Top 7 disk space analyzers for Mac: Free & paid tools Compared

Sometimes, using a Mac disk space analyzer is the quickest way to understand those vague macOS storage categories in Finder and System Settings, because it doesn’t show the stuff you actually need to find, like old project folders, your hidden caches, and even leftover iPhone backups, and forgotten app packages. I’ve tested seven free and paid options, from sunburst maps and treemaps to list-based tools and cleanup apps.

Mac disk space analyzer capabilities

A Mac disk space analyzer can quite simply scan your entire device and show you what’s eating up your storage. They all come with their own visuals, which I’ll go into more detail on in each app review, but they vary from sunburst to treemap and even a simple list view. All are there to help you spot what’s eating up your storage, and drill down.

Here’s what I tested against

• The actual storage scanning speed on Apple Silicon.

• Readability of the visualization.

• Scan capabilities.

• If it offers any other features.

7 best disk space analyzers for Mac

Here are seven Mac disk space analyzers I reviewed.

1. DaisyDisk

Who is it for? Visual learners

DaisyDisk uses the quite famous sunburst map to show what’s taking up space. You can expand large folders into even smaller layers to really get to grips with specific files. I like the fact that you can use Quick Look to preview your files before deciding what to remove, and scans are fast.

Its limitation: It’s purely an analyzer, no other functions.

Price: One-time purchase for $10 or in Setapp.

2. CleanMyMac’s Space Lens

Who is it for? Users who want to clean up what they find.

The Space Lens feature from CleanMyMac builds an interactive storage map of your drive. It uses bubbles to show where the biggest folders are hiding, and when you click them, you can drill down and investigate further. It also has Cleanup and My Clutter features, which can then remove system junk, find duplicates, and help you declutter your Mac. You can also scan any of your connected drives, too, through its Cloud Cleanup feature, including iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive. You can test all these tools for 7 days — get your free trial here.

Its limitation: Might feel too much if you literally just want to understand storage.

Price: Free trial available; paid subscriptions start from $3.33/month.

3. GrandPerspective

Who is it for? Anyone looking for a free and simple analyzer.

GrandPerspective is an open source, donationware disk analyzer. It uses a treemap visual to show your storage as blocks. The bigger the block, the more space that file or folder is using.  It’s completely free, which is always a bonus, but I would say treemaps can take a moment to understand if you’ve never used one before.

Its limitation: I find the UI a bit dated, and there’s no built-in cleanup actions.

Price: Free.

4. OmniDiskSweeper

Who is it for? Users who don’t want to pay.

OmniDiskSweeper, I think, might be the simplest of all the tools I reviewed. You get a sorted list view, which organizes your folders and files from largest to smallest. There’s no visual map or fancy interface, which is exactly why some people like it, and it is quick.

Its limitations: No fancy visualization at all.

5. Disk Inventory X

Who is it for? Users who want a legacy tool.

Disk Inventory X is a long-running open-source disk space analyzer. This one uses a treemap visual, too, and I liked the file-type color coding that helps with finding file size and file category quickly. It’s simple, but it works and does the job.

Its limitations: It's rarely updated and feels a bit clunky on Apple Silicon.

Price: Free.

6. Disk Drill Cleanup module

Who is it for? If you want storage analysis paired with file recovery.

Disk Drill is probably better known for its file recovery, but it does have a Cleanup module that lets you analyze your storage, too. It’s a bit more simplistic, file and folder view, but if you’re already using Disk Drill for other tools, then this is probably a good option.

Its limitations: The analyzer is secondary to the recovery focus, and most of its full features sit behind a paywall.

Price: $89 a year or $149 for a lifetime license.

7. WhatSize

Source: whatsizemac.com

Who is it for? Power users looking for detailed storage control.

WhatSize is a fairly advanced tool. It can get quite complex, as you get multiple view modes, tons of detailed filters, even duplicate detection capabilities and export options, plus a bunch of other features for much deeper storage exploration. I’d say it’s more of a hybrid analyzer, because it combines list-based inspection with extra cleanup and some reporting features too.

Its limitation: Not beginner-friendly at all.

Price: Free trial or $14.99 to purchase.

How to choose the right one for your Mac?

Match the tool to the job: 

• If you want something beautiful and only need analysis, I’d go for DaisyDisk. 

• If you want analysis and cleanup in the same app, nothing comes close to CleanMyMac. 

• If you want a free option, and you’re not concerned with add-on cleanup functions, then you’ve got OmniDiskSweeper or GrandPerspective as two solid options. 

• If you also need to recover deleted files, Disk Drill is your pick. 

• If you’re a developer or sysadmin, WhatSize will give you extra control.