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Disk Census vs DaisyDisk

DaisyDisk shows you the map. Disk Census also tells you what’s safe to clear.

Both show where your space went. DaisyDisk draws it as a map and leaves every decision to you. Disk Census also says what each item is, whether it rebuilds itself, and what can go.

Checked · Sources

In short

  • DaisyDisk is a visual disk map: you find the big folders and decide. Disk Census also sorts what it finds into Safe, Review and Keep.
  • Both delete permanently instead of using the Trash, so the space comes back at once. Disk Census checks each item again just before it goes.
  • Disk Census adds developer caches, AI agents’ leftovers, duplicates and a command line. DaisyDisk adds its interactive map, cloud drives and older macOS versions.
  • Both are one-time purchases: DaisyDisk for up to 5 personal Macs, Disk Census for up to 3, with every future version included.

Only in Disk Census

What Disk Census does that DaisyDisk doesn’t, going by DaisyDisk’s own pages.

  • It says what’s safe to clear

    Every item is tagged Safe, Review or Keep, with what regenerates it. DaisyDisk’s own comparison puts it as “You decide”.

  • Developer and AI agent cleanup

    Xcode, Homebrew, npm, Cargo, Go, Python and more, plus the old versions and caches AI coding agents leave behind, with their history kept.

  • Duplicates in the same scan

    Identical files found by content and shown side by side, from the same scan as everything else.

  • A command line for scripts and agents

    census ships inside the app with JSON on every command, so scripts and AI agents see what the app sees.

  • Every future version

    One purchase covers every future version. DaisyDisk’s license includes minor updates and bug fixes.

Side by side

Each DaisyDisk fact links to where it was read. “Not stated” means DaisyDisk’s site doesn’t say either way.

Disk Census and DaisyDisk, side by side. Checked 9 October 2026.
Disk CensusDaisyDisk
Seeing where space went
PartlyEach folder is drawn as a bar of its largest items. There is no treemap.
YesAn interactive map of the disk, with instant previews.Source
Developer caches and build output
YesCaches and build output of Xcode, Homebrew, npm, pnpm, Yarn, Bun, Cargo, Go, Gradle, CocoaPods, Swift Package Manager, pip, uv, Poetry, conda and more, with node_modules, target and .venv folders grouped by project.
NoNot a cleaner of predefined files: its own comparison says “You decide”.Source
AI coding agents’ leftovers
YesOld versions, caches, temporary files and logs of Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Windsurf, Zed, Warp, Kiro, Antigravity, Goose and more. History, settings, credentials, plugins and skills are never offered.
Not stated on their siteIts site doesn’t mention AI agents.
Duplicate files
YesSets of identical files by content, side by side. The last copy of a set can never be deleted.
Not stated on their siteIts site doesn’t mention duplicates.
Where deleted items go
Deleted permanently, never to the Trash, and only after a person approves the exact items. Every confirmation says so.
Deleted permanently, not to the Trash, so the space is recovered. There are 5 seconds to cancel.Source
Safety checks before deleting
YesEach item is checked again against a fresh scan before it goes, items in use are skipped, and every cleanup writes an audit on the Mac.
PartlyRefuses folders such as /System and /Library, and gives 5 seconds to cancel.Source
Command line for scripts and agents
Yescensus ships inside the app, at the same version, with JSON on every command and stable exit codes.
Not stated on their siteIts site doesn’t mention a command line.
Future versions
A one-time purchase with every future version included. No subscription.
A lifetime license with minor updates and bug fixes included.Source
Macs per license
One key covers the app and census on up to 3 Macs one person uses.
Up to 5 personal Macs.Source
Requirements
macOS 12 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel. Mac only.
macOS 10.13 or newer, on Apple silicon and Intel.Source

Price

Disk Census’s price is live. DaisyDisk’s is as its site showed it on 9 October 2026.

Disk Census

Launch offerSave 60%

Regular price $10Launch price $3.99

One-time, for up to 3 Macs, with every future version. Limited seats, offer ends soon. Then it’s $4.99.

DaisyDisk

$9.99

One-time, for up to 5 personal Macs, with minor updates and bug fixes. A free version to try, and 30 days’ money back.

Checked · Source

Launch prices, by copies sold

  1. $3.99Save 60%First 100 copiesNow
  2. $4.99Save 50%Next 150 copies
  3. $6.99Save 30%Next 250 copies
  4. $10Regular priceAfter the launch

Checkout by Stripe. Sold through Link, which sends your receipt. Prices in US dollars, tax included. Refund policy

When DaisyDisk is the better pick

  • You want to explore your disk as a map: DaisyDisk’s interactive map is the whole app.
  • You want to scan Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive or Box: DaisyDisk scans cloud disks.
  • Your Mac runs macOS 10.13 to 11, which Disk Census doesn’t support.
  • You want to try it free first, or use it on more than 3 Macs: DaisyDisk has a free version and covers 5 personal Macs.

Questions

Is Disk Census a good DaisyDisk alternative?

If you want to clean as well as look, yes. Disk Census shows where the space went and also tags each item Safe, Review or Keep, finds duplicates, and knows developer caches and AI agents’ leftovers. If you mainly want a map to explore, DaisyDisk is built around that.

Does Disk Census have a map like DaisyDisk’s?

Not a map. Disk Census shows each folder as a bar of its largest items, and lists the biggest files, apps and caches in their own views.

Do DaisyDisk and Disk Census both delete files permanently?

Yes. Neither moves files to the Trash, so the space comes back straight away. DaisyDisk gives you 5 seconds to cancel. Disk Census asks you to approve the exact items, says the deletion is permanent, and checks each item again before deleting it.

Can I use DaisyDisk and Disk Census together?

Yes. Both only read your disk until you delete something, so they don’t get in each other’s way.

Sources

Every fact about DaisyDisk was read on its own pages on . Spot something out of date? Write to support@diskcensus.com.

DaisyDisk is a trademark of its owner. Disk Census isn’t affiliated with it.

Other comparisons

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macOS 12 or later · Intel and Apple silicon