Head-to-head · Disk Benchmark Software
DiskSpd vs KDiskMark
DiskSpd leads on 0 checks, KDiskMark on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreDiskSpd · 7.8/10
- Free planboth
DiskSpd scores higher on our rubric for disk benchmark software: 7.8 against 7.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #9.
DiskSpd is the better fit for free Windows low-level benchmarking. KDiskMark is the better fit for linux users wanting an interactive benchmark.
- DiskSpd fits best
Free Windows low-level benchmarking
- KDiskMark fits best
Linux users wanting an interactive benchmark
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Side by side
| Feature | DiskSpd 7.8/10 Visit ↗ | KDiskMark 7.4/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.8 | 7.4 |
| Ranking | #5 in Disk Benchmark Software | #9 in Disk Benchmark Software |
| Best for | Free Windows low-level benchmarking | Linux users wanting an interactive benchmark |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows | Linux |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business |
| Features DiskSpd 5/5 · KDiskMark 5/5 | ||
| Random I/O tests | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sequential tests | ✓ | ✓ |
| IOPS measurement | ✓ | ✓ |
| Latency measurement | ✓ | ✓ |
| Command-line interface | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | Windows | Linux |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | DiskSpd is Microsoft’s command-line storage load generator and performance testing tool for Windows. It is intended for technical users who need configurable benchmarks for regular files, partitions, or physical devices. Workloads can be… Read the review → |
KDiskMark is an open-source disk benchmark application for Linux distributions. It is designed for users assessing HDD and SSD performance through configurable storage tests, with both a Qt graphical interface and an interactive terminal… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
DiskSpd — where it wins
- Configures random and sequential workloads in detail
- Measures IOPS, latency percentiles, and interval statistics
- Tests files, partitions, and physical devices
Where it doesn't
- Windows is the primary supported platform
- Command-line operation requires technical familiarity
- Results are focused on benchmarking rather than visual reporting
KDiskMark — where it wins
- Configures block size, queue depth, and thread count
- Measures sequential, random, IOPS, and latency performance
- Offers both a Qt graphical interface and interactive TUI
Where it doesn't
- Supports Linux distributions rather than multiple operating systems
- Focused on storage benchmarking rather than broader system tests
- Requires familiarity with benchmark settings for detailed comparisons
- DiskSpd7.8/10 · Free plan
A free, open-source Windows tool for configurable low-level disk benchmarks.
Visit DiskSpdFull verdict → - KDiskMark7.4/10 · Free plan
A configurable Linux disk benchmark with GUI, TUI, IOPS, latency, and report generation.
Visit KDiskMarkFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update