Whether you’re tired of WinDirStat or just want to have a look at what else is out there, there are some great solutions out there. Here are some of the best.
1. WizTree
First up on this list, we have WizTree. WizTree is a disk space analyzer that lets you quickly and easily get a better understanding of what exactly is taking up space on your computer.
WizTree has a relatively clean layout to it, and it’s pretty easy to understand how it works. You have to select a drive for the program to scan, just like you have to do with WinDirStat, though, unlike WinDirStat, WizTree opts to let you select a drive at the top of your screen instead of prompting you.
The actual layout one you’ve analyzed your disk or disks is pretty similar to WinDirStat as well. The breaking down of disk space into various colors and sizes, known as a treemap, that WinDirStat does is present as well. You can also click on any of them to navigate right to the corresponding folder quickly.
There are a lot of options here when you right-click. Like WinDirStat you can move directly to that file in your file explorer or open a command prompt, but WizTree also includes a defragging and check fragmentation option, which is a nice addition.
WizTree’s biggest appeal, however, isn’t in defragging or layout. It’s in speed. WizTree’s website claims to be 46 times faster than WinDirStat, and you can definitely feel that when you’re using it.
Where WinDirStat takes minutes, WizTree takes seconds. This isn’t just in the initial drive analysis, either. When you’re navigating to specific files, be it by the treemap or by expanding folders, WinDirStat often hangs for a moment as it tries to load, but with WizTree this never happens.
Download: WizTree (Free)
2. JDiskReport
Next up on this list, we have JDiskReport. If you’re looking for a different layout than what WinDirStat gives, then JDiskReport might be a good fit for you.
The first thing to note about JDiskReport is that it’s built entirely in Java, which is probably the reason for its name. This means that you’ll be running it as a JAR file, which is useful as a standalone executable, but if you prefer your files to be installed on your computer, then that could be a deal-breaker.
As for the program itself, JDiskReport is a relatively quick disk analyzer, roughly on par with how WinDirStat performs.
Where JDiskReport differs most from WinDirStat is in its layout. Instead of the tree mapping that we see with WinDirStat, JDiskReport chooses to display the information about your drive or directory as a pie chart.
In some ways, this is more intuitive to grasp when you first see it. Each segment of the chart is broken up into a different color, so it’s pretty easy to get an idea of what exactly is and isn’t taking up how much space on your computer.
The downside here is that you can’t see the individual files within each folder without navigating down into the folder itself, though this is far from the biggest problem. This way, finding the files you want to remove is easy, though knowing how to remove junk files from your Windows 10 PC isn’t.
It’s worth noting that there is an older version of JDiskReport that you can download that’s a little more feature-rich. You can install it on Windows and can click your way into the size pie, which you can’t do with the newer version.
The newer version is visually cleaner and provides more information, however, so it’s a bit of a trade-off.
Download: JDiskReport (Free)
3. TreeSize Free
If you’re looking for a solid alternative to WinDirStat with a lot of clear options to choose from, then TreeSize Free is a good place to start. However, this is only one of many ways to help you reclaim your disk space.
TreeSize Free is a disk and drive analyzing tool that gives you a lot of control over what you do with it. Where WinDirStat has some solid options if you know what you’re looking for, they can often be tricky to find if you don’t.
TreeSize Free is a lot clearer in its layout and what you can accomplish with it, which is a useful feature to have for newer users and power users, both.
For example, while both WinDirStat and TreeSize Free allow you to organize your scan by file count, allocated space, or percentage of the disk, TreeSize Free makes it a lot easier for newer users to figure out how to do this thanks to its UI design.
Moreover, if you want to expand all folders out to a certain level, doing so with TreeSize Free is simple and straightforward. All you have to do is click on the expand button and TreeSize Free handles the rest.
There are more options here as well, with the ability to filter through files and folders, to hide empty folders, and more all being readily available.
Download: TreeSize Free (Free)
4. Scanner
Finally, we have Scanner. If you’re looking for another way to visualize your disk usage, then Scanner is a great way to do just that.
Much like WinDirStat, Scanner can be a little slow at times, though not to the point where the program feels unusable by any means. If you’re searching for something more responsive than WinDirStat, however, this probably isn’t the alternative for you.
Where Scanner shines is in its layout. It can be a little tricky to get the hang of at first, but instead of visualizing your files as a treemap or size pie, Scanner uses a sunburst chart to display the usage of your drives.
The deeper the levels of folders, the further the sunburst goes out, and the larger the file size takes up, the wider it extends. It’s all color-coded as well, so you can keep a good eye on it.
Download: Scanner (Free)
Know Exactly Where Your Files Are on Windows
As you can see, there are quite a few good alternatives to WinDirStat. Whether you’re trying to analyze your disks faster, or you’re looking for a new way to visualize what’s happening on your drives and disks, there’s a solution out there for you to give a try.
