Which fits your needs?
Baobab (Disk Usage Analyzer): Linux desktop users who prefer a GNOME application with graphical disk analysis.
SpacePeek: Finder users who want to inspect archives before extracting or deleting them.
Features, pricing, and workflow
Scroll across to compare
| Feature | Baobab (Disk Usage Analyzer) | SpacePeek |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Linux desktop users who prefer a GNOME application with graphical disk analysis. | Finder users who want to inspect archives before extracting or deleting them. |
| Visualization | Folder tree with ring/treemap graphical views | Finder Quick Look folder/archive browser and size overview |
| Platforms and requirements | Linux (GNOME) | macOS 14+ |
| Pricing and editions | Free software from GNOME; available through Flathub/distributions. | Free previews; optional $3.99 one-time Pro purchase in the US App Store. |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Native macOS UI | Linux application | Yes |
| Cleanup workflow | Inspect the selected location and use documented file actions or the system file manager. | Inspection and copying; use Finder or a separate cleanup tool for removals. |
| Reports and portability | Keep Baobab for Linux desktop analysis. For a terminal on Linux, NullDisk’s CLI can rescan the same filesystem; its Mac GUI does not import Baobab sessions. | SpacePeek previews existing folders and archives. Keep original archives and important paths; moving to NullDisk does not transfer Quick Look extension features. |
Baobab (Disk Usage Analyzer): what stands out
A good fit for Linux desktop users who prefer a GNOME application with graphical disk analysis.
Baobab (Disk Usage Analyzer): strengths
- Tree and graphical folder-size views
- Scans devices, selected folders, and online accounts
- Free software maintained within GNOME
Considerations
- A Linux desktop app rather than a native Mac application
- Remote access depends on available account/backend support
- A scan inventory is not a backup or deletion recommendation
SpacePeek: what stands out
A good fit for Finder users who want to inspect archives before extracting or deleting them.
SpacePeek: strengths
- Preview and search folders plus ZIP, 7z, and RAR archives
- Folder-size overview without background indexing
- Pro adds deeper navigation and copying archive members
Considerations
- An inspection companion rather than a full-drive cleanup utility
- Free browsing stops after the first child level
- Pro archive copying is limited to 100 MiB per file
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 Baobab (Disk Usage Analyzer)?
A good fit for Linux desktop users who prefer a GNOME application with graphical disk analysis. Free software from GNOME; available through Flathub/distributions.
When should I choose SpacePeek?
A good fit for Finder users who want to inspect archives before extracting or deleting them. Free previews; optional $3.99 one-time Pro purchase in the US App Store.
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.
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