DaisyDisk
A macOS disk analyzer from Software Ambience Corp. that turns folder sizes into a colorful sunburst map so you can spot what actually consumes space instead of guessing from Finder’s vague “System Data” bar.
Typical Mac workflow
Launch DaisyDisk, pick your startup disk or an external volume, and the app scans in seconds—often far faster than waiting on Finder’s size calculations. The interactive rings let you click inward through folders until a few huge files or abandoned project directories stand out. Press Space for QuickLook previews, then drag unwanted items to the collector at the bottom to delete them. System paths that should not be touched are blocked automatically, so cleanup stays deliberate rather than one-click “optimizer” roulette.
When regular scans miss space, Scan as Administrator exposes restricted areas and helps break down macOS “Other” and “System Data,” including APFS snapshots and purgeable space that can quietly eat tens of gigabytes. DaisyDisk also mounts cloud accounts—Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Box—for remote scanning alongside local, network, and external drives. Parallel scanning, real-time free-space readouts, and keyboard navigation through results suit power users who manage multiple disks or developer machines with simulator caches and old iOS backups.
Licensing and version 4.34
DaisyDisk sells as a one-time $9.99 lifetime license (direct site or Mac App Store) with minor updates included, use on up to five personal Macs, and no subscription. It requires macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later on Intel or Apple Silicon (M1 through M5 per the vendor). Version 4.34 (July 1, 2026) focuses on measurement accuracy: it detects APFS file clones and counts only the first physical occurrence, assigning duplicate clone entries a virtual size of zero so folder totals match real disk use—similar to how the app already treats hard links.
