WinDirStat

Description

WinDirStat is a free, open-source disk usage analyzer and cleanup software for Microsoft Windows. Mac users should use Disk Inventory X or GrandPerspective alternatives. Linux users should try alternatives such as Baobab.

The program can scan local partitions or an entire hard disk drive, presenting the results as a colorful graphical image for used space. It is also a cleanup tool as it allows you to delete files that take much space. The advantage of using this tool is that you can identify files that take the most space and you can also delete them directly from the main program interface.

WinDirStat Review

To be honest, I believe that WinDirStat is so easy to use that it can compete with the time needed to read this review. If you use Microsoft Windows, you probably know how to check how much space you have on your computer.

Right after, you have to identify which files take so much space.

I had found myself frustrated as I was losing time trying to find the large files, especially when I had hundreds of folders. This application is a true time-saver and a great utility. When WinDirStat starts, you choose which drives or folders you want to analyze.

The main interface is easy to use. You have the menu tabs found in any other program. You can explore the largest files, the file types and a treemap of your drive.

The treemap is the colorful part: each rectangle is a file, its area shows the size and its color shows the file type. If you right-click a file, you can delete it or choose another cleanup action. You can configure WinDirStat from Settings: adjust the layout, fonts, dark mode and portable settings.

Finally, WinDirStat can save and reopen scan snapshots and export CSV and JSON reports. WinDirStat is one of the oldest disk analyzers for Windows. It is free, intuitive and regarded by many as a valuable piece of software.