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Utilities · head to head

TreeSize vs TrueNAS

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
TrueNAS logo

TrueNAS

File Storage

Open-source ZFS storage operating system for network-attached storage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: TreeSize it traverses directories rather than reading the NTFS master file table, so a local drive scan takes noticeably longer than the fastest alternatives.; TrueNAS requires self-hosting on x86 hardware, no managed cloud offering; organisations must provision, configure, and maintain their own infrastructure
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which TreeSize and TrueNAS actually diverge.

Attributes where TreeSize and TrueNAS differ
AttributeTreeSizeTrueNAS
Pricing modelquoteopen-source
PlatformsWindowsSelf-hosted, Linux, Web, API
CategoryUtilitiesFile Storage

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

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 TreeSize

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

Only in TrueNAS

Nothing recorded that TreeSize does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

TreeSize

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

TrueNAS

  • On-premises backup and archival storage for enterprisesnot TreeSize
  • Home lab and small business network-attached storagenot TreeSize
  • Media server storage for video, photo, and document librariesnot TreeSize
  • Disaster recovery and business continuity replicationnot TreeSize
  • S3-compatible object storage for cloud-native applicationsnot TreeSize
  • High-availability storage clusters for datacentresnot TreeSize

Where each one falls short

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

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.

TrueNAS

  • Requires self-hosting on x86 hardware, no managed cloud offering; organisations must provision, configure, and maintain their own infrastructure
  • ZFS filesystem entails high memory requirements (1 GB RAM per 1 TB of storage recommended), increasing costs for large deployments
  • Limited ARM/embedded support; Community Edition is primarily x86-64, reducing deployment options for edge installations
  • Clustering and replication setup requires operational expertise; misconfiguration can lead to data loss
  • Enterprise support and SLA guarantees require paid subscriptions; Community Edition relies on peer-based forums

Pricing, plan by plan

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

TrueNAS

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the TrueNAS review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose TrueNAS if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API.
TrueNAS review

Questions people ask

Is TreeSize or TrueNAS better?
Neither clearly leads. TreeSize starts at Free and TrueNAS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, TreeSize or TrueNAS?
TreeSize starts at Free and TrueNAS at Free.
Does TreeSize or TrueNAS run on more platforms?
TreeSize runs on Windows. TrueNAS runs on Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API.
Can I use TreeSize for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is TreeSize best used for?
TreeSize is most often used for deploying one free disk analyser across a company without a personal-use licence problem, reporting on a file server by owner and file age before an archiving or quota decision, finding duplicate files spread across departmental network shares, producing a storage report for someone who will read a pdf but not run a scan. Of those, deploying one free disk analyser across a company without a personal-use licence problem and reporting on a file server by owner and file age before an archiving or quota decision are not what TrueNAS is typically brought in for.
What can TreeSize do that TrueNAS 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

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.

TrueNAS: What is the cost of TrueNAS Community Edition?

TrueNAS Community Edition is free and open-source. There are no licensing fees, but organisations must purchase and maintain their own x86 hardware. Enterprise Edition requires paid support contracts for production environments.

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.

TrueNAS: Can I replicate TrueNAS data between sites?

Yes. TrueNAS supports snapshot-based replication over network links, enabling disaster recovery and business continuity. Replication can occur between Community Edition systems or between Enterprise Appliances.

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.

TrueNAS: What storage protocols does TrueNAS support?

TrueNAS simultaneously supports NFS (network file system), SMB (Windows file sharing), iSCSI (block storage), and S3-compatible object storage, all from the same storage pool.

Source
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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