Softwr

Utilities · head to head

Syncthing vs WinDirStat

Syncthing logo

Syncthing

Utilities

Continuous file synchronisation between your own devices

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: Syncthing synchronisation, not backup: a deletion propagates to every device, and versioning must be configured deliberately; 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: Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync, WinDirStat covers Treemap visualisation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Syncthing and WinDirStat actually diverge.

Attributes where Syncthing and WinDirStat differ
AttributeSyncthingWinDirStat
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, DockerWindows

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), 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 Syncthing

  • Peer-to-peer sync
  • Encrypted transport
  • File versioning
  • Selective sync

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.

Syncthing

  • Keeping files in step across personal machines without a cloud accountnot WinDirStat
  • Syncing data that must not sit on a third-party server for policy reasonsnot WinDirStat
  • Replacing a paid cloud storage subscription for sync-only needsnot WinDirStat

WinDirStat

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

Where each one falls short

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

Syncthing

  • Synchronisation, not backup: a deletion propagates to every device, and versioning must be configured deliberately
  • Devices must be online simultaneously to sync, so an always-on machine is effectively required
  • Initial setup involves exchanging device IDs and is less approachable than signing into a cloud service
  • No web access to files, since there is no server holding them

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

Syncthing

Free
  • SyncthingFree
    • Full functionality
    • No usage limits
    • Community support

WinDirStat

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Syncthing if

  • You need peer-to-peer sync.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker.
  • You also want encrypted transport.
Syncthing 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 Syncthing or WinDirStat better?
Neither clearly leads. Syncthing 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, Syncthing or WinDirStat?
Syncthing starts at Free and WinDirStat at Free.
Does Syncthing or WinDirStat run on more platforms?
Syncthing runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker. WinDirStat runs on Windows.
Can I use Syncthing for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Syncthing best used for?
Syncthing is most often used for keeping files in step across personal machines without a cloud account, syncing data that must not sit on a third-party server for policy reasons, replacing a paid cloud storage subscription for sync-only needs. Of those, keeping files in step across personal machines without a cloud account and syncing data that must not sit on a third-party server for policy reasons are not what WinDirStat is typically brought in for.
What can Syncthing do that WinDirStat cannot?
Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync, Encrypted transport, File versioning, Selective sync. WinDirStat covers Treemap visualisation, Three linked views, Multithreaded scanning, Cleanup actions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Syncthing: Is Syncthing free?

Yes, open source with no licence fee and no storage costs, because there is no server.

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.

Syncthing: Is Syncthing a backup tool?

No. It synchronises, so deletions propagate. Use it alongside a real backup, not instead of one.

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.

Syncthing: Do my files pass through anyone else’s servers?

No. Transfers are peer to peer and encrypted. Discovery and relay servers can help devices find each other, and relayed traffic remains encrypted end to end.

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.

Share

Related pages

More on Syncthing

More on WinDirStat

Keep looking

Other head to heads