DaisyDisk draws the map. Disk Forecast reads the weather.
DaisyDisk is the visual standard for seeing what's on a Mac's disk, and $9.99 once is a fair price. It answers “what's using my space?” Disk Forecast answers the question that comes first: “when will I run out?”
The short version
Keep DaisyDisk if you love exploring your disk as a picture and dragging folders out by hand. Get Disk Forecast for a countdown in the menu bar, a plain-English breakdown of System Data, and a cleanup list sorted by risk. One costs $9.99, the other is free, and they get along fine.
What DaisyDisk does well
DaisyDisk turns your disk into a picture you can click through. Big folders look big, you drill in, and you drag what you don't want to a collector at the bottom. It's been the visual standard on the Mac for years, and it's still maintained, with an update as recent as July 2026.
It costs $9.99 once, with no subscription.
Where it stops
It's a snapshot. DaisyDisk shows you what's on the disk right now. Most people open it when they're already out of space. Disk Forecast sits in the menu bar the rest of the time and tells you weeks ahead.
The App Store version sees less. In Apple's sandbox it can't scan as an administrator or see hidden and system files, which is why DaisyDisk also sells a direct build. Know which one you have.
The judgment is yours. A picture shows size, not meaning. Disk Forecast sorts what it finds into “Safe to clear” and “Worth a look,” with a one-line explanation of every item.
Disk Forecast vs DaisyDisk
DaisyDisk facts come from its own site and App Store listing as of October 2026.
| Disk Forecast | DaisyDisk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $9.99 one-time |
| Tells you when the disk will be full | Yes, in the menu bar | — |
| How it shows your disk | Lists sorted by size, each item explained | An interactive picture you click through |
| System Data broken down | Every part, in plain English, with Apple's fixes | — |
| Cleanup sorted by risk | Yes | — |
| Deletes go to the Trash | Yes | — |
| Where to get it | GitHub or Homebrew | Mac App Store or direct |
| Sees hidden and system files | Yes | Direct build only |
| Source available | Yes, on GitHub | No |
| Last update | Actively developed | July 2026 |
“—” means we couldn't confirm it from the vendor's own materials as of October 2026.
What DaisyDisk does better
Exploring. If you want to see your whole disk as one picture and wander through it, nothing on the Mac is nicer to use.
What Disk Forecast does better
Warning you ahead of time, explaining System Data, and telling you what's safe to clear. It's also free, with the source on GitHub.
Using them together
- Install Disk Forecast.
brew install --cask coreyhaines31/tap/diskforecast, or download the app from GitHub. - Let the forecast build. Free space shows right away. The countdown appears after 3 days of history.
- Clear the safe stuff first. “Safe to clear” in the menu is everything that rebuilds on its own. Click it, confirm, and it's all in the Trash.
- Open DaisyDisk for the rest. When you want to hunt for one forgotten 40 GB folder, a picture is still the fastest way to find it.
Questions
How much does DaisyDisk cost?
$9.99, one-time. It's sold on the Mac App Store and directly from its developer.
What's the difference between DaisyDisk's App Store and direct versions?
The App Store build runs in Apple's sandbox, so it can't scan as an administrator or see hidden and system files. The direct build can. Disk Forecast skips the App Store for the same reason.
Is DaisyDisk still updated?
Yes. It shipped an update in July 2026.
Is Disk Forecast free?
Yes, at home or at work, with no account. The source is on GitHub and the app collects no telemetry.
Other Mac storage apps, compared
Know before it's full.
Free. No account, no subscription.
macOS 14 or later · Apple Silicon and Intelbrew install --cask coreyhaines31/tap/diskforecast