windows
- Country of origin: Germany
- License model: Freemium, proprietary
- Application types: Disk usage analyser, system cleaner
TreeSize is a WinDirStat alternative for Windows users. Like WizTree, this tool can scan NTFS drives, enabling better system performance, perfect for computer engineering and other fields. Although WinDirStat is a free open source storage analyser, TreeSize offers a faster and more modern interface.
The storage management software displays folder and file size in clear graphical tree maps and directory lists with a convenient scan option. In addition to having an easier navigation system, TreeSize has a portable version
3. JDiskReport
Source: Twitter
- Platform: Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD
- Country of origin: Germany
- Application types: Disk usage analyser
- License model: Free, proprietary
JDiskReport is a disk analysis software, often used on Linux and Unix-like systems, and was born from earlier versions of KDirStat, a graphical disk usage utility for KDE 3.
This is an ad-free, uncrippled, no-charge disk analysis software that never expires. JDiskReport requires Java and runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, and other platforms. The application allows you to manage space by finding obsolete files and folders.
4. QDirStat
Source: Twitter
- Platform: Linux, BSD, Unix-like systems, macOS
- Country of origin: Germany
- Application types: Disk usage analyser
- License model: Free, open source
Interested in a disk space visualisation application that provides a hierarchical tree view for better file management? QDirStat is the choice for you. Downloadable on GitHub, the application displays the total size of directories of folders and files using both a tree view and a coloured treemap.
QDirStat lets you perform direct deletions with file sizes corresponding to rectangle shapes. While WinDirStat is primarily used on Windows systems, QDirStat is a top choice for Linux, BSD, macOS, and Unix-like systems.
5. DiskSavvy
Source: Twitter
- Platform: Windows
- Country of origin: Ukraine
- Application types: Disk usage analyser
- License model: Paid, proprietary
Like WinDirStat, the DiskSavvy application is capable of analysing more than one disk, network shares, and enterprise storage systems such as Network-attached Storage (NAS) devices for Microsoft Windows users.
Some of the advantages of using the application include being able to analyse multiple devices, directories, network shares, and NAS devices. This makes it useful for enterprises such as tech firms and start-up businesses.
6. Filelight
Source: Twitter
- Platform: Windows, Linux, BSD, KDE Plasma, Flathub, Snapcraft, Mac
- Country of origin: Germany
- Application types: Disk usage analyser
- License model: Free, open source
Filelight is one of the few WinDirStat alternatives that offer graphical disk usage visualisations for various platforms. The application displays usage in visually appealing radial charts, with each ring representing a folder level.
Although Filelight may give inaccurate directory sizes with low first-time reads, the application offers additional features, including scanning local, remote, and removable disks, as well as deletion.
7. Baobab Disk Usage Analyzer
Source: Twitter
- Platform: Mac, Linux, BSD, Flathub, FreeBSD, GNOME, Homebrew
- Country of origin: United States
- Application types: Disk usage analyser
- License model: Free, open source
Baobab, also known as the GNOME Disk Usage Analyzer, is a cleanup assistant, perfect for a graphic designer, system administrator, or data centre technician. The Baobab application offers graphical treemap visualisations for local and remote folders, devices, and online accounts. This includes auto-detection of mounted and unmounted devices.
8. SpaceSniffer
Source: Twitter
- Platform: Windows
- Country of origin: Italy
- Application types: Disk usage analyser
- License model: Free personal, proprietary
SpaceSniffer is a full-featured portable WinDirStat alternative that supports Windows systems. It's easy to interpret treemap visuals that use blocks to represent files or folders, sized by usage.
The analyser gives real-time updates, allowing you to spot, tag, filter, and delete unnecessary files and folders. As long as you have a USB stick, SpaceSniffer's portable nature allows you to bypass installation.
9. Czkawka
Source: Twitter
- Platform: Mac, Windows, Linux, Flathub
- Country of origin: Poland
- Application types: Duplicate file and image finder
- License model: Free, open source
Created in 2020, Czkawka is one of the newer free WinDirStat alternatives that clear unnecessary data from your computer. It offers a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and a Command-Line Interface (CLI), making it suitable for software engineers and users of all experience levels.
Czkawka is much faster for its primary cleaning functions compared to WinDirStat. Additionally, features such as multi-threading allow it to divide scanning tasks across multiple CPU cores simultaneously
10. FolderSize
Source: Twitter
- Platform: Windows
- Country of origin: United States
- Application types: Disk space analyser
- License model: Free
FolderSize is a Windows Explorer-compatible space analyser that cleans and creates a hierarchical view of folder and file sizes. The interface breaks down storage, disk usage, external drives, and network shares.
In a head-to-head comparison against WinDirStat, FolderSizes offers both free and professional editions of its powerful disk space analysis and reporting tool. It records over 10.5× faster performance gains on the network share, SSD, and HDD drives.
Are there WinDirStat alternatives for Windows 10?
The most popular and recommended alternative for Windows users is WizTree, known for its speed. Users on this platform can also benefit from using TreeSize, SpaceSniffer, DiskUsage, and Directory Report. Czkawka, Filelight, and JDiskReport are good alternatives for Windows and Mac systems.
Are there WinDirStat alternatives for Mac users?
Open-source options such as QDirStat, Czkawka, and Baobab provide flexible solutions for Linux and macOS users. Choosing the right tool depends on your operating system, desired features, and the scale of storage management needed.
WinDirStat alternatives offer functional options for disk usage and storage analysis on Windows and other operating systems. Alternatives such as WizTree, FolderSize, SpaceSniffer, Baobab Disk Usage Analyzer, and TreeSize provide faster performance, modern interfaces, and broader platform support.
DISCLAIMER: This article is not sponsored by any third party. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
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