When your hard drive becomes filled with a large amount of data, your computer will eventually slow down. Disk space analyzer tools in Windows allow you to analyze your storage space. You can identify the file/folder that is taking up the most space and take action to free it up.
There are hundreds of such tools available, and here are the best disk space analyzer tools for Windows 10 computers.
WinDirStat
First, the tool scans your computer or any external drive from top to bottom. You can either search for a specific folder or scan the selected drive, and WinDirStat will display a graphical interface with the results.
WinDirStat has a sortable list of file extensions and sorts files by total size rather than by files and folders. This gives you access to large, unwanted files at the top, which you can delete from within the program to free up space.
WinDirStat supports custom commands that you can enter at the command prompt. This allows the program to automate things. The tool can display up to 2 million items in a directory up to 8.3 TB in size.
Positives:
- Quick installation
- It can scan a single folder as well.
- Select the disks to scan.
- Supports multiple viewpoints
Negatives:
- Limited to Windows only
- Scans are slow wrt files
- Does not save test results
Key Features: Powerful Cleanup List | Automation with Custom Commands on CMD | Displays up to 2 Million Items up to 8.3 TB
to download: WinDirStat (Free)
DiskSavvy
The program can scan both internal and external hard drives, although it is limited to 500000 files per scan. Premium versions are available for extended use. DiskSavvy sorts files by username, extension, modification time, and more.
Compatible with Windows XP to Windows 10, it also pairs with Windows Explorer. You can set up performance, folders to scan or exclude, and other rules, and it will follow the same steps. It can also analyze disk space on different drives simultaneously.
Positives:
- easy to use
- Scans both internal and external drives.
- Powerful search tool
- Different optical perspectives
Negatives:
- Limited to 500 files per scan
- Some features are outstanding.
Key Features: Instruction-based scans | A different visual perspective | Integrates with Windows Explorer | Analyzes multiple locations simultaneously | Plugin support
to download: DiskSavvy (Free, Premium)
SpaceSniffer
It also separates folders and files by color, although it's difficult to understand at once. SpaceSniffer is well integrated with Windows Explorer and allows for cut, copy, paste, and other functions.
There's no directory view, but the tool offers various other views that you can visually check. It can scan both internal and external devices at incredible speed, making it a must-have. SpaceSniffer also pairs a powerful filtering feature.
Positives:
- Data usage is shown in a graphical view.
- Backup results
- Ultra-fast scans
- Multiple perspectives
Negatives:
- It does not have a guide display.
- It can be difficult to understand at first.
- Limited to Windows only
Key Features: Powerful Filtration System | Customizable Options | Portable | Scans Both Indoor and Outdoor Appliances
to download: SpaceSniffer (Free)
JDiskReport
By default, the tool displays pie charts, and it's undoubtedly easy to use. The only downside is that it's slow. If you have the patience, all it can promise is better results.
JDiskReport separates files and folders on the left and data analysis methods on the right. Unlike the other tools mentioned here, this tool does not support deleting files from within the program.
Check out the "Top 50" section for large files you can drag and drop and delete unwanted files instantly. Additionally, JDiskReport works on multiple operating systems, including Mac, Windows, Linux, and more.
Positives:
- Compatible with different operating systems
- View the top 50 largest files
- Excellent graphic representation using pie charts
Negatives:
- Scanning is very slow
- Modification within the application is not allowed.
Key Features: Built-in features | Easy to use | Free to use | Run from command line | Powerful filtering system
to download: JDiskReport (Free)
WizTree
WizTree
One example of its extreme speed is that the software erased a 2TB magnetic drive in 7.45 seconds.
Moving on, WizTree is feature-rich and fully portable. It displays different perspectives and views of folders, subfolders, files, etc. You can filter by extension to see what's hogging space and delete it from within the tool.
You can also redirect files to the Recycle Bin for later deletion. Access the top 1000 files in the Tree View tab and take appropriate actions to free up space. The usability is fully compatible with the average computer user, making it an easy-to-use tool.
Positives:
- High-speed scanning
- Integrated with Windows Explorer and CMD
- View by extensions
- Delete files from within the program
Negatives:
- The graphical user interface can be confusing.
- Not all drives can be scanned at once.
Key Features: Ultra-fast scanning speed | Regular updates | Ultra-accurate | Free to use | Multiple file system support | Import/export MFT data | Command line support
to download: WizTree (Free)
FolderSizes 8
What makes it unique is its ability to sort files not only by size but also by attributes, owner, and a total of 15 filters. The program allows you to detect the largest files by size, the most recent, temporary, and duplicate files.
Once you run its space analysis feature, it returns a visual representation of the data. FolderSizes 8 supports pie charts, bar charts, grid charts, and a few other views to choose from.
It doesn't just scan hard drives; it can analyze various types of storage devices, domains, network storage, and servers, to name a few. After the scans, it saves the results it generates and compares them with other scans, unlike other tools.
Positives:
- easy to use
- Integrates with Windows Explorer
- Sort folders by size
- Multiple visual representations
Negatives:
- Limited to Windows only
- Results appear in a separate window.
Key Features: Customizable search option | Various sorting schemes | Supports internal/external hard drives and network drives | Powerful report scheduling | Saves
to download: FolderSizes (Free trial, $60)
HDGraph
One of the best things about this program is that all data is represented in pie charts. All data is presented in a readable format, so users can click on it to see the details—double-click each section to get a complete overview of any folder.
HDGraph has a basic, easy-to-use interface and is fully interactive. Users can easily switch between the various available views, with the pie chart being the default. You can analyze individual disks or click on the same directory to learn more about them.
Positives:
- easy to use
- Fully interactive loop diagram
- Double click for more details
Negatives:
- Full interaction with data is not allowed.
- Limited jobs
Key Features: Multiple views available | Scan internal and external drives | Basic user interface | In-depth analysis on the right chart
to download: HDGraph (Free)
SpaceMonger
SpaceMonger runs on your system and maps all files and folders on the dashboard. It can also count files stored on any network drive or cloud storage. Once you have a detailed list of what's stored, you can quickly and safely delete unwanted files.
You can either use grid visualizations or switch to pie chart-based models to view what's consuming storage space. You can isolate each file using custom criteria or use the sorting function.
SpaceMonger features a user-friendly interface with a range of easy-to-use features. SpaceMonger is among the fastest disk analysis tools, capable of checking the health of a 1TB SSD in just seconds.
Positives:
- Different visual representations
- Scans internal and external drives
- It caught fire at high speed.
Negatives:
- It can be a bit confusing.
- Limited to Windows only
Key Features: Flexible search | Easy to use | File lists | Sort by color | Stunning user interface
to download: SpaceMonger (Free, Premium)
RidNacs 2.0
With RidNacs 2.0, you can either scan a specific directory or the entire system for analysis. You can also add drives connected to the same network.
The analyzed results are saved in multiple formats as per your instructions for review. You can delete unwanted files directly within RidNacs 2.0 without any hassle.
It doesn't have many features, but the app can get the job done without any hassle. Scanning a full drive can take a long time, but it's worth the shot.
Positives:
- Displays data in tree view and bar graph.
- Integrates with Windows Explorer
- Supports multi-threading
Negatives:
- Compatible with Windows only
- There is no graphical representation of the data.
- Outdated and lacks advanced features
Key Features: Simple design and user interface | Easy to use | Mobile version available | Report generation
to download: RidNacs (Free)
TreeSize
Although it may take some time to understand, once you get the hang of it, it's a piece of cake. The tool supports scheduled scans to automate scanning and offers file deletion from within the program.
It has excellent data representation, especially in the premium version, which comes with a 30-day free trial. There's an endless list of features with TreeSize, including NTFS support, a powerful search option, duplicate file finder, and more.
You can browse files and folders while the program is scanning and take appropriate actions as well.
Positives:
- Supports both internal and external hard drives
- Delete files within the program
- Portable version available
Negatives:
- Filter options are inefficient.
- There are no unique perspectives.
- Limited to Windows only
Key Features: Find old file | View hierarchical structure | Unlimited scanned data size | Supports scheduled scans | Supports NTFS
to download: TreeSize (Free, Premium)
This concludes our list of the best disk space analyzers for Windows 10 users to look into. Most of the tools mentioned above are completely free to use, while some have premium versions to choose from. Depending on your requirements, you can choose the best tool to get the job done.
