The WinDirStat Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about WinDirStat in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
WinDirStat
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source disk usage analyzer for Windows
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from WinDirStat’s own pages.
Made by WinDirStat Team · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from WinDirStat’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on WinDirStat’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
WinDirStat is a free, open-source disk usage analyzer and cleanup assistant for Microsoft Windows. It scans drives, folders, network shares or MTP devices and shows what takes up the space through a list of the largest files, file-type statistics and visualizations such as a treemap. It can also search for files and duplicates, export CSV or JSON reports and run cleanup tools. It is licensed under the GNU GPL v3 or later and is free in personal and commercial settings.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about WinDirStat, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but nothing needs setting up: install it, point it at a drive, read the picture.
- 1
Best for finding what's filling a Windows drive for free
It's free and open source, at home or at work.
- 2
It is free
WinDirStat has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free software under the GNU GPL v3 or later. The site says it can be used free of charge in personal or commercial settings.
- 3
It runs on Windows
Windows.
- 4
Scanning
Scans multiple folders, drives, network shares or MTP devices in one pass. Running elevated speeds up scans of local NTFS drives.
- 5
Disk usage views
Shows the largest files and file types alongside treemaps, sunbursts and flame graphs, and compares logical with physical sizes.
- 6
Search and duplicates
Searches by name, size, type or owner. Duplicates are found by comparing content hashes, with optional sparse hashing for probable matches.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
WinDirStat is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
WinDirStat at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows
- Made by
- WinDirStat Team, since 2003
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for finding what's filling a Windows drive for free
WinDirStat scans a drive and shows what's filling it, with a list of the biggest files and a treemap where the largest files are the largest blocks. It's free and open source, at home or at work. It only runs on Windows, the fast NTFS scan needs admin rights, and file recovery is only an attempt, so Mac and Linux users need something else.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | It costs nothing and you just download it. Free software under the GNU GPL v3 or later, and the site says you can use it free of charge in personal or commercial settings. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The complete app is free, as an installer, a portable archive, a Microsoft Store package or through winget, Chocolatey or Scoop. There's no paid edition to be nudged towards. |
| Features | C | Scans drives, shares and MTP devices, then shows the biggest files, file types, treemaps, sunbursts and flame graphs, finds duplicates by content and exports CSV or JSON. It does disk usage fully, and that's a small job; the file recovery is described only as an attempt, on local NTFS, exFAT and FAT. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but nothing needs setting up: install it, point it at a drive, read the picture. The one thing to know is that the faster NTFS scan only kicks in if you run it elevated. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Windows only, built and tested for Windows 7 through 11 and Server 2008 R2 through 2025. One operating system, and the site itself sends Mac and Linux users off to GrandPerspective and QDirStat. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who WinDirStat is for
- Fits if a Windows drive is full and you want to see why without paying
- Works for companies that need a free tool, since commercial use is allowed
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on a Mac or Linux, as it only runs on Windows
- Not for you if you're counting on it to bring back deleted files, since recovery is only an attempt on local NTFS, exFAT and FAT drives
- Not for you if you can't run apps as administrator, because the fast NTFS scan needs that
- Watch out: only Windows 7 through 11 and Server 2008 R2 through 2025 are supported
Good to know
Good for
- Finding out what is filling a Windows drive at no cost
- Companies that want a free tool: commercial use is allowed
- Administrators exporting CSV or JSON reports from automated scans
Worth knowing
- Windows only; the site points Mac and Linux users to other open-source tools such as GrandPerspective and QDirStat.
- It is developed and tested for Windows 7 through 11 and Windows Server 2008 R2 through 2025; other versions are not supported.
- The accelerated NTFS scan needs the app to be run elevated.
- File recovery is described as an attempt and covers only local NTFS, exFAT and FAT drives.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
WinDirStat is free to use.
It costs nothing and you just download it.
WinDirStat
$0
The complete app as x64, x86 and ARM64 installers, portable archives, a Microsoft Store package, or through winget, Chocolatey or Scoop.
The free plan
The whole app is free software under the GNU GPL v3 or later. The site says it can be used free of charge in personal or commercial settings.
Read from windirstat.net on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Windows
Free, open-source disk usage analyzer for Windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, disk cleanup.
It does disk usage fully, and that's a small job; the file recovery is described only as an attempt, on local NTFS, exFAT and FAT.
- Scanning
- Scans multiple folders, drives, network shares or MTP devices in one pass. Running elevated speeds up scans of local NTFS drives.
- Disk usage views
- Shows the largest files and file types alongside treemaps, sunbursts and flame graphs, and compares logical with physical sizes.
- Search and duplicates
- Searches by name, size, type or owner. Duplicates are found by comparing content hashes, with optional sparse hashing for probable matches.
- Reports and monitoring
- Scan snapshots can be saved and reopened, reports exported as CSV or JSON, scans automated, and file-system changes watched.
- Cleanup and recovery
- Runs cleanup tools on selected items and can attempt to recover deleted files from local NTFS, exFAT and FAT drives.
- Permissions and storage analytics
- Inspects permission entries and estimates storage tier costs from file sizes and modification ages.
Where it runs
- Windows
What it works with
- Microsoft Store
- WinGet
- Chocolatey
- Scoop
WinDirStat is made by WinDirStat Team, and has been around since 2003.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
WinDirStat's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
WinDirStat has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. WinDirStat’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. WinDirStat is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
WinDirStat is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could not
- Deleting system files without breaking anything.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.
What this rests on. WinDirStat’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
WizTree, DaisyDisk, BleachBit and CCleaner
The 4 tools WinDirStat is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
WizTree
Free plan · from $25 one-time
Fast disk space analyzer for Windows and macOS.
- Only WizTree lists a macOS app.
- WinDirStat is open source, according to its own site.
- WizTree can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
DaisyDisk
Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
Visual disk space analyzer and cleanup tool for Mac.
- WinDirStat has a free plan. DaisyDisk does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only WinDirStat lists a Windows app.
- Only DaisyDisk lists a macOS app.
- 3.0GPA
BleachBit
Free
Free, open-source disk cleaner for Windows and Linux.
- Only BleachBit lists a Linux app.
- 2.8GPA
CCleaner
Free plan · from $44.95/yr
Junk cleaner and PC optimizer for Windows, Mac and mobile.
- Only CCleaner lists macOS, Android and iOS apps.
- WinDirStat is open source, according to its own site.
- CCleaner also covers system monitor.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is WinDirStat free?
Yes. WinDirStat is free to use.
How much does WinDirStat cost?
WinDirStat lists one plan. WinDirStat: $0.
What platforms does WinDirStat work on?
WinDirStat is available on Windows.
Does WinDirStat have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. WinDirStat is listed for Windows.
Does WinDirStat have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. WinDirStat is listed for Windows.
Is WinDirStat open source?
Yes. WinDirStat is open source, according to its own site.
What does WinDirStat integrate with?
WinDirStat's listing names Microsoft Store, WinGet, Chocolatey and Scoop.
Who makes WinDirStat?
WinDirStat is made by WinDirStat Team. It dates from 2003.
What are the alternatives to WinDirStat?
The closest alternatives to WinDirStat in our directory are WizTree, DaisyDisk, BleachBit and CCleaner.
How does WinDirStat compare with other desktop utilities?
WinDirStat's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Is WinDirStat good value for money?
ToolGPA grades WinDirStat A for value for money. WinDirStat has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of WinDirStat?
WinDirStat is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: Deleting system files without breaking anything.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from WinDirStat’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from WinDirStat's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-03.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by WinDirStat Team. Prices change, so check windirstat.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- WinDirStat, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/windirstat
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "WinDirStat: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/windirstat
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/windirstat/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after WinDirStat, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what WinDirStat’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. WinDirStat is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by WinDirStat Team. Prices and plans change: check windirstat.net before you buy.