Part of: Do Mac cleaners work? An honest answer from people who build one (Choosing a tool)
If you want a free alternative to DaisyDisk, try GrandPerspective, which is free on SourceForge, or Disk Inventory X, which is free under the GPL. Both show your files as rectangles sized by how much space they use. If you want something that groups space into categories, DiskJoy’s scan is another option.
DiskJoy is our product. We are not saying DaisyDisk is bad. It is a well-known app, and we list its facts below as its own page states them.
What DaisyDisk is
According to its website on 2026-10-05, DaisyDisk is a $9.99 one-time purchase with no subscription. It shows your disk as a circular map, supports macOS 10.13 or newer on Apple silicon and Intel, and can scan with administrator rights to reach hidden files. If that sounds right, you may not need an alternative.
Why people look elsewhere
Common reasons are price, wanting something open source, or preferring a list or a different picture. We cannot speak for everyone, so check what matters to you.
Alternatives
GrandPerspective. Its page says it “graphically shows the disk usage within a file system” as a treemap. It is open source under the GPL, free on SourceForge or $2.99 on the App Store, and needs macOS 14 or higher.
Disk Inventory X. A treemap tool, free under the GPL. Its page lists macOS 10.13 through 10.15, so check compatibility on a newer Mac.
OmniDiskSweeper. Its page says it shows files “largest to smallest” and lets you Trash or open them. Its page does not show a price or current macOS support, so check before you download.
DiskJoy. Pre-alpha. It scans folders you choose, read-only, and groups space by category with a lower-bound estimate of what could be reclaimed. Cleanup is not built yet.
No app. System Settings, General, Storage and du -sh ~/* | sort -h in Terminal need nothing installed. The command is read-only.
Questions to ask before switching
- Does it run on your macOS version?
- Is it one-time, free or a subscription?
- Can it delete, and does it ask first?
- Does it need Full Disk Access? Why?
- Does the picture help you, or is a plain list clearer?
How to pick, in three steps
- Name the feature you want. A different picture, a lower price, open source, or a category view. One reason is enough.
- Check the macOS version. Requirements are the first thing that rules a tool out. DaisyDisk’s page says macOS 10.13 or newer, GrandPerspective’s says macOS 14 or higher and Disk Inventory X’s lists 10.13 to 10.15.
- Run the same scan in two tools. Scan your home folder in each and compare the three biggest folders with
du -sh ~/* | sort -h. Terminal only reads, so it is a safe check.
A word on trust
Disk tools need to read a lot, so choose ones from a named maker or an open project with a public page. Download from that page only. If you are asked for Full Disk Access, that is normal for a disk tool, but it is a good moment to ask what the app does with what it sees. DiskJoy’s design rule is that no file paths or names are sent anywhere, and that the scan is read-only. Whatever you pick, look for the same answers.
What an alternative will not change
Every analyzer shows the same disk. The big folders will be the same big folders in every tool. A new tool does not find extra space. It only changes how easily you notice what is already there, so the choice is mostly about comfort and cost.
If you stay with DaisyDisk
Nothing here says you should switch. If DaisyDisk’s price and look suit you, the best use of this article is to know what else exists. A tool you already like and understand is worth more than a new one you have to learn.
Reading the numbers
Whichever tool you use, remember that sizes are not always what you get back. APFS can share data between files, and macOS reports some space as purgeable. A big block in a map is not the same as space you will recover. If a tool says a folder is 20 GB, that is how much it holds, not necessarily how much you free by removing it. Treat estimates as a guide, and check Storage settings after any change.
Safe, Risky, Never
| Level | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Safe | Scanning and viewing sizes with any analyzer |
| Risky | Deleting straight from a map, because a big block can be a Photos library or a virtual machine you still need |
| Never | Removing items you cannot name, or anything inside system folders |
Try a scan
To compare a category view with a map, run DiskJoy’s scan. It reads only and removes nothing.
Sources and disclosure
DiskJoy is our product. Accessed 2026-10-05: https://daisydiskapp.com/ ; https://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net/ ; https://www.derlien.com/ ; https://www.omnigroup.com/omnidisksweeper. Prices change, so check each page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to DaisyDisk?
Yes. GrandPerspective is open source and free on SourceForge, and Disk Inventory X is free under the GPL. Both draw treemaps instead of DaisyDisk's circular map.
What are DaisyDisk alternatives?
GrandPerspective, Disk Inventory X, OmniDiskSweeper and DiskJoy all help you see what uses your disk. They differ in how they draw it, what they cost and which macOS versions they support.