Which fits your needs?
JDiskReport: Users who want cross-platform disk statistics and already use Java.
SquirrelDisk: People wanting a free open-source GUI across desktop systems and remote storage.
Features, pricing, and workflow
Scroll across to compare
| Feature | JDiskReport | SquirrelDisk |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Users who want cross-platform disk statistics and already use Java. | People wanting a free open-source GUI across desktop systems and remote storage. |
| Visualization | Overview statistics charts and detail tables | Sunburst, treemap, file list, and duplicates |
| Platforms and requirements | macOS, Windows, Linux (Java) | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Pricing and editions | No-charge, ad-free freeware; this does not mean open source. | Free; AGPL-3.0 source published on GitHub. |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Native macOS UI | Cross-platform interface | Cross-platform interface |
| Cleanup workflow | Use the statistics to guide file review; the cited overview does not specify removal semantics. | Collector offers Trash, permanent removal, secure erase, or backup before deletion. |
| Reports and portability | Preserve any saved scan files supported by your version and keep important table entries. NullDisk does not import JDiskReport scan files. | The current overview does not establish an interoperable scan-report format. Preserve paths, duplicate decisions, and remote source settings separately. |
JDiskReport: what stands out
A good fit for users who want cross-platform disk statistics and already use Java.
JDiskReport: strengths
- Disk usage statistics in charts and tables
- Runs across Java-capable desktop systems
- Free without ads or expiry
Considerations
- Requires a compatible Java runtime
- Freeware rather than an open-source project
- Check the manual for report storage and file-management actions
SquirrelDisk: what stands out
A good fit for people wanting a free open-source GUI across desktop systems and remote storage.
SquirrelDisk: strengths
- Live maps and a staged removal collector
- Content-based duplicate search
- SSH and rclone-backed cloud storage
Considerations
- Uses a cross-platform Rust interface rather than SwiftUI
- Permanent deletion and secure erase require deliberate review
- Cloud/SSH actions depend on provider and remote-system support
For a useful comparison on your own drive, match the scan root, access permissions, and size mode. Chart style changes how you explore the results; it does not by itself establish measurement accuracy.
Common questions
When should I choose JDiskReport?
A good fit for users who want cross-platform disk statistics and already use Java. No-charge, ad-free freeware; this does not mean open source.
When should I choose SquirrelDisk?
A good fit for people wanting a free open-source GUI across desktop systems and remote storage. Free; AGPL-3.0 source published on GitHub.
Will both apps show the same size?
Not necessarily. Match the scan root, permissions, exclusions, and logical/allocated-size mode. Hard links, APFS clones, snapshots, sparse files, and cloud placeholders can change totals. A reported size is not a guaranteed amount recovered after deletion.