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Utilities · head to head

CrystalDiskInfo vs Sedaru

CrystalDiskInfo logo

CrystalDiskInfo

Utilities

Free Windows tool that reads S.M.A.R.T. data from drives and warns before they fail

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sedaru logo

Sedaru

Utilities

Water utility asset management and field operations built on top of Esri ArcGIS

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CrystalDiskInfo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CrystalDiskInfo many USB enclosures do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through, so external drives often report nothing at all and users read that as a healthy result.; Sedaru the Esri dependency is absolute: an ArcGIS licence is a separate and substantial cost outside the Sedaru contract, and utilities without ArcGIS must buy into that platform before Sedaru is even usable.
  • They diverge on capability: CrystalDiskInfo covers S.M.A.R.T. reporting, Sedaru covers Esri-native asset model.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CrystalDiskInfo and Sedaru actually diverge.

Attributes where CrystalDiskInfo and Sedaru differ
AttributeCrystalDiskInfoSedaru
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindowsWeb, iOS, Android, Cloud

Identical on both: 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 CrystalDiskInfo

  • S.M.A.R.T. reporting
  • NVMe support
  • Threshold alerts
  • Temperature monitoring
  • Standard and Shizuku editions
  • MIT licensed

Only in Sedaru

  • Esri-native asset model
  • Field crew mobile
  • Hydraulic model integration
  • SCADA alarm context
  • Capital planning
  • Customer service linkage

What people use each for

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

CrystalDiskInfo

  • Checking the true condition of a second-hand drive before trusting data to itnot Sedaru
  • Watching SSD endurance on write-heavy machines such as build servers and video workstationsnot Sedaru
  • Getting early warning of mechanical failure while a backup can still be takennot Sedaru
  • Auditing power-on hours and wear across a small fleet of machines one at a timenot Sedaru

Sedaru

  • A water utility whose crews already work from ArcGIS maps and that wants work orders on the same map rather than in a separate CMMSnot CrystalDiskInfo
  • A wastewater authority prioritising collection system renewal by risk and condition rather than by age alonenot CrystalDiskInfo
  • Giving field crews offline access to network asset data and work history in areas with no mobile coveragenot CrystalDiskInfo
  • A utility trying to connect SCADA alarms to the physical assets and recent work that explain them, instead of reading alarms in isolationnot CrystalDiskInfo

Where each one falls short

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

CrystalDiskInfo

  • Many USB enclosures do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through, so external drives often report nothing at all and users read that as a healthy result.
  • It is Windows only, and there is no central console, so checking a fleet means visiting each machine or scripting an alternative.
  • A good status is not a prediction: drives fail suddenly with clean attributes, and treating the summary as an assurance leads people to skip backups.
  • The Shizuku edition ships anime artwork and voice packs, which is unsuitable on company machines and is often downloaded by mistake because it is the more visible option.
  • Vendors define raw attribute values inconsistently, so the same number means different things on different drives and the detailed view needs interpretation to be useful.

Sedaru

  • The Esri dependency is absolute: an ArcGIS licence is a separate and substantial cost outside the Sedaru contract, and utilities without ArcGIS must buy into that platform before Sedaru is even usable.
  • Sedaru inherits GIS data quality, so a utility with an incomplete or stale geodatabase discovers the gaps in front of field crews rather than fixing them, and the data remediation project is not in the Sedaru quote.
  • The North American water focus means limited relevance and limited implementation support outside that market, particularly for utilities operating under European or Australian regulatory reporting requirements.
  • Nothing is published on price and the product is sold within a large corporate portfolio, so a small utility has little basis for judging whether the quoted subscription is competitive.
  • It is a water and wastewater product; a municipality wanting one asset system across water, roads, parks and facilities will need a broader public works platform alongside it.

Pricing, plan by plan

CrystalDiskInfo

Free
  • CrystalDiskInfoFree
    • MIT licensed
    • Commercial use permitted
    • All features in the free download

Sedaru

On request
  • Sedaru$undefined/year
    • Subscription sized on utility scale and module selection
    • Esri ArcGIS licence required and purchased separately from Esri
    • Implementation and GIS data preparation quoted as services

Which should you pick?

Choose CrystalDiskInfo if

  • You need s.m.a.r.t. reporting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want nvme support.
CrystalDiskInfo review

Choose Sedaru if

  • You need esri-native asset model.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
  • You also want field crew mobile.
Sedaru review

Questions people ask

Is CrystalDiskInfo or Sedaru better?
Neither clearly leads. CrystalDiskInfo starts at Free and Sedaru at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CrystalDiskInfo or Sedaru?
CrystalDiskInfo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CrystalDiskInfo and On request for Sedaru.
Does CrystalDiskInfo or Sedaru run on more platforms?
CrystalDiskInfo runs on Windows. Sedaru runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
Can I use CrystalDiskInfo for free?
Yes. CrystalDiskInfo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sedaru starts at On request.
What is CrystalDiskInfo best used for?
CrystalDiskInfo is most often used for checking the true condition of a second-hand drive before trusting data to it, watching ssd endurance on write-heavy machines such as build servers and video workstations, getting early warning of mechanical failure while a backup can still be taken, auditing power-on hours and wear across a small fleet of machines one at a time. Of those, checking the true condition of a second-hand drive before trusting data to it and watching ssd endurance on write-heavy machines such as build servers and video workstations are not what Sedaru is typically brought in for.
What can CrystalDiskInfo do that Sedaru cannot?
CrystalDiskInfo covers S.M.A.R.T. reporting, NVMe support, Threshold alerts, Temperature monitoring. Sedaru covers Esri-native asset model, Field crew mobile, Hydraulic model integration, SCADA alarm context.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CrystalDiskInfo: Can I use it in a business?

Yes. It is MIT licensed with no personal-use restriction, which distinguishes it from several other free Windows utilities.

Sedaru: Do I need Esri ArcGIS to use Sedaru?

Yes. Sedaru is built on the ArcGIS geodatabase and the Esri licence is a separate purchase from Esri, not part of the Sedaru subscription.

CrystalDiskInfo: Why does my external drive show no data?

Most USB bridge chips do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through. Connecting the drive directly by SATA or NVMe usually reveals the attributes.

Sedaru: Who owns Sedaru?

Aquatic Informatics, which is part of Veralto, the water quality group spun out of Danaher in 2023.

CrystalDiskInfo: Does a caution status mean I should replace the drive immediately?

It means an attribute has crossed a vendor threshold, most often reallocated sectors. Back up now, then decide. It is a warning, not a countdown.

Sedaru: Does Sedaru replace a CMMS?

For water network assets, largely yes. For plant equipment and facilities maintenance many utilities still run a separate CMMS.

CrystalDiskInfo: What is the difference between the editions?

Function is identical. The Shizuku edition adds themed artwork and voice packs; the standard edition is the plain one you want on a work machine.

Sedaru: Is pricing published?

No. Subscriptions are sized on the utility and quoted, with implementation and data preparation charged as services.

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