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Utilities · head to head

FreeFileSync vs WinDirStat

FreeFileSync logo

FreeFileSync

Utilities

Open-source folder comparison and synchronisation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WinDirStat logo

WinDirStat

Utilities

Windows disk usage analyser that shows where space went as a colour-coded treemap

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: FreeFileSync the interface is dense and functional rather than friendly, and the sync direction is easy to misread; WinDirStat it walks the directory tree rather than reading the NTFS master file table, so a full scan takes minutes where WizTree takes seconds on the same drive.
  • They diverge on capability: FreeFileSync covers Comparison before sync, WinDirStat covers Treemap visualisation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreeFileSync and WinDirStat actually diverge.

Attributes where FreeFileSync and WinDirStat differ
AttributeFreeFileSyncWinDirStat
Pricing modelFree and open source; a paid Donation Edition adds convenience featuresOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows

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 FreeFileSync

  • Comparison before sync
  • Multiple sync modes
  • Versioning
  • Batch jobs

Only in WinDirStat

  • Treemap visualisation
  • Three linked views
  • Multithreaded scanning
  • Cleanup actions
  • Any filesystem
  • GPL licensed

What people use each for

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

FreeFileSync

  • Mirroring a working drive to external storage on a schedulenot WinDirStat
  • Comparing two folders to find what actually differsnot WinDirStat
  • Backup routines where seeing the plan before it runs mattersnot WinDirStat

WinDirStat

  • Finding what filled a Windows system drive when the usual suspects are not responsiblenot FreeFileSync
  • Auditing a shared or network drive where files are spread across thousands of foldersnot FreeFileSync
  • Environments where licence terms forbid personal-use-only freeware on company machinesnot FreeFileSync
  • Explaining disk usage visually to someone who will not read a list of folder sizesnot FreeFileSync

Where each one falls short

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

FreeFileSync

  • The interface is dense and functional rather than friendly, and the sync direction is easy to misread
  • Some convenience features are held behind the paid Donation Edition
  • The installer has historically bundled optional offers, which is worth reading carefully during setup
  • Not a versioned cloud backup: it synchronises what you point it at and nothing more

WinDirStat

  • It walks the directory tree rather than reading the NTFS master file table, so a full scan takes minutes where WizTree takes seconds on the same drive.
  • The version most users have installed is the 2007 build, and because it was dormant for so long, search results and download mirrors still point at it.
  • It is Windows only, so a mixed estate needs a different tool for macOS and Linux machines.
  • There is no scheduling, reporting or export for fleet use, so it answers a question on one machine at a time rather than monitoring storage across an organisation.
  • Hard links, junctions and deduplicated volumes can be counted in ways that make the totals disagree with what Windows reports, which causes confusion on servers.

Pricing, plan by plan

FreeFileSync

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

WinDirStat

Free
  • WinDirStatFree
    • GPL licensed
    • Commercial use permitted
    • No paid edition or feature gating

Which should you pick?

Choose FreeFileSync if

  • You need comparison before sync.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want multiple sync modes.
FreeFileSync review

Choose WinDirStat if

  • You need treemap visualisation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want three linked views.
WinDirStat review

Questions people ask

Is FreeFileSync or WinDirStat better?
Neither clearly leads. FreeFileSync starts at Free and WinDirStat at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreeFileSync or WinDirStat?
FreeFileSync starts at Free and WinDirStat at Free.
Does FreeFileSync or WinDirStat run on more platforms?
FreeFileSync runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. WinDirStat runs on Windows.
Can I use FreeFileSync for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is FreeFileSync best used for?
FreeFileSync is most often used for mirroring a working drive to external storage on a schedule, comparing two folders to find what actually differs, backup routines where seeing the plan before it runs matters. Of those, mirroring a working drive to external storage on a schedule and comparing two folders to find what actually differs are not what WinDirStat is typically brought in for.
What can FreeFileSync do that WinDirStat cannot?
FreeFileSync covers Comparison before sync, Multiple sync modes, Versioning, Batch jobs. WinDirStat covers Treemap visualisation, Three linked views, Multithreaded scanning, Cleanup actions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FreeFileSync: Is FreeFileSync free?

Yes, open source and free. A paid Donation Edition adds convenience features such as parallel sync and portable installs.

WinDirStat: Is WinDirStat still maintained?

Yes. It was dormant from around 2007 until new maintainers resumed development and released the 2.x line with multithreaded scanning and current Windows support.

FreeFileSync: Is it a backup tool?

It synchronises folders and supports versioning, which covers many backup needs, but it is not a managed cloud backup service.

WinDirStat: Can I use it at work?

Yes. It is GPL licensed with no personal-use restriction, which is the practical advantage over free-for-personal-use alternatives in this category.

FreeFileSync: Can it sync to cloud storage?

Yes, including Google Drive and SFTP or FTP targets alongside local and network paths.

WinDirStat: Why is it slower than WizTree?

Different method. WizTree reads the NTFS master file table directly; WinDirStat traverses directories, which is slower but works on any filesystem, including network shares.

WinDirStat: Does it run on macOS or Linux?

No. Separate projects exist with similar treemap interfaces, but WinDirStat itself is Windows only.

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