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Utilities · head to head

7-Zip vs TreeSize

7-Zip logo

7-Zip

Utilities

Free and open-source file archiver with high compression and strong encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TreeSize logo

TreeSize

Utilities

Windows disk space analyser whose free edition may be used commercially, with paid tiers for scheduled reporting

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 7-Zip windows-centric GUI design; native graphical interface is Windows-only, with no first-class macOS or Linux GUI applications provided; TreeSize it traverses directories rather than reading the NTFS master file table, so a local drive scan takes noticeably longer than the fastest alternatives.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 7-Zip and TreeSize actually diverge.

Attributes where 7-Zip and TreeSize differ
Attribute7-ZipTreeSize
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
PlatformsWindows, Linux, macOSWindows

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 7-Zip

Nothing recorded that TreeSize does not also cover.

Only in TreeSize

  • Free edition licensed for business
  • Network share scanning
  • Reports by age and owner
  • Duplicate file search
  • Scheduled scans
  • Exports

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

7-Zip

  • Creating highly compressed archives for backup and storage optimisationnot TreeSize
  • Distributing self-extracting executables to users who lack archive toolsnot TreeSize
  • Unpacking diverse archive formats (RAR, ISO, DMG) without purchasing separate toolsnot TreeSize
  • CI/CD automation via command-line compression and extractionnot TreeSize
  • Encrypting sensitive files with AES-256 for secure transmissionnot TreeSize
  • Restoring archived VirtualBox and VMware disk imagesnot TreeSize

TreeSize

  • Deploying one free disk analyser across a company without a personal-use licence problemnot 7-Zip
  • Reporting on a file server by owner and file age before an archiving or quota decisionnot 7-Zip
  • Finding duplicate files spread across departmental network sharesnot 7-Zip
  • Producing a storage report for someone who will read a PDF but not run a scannot 7-Zip

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

7-Zip

  • Windows-centric GUI design; native graphical interface is Windows-only, with no first-class macOS or Linux GUI applications provided
  • Linux and macOS support primarily through command-line tools; no native file manager integration on these platforms
  • User interface design is dated compared to modern alternatives; visual feedback and UX polish lag behind commercial archivers
  • ARM64 support limited to Windows; no ARM64 build for Linux or macOS despite growing ARM adoption
  • No built-in cloud storage integration or synchronisation; cannot extract directly to Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive

TreeSize

  • It traverses directories rather than reading the NTFS master file table, so a local drive scan takes noticeably longer than the fastest alternatives.
  • It is Windows only, so file servers running Linux or a NAS appliance need a different tool or a share mounted from a Windows machine.
  • Useful features are spread across three paid tiers, so the single capability a buyer needs frequently sits two tiers above the one they were considering.
  • Scanning large network shares generates significant traffic and takes hours, which means it has to be scheduled rather than run when someone asks the question.
  • Pricing is per licence with separate maintenance, so an accurate total for a team requires a quote rather than a figure from the website.

Pricing, plan by plan

7-Zip

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the 7-Zip review.

TreeSize

Free
  • TreeSize FreeFree
    • Folder size analysis and treemap
    • Licensed for private and commercial use
    • Basic exports
  • TreeSize Personal, Professional and Enterprise$undefined/year
    • File search, duplicate detection and full exports
    • Network share and file server scanning
    • Scheduled unattended scans and stored reports

Which should you pick?

Choose 7-Zip if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, macOS.
7-Zip review

Choose TreeSize if

  • You need free edition licensed for business.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want network share scanning.
TreeSize review

Questions people ask

Is 7-Zip or TreeSize better?
Neither clearly leads. 7-Zip starts at Free and TreeSize at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 7-Zip or TreeSize?
7-Zip starts at Free and TreeSize at Free.
Does 7-Zip or TreeSize run on more platforms?
7-Zip runs on Windows, Linux, macOS. TreeSize runs on Windows.
Can I use 7-Zip for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is 7-Zip best used for?
7-Zip is most often used for creating highly compressed archives for backup and storage optimisation, distributing self-extracting executables to users who lack archive tools, unpacking diverse archive formats (rar, iso, dmg) without purchasing separate tools, ci/cd automation via command-line compression and extraction. Of those, creating highly compressed archives for backup and storage optimisation and distributing self-extracting executables to users who lack archive tools are not what TreeSize is typically brought in for.
What can 7-Zip do that TreeSize cannot?
TreeSize covers Free edition licensed for business, Network share scanning, Reports by age and owner, Duplicate file search.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

7-Zip: Is 7-Zip free to use commercially?

Yes. 7-Zip is licensed under GNU LGPL with BSD 3-clause portions, permitting commercial and personal use without fees, registration, or restrictions.

Source
TreeSize: Is TreeSize Free really free for business use?

Yes. JAM Software licenses the free edition for private and commercial use, which is the main reason it appears on corporate machines where other free analysers are not permitted.

7-Zip: What file formats does 7-Zip support?

7-Zip natively creates 7z archives and supports packing/unpacking ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, TAR, and WIM. It can unpack 30+ additional formats including RAR, ISO, DMG, and VirtualBox disk images without requiring external tools.

Source
TreeSize: Why is it slower than WizTree?

Method. WizTree reads the NTFS master file table; TreeSize walks the directory tree, which is slower but works on network shares and non-NTFS volumes.

7-Zip: Does 7-Zip work on macOS and Linux?

Yes. 7-Zip operates on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Graphical interfaces are optimised for Windows; Linux and macOS primarily use command-line tools. Port and third-party GUI applications extend functionality on these platforms.

Source
TreeSize: Can it scan a NAS or Linux file server?

It scans them as network shares over SMB, with the speed penalty that implies. There is no agent that runs on the server itself.

TreeSize: What does the Enterprise tier add?

Scheduled unattended scans, stored historical results and reporting across servers, which is the difference between a cleanup tool and a storage reporting system.

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