dirstat-rs review
A free, scriptable disk analyzer for hierarchical reports and sorted JSON output.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
dirstat-rs is an open-source command-line disk usage analyzer for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It scans the current directory or a specified filesystem path, then displays hierarchical results with configurable recursion depth. This makes it suited to users who want scriptable directory reports, filesystem inspection, or machine-readable output rather than a graphical disk map. It supports both allocated disk size and apparent logical file size, helping users choose the measurement that fits their reporting needs.
Its strongest capability is control over how scans are performed and reported. Users can filter displayed entries by a configurable percentage threshold, prevent scans from crossing filesystem boundaries, and scan directories in parallel using Rayon. Sorted JSON output extends the tool beyond an interactive terminal view, making the results suitable for downstream processing. The project is distributed through source compilation, Cargo, and a macOS Homebrew tap, and it uses the MIT License.
The trade-off is a narrow command-line focus. dirstat-rs does not provide graphical visualization, treemap views, app-size views, or file-type breakdowns, and it has no listed integrations. Users who want compact, cross-platform reports with configurable scan behavior and JSON export should pick dirstat-rs. Users who prefer visual exploration of storage usage or broader analysis features should choose a disk analyzer built around graphical views and application or file-type categorization instead.
dirstat-rs pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Supports parallel scans with depth and threshold controls
- Produces sorted JSON for machine-readable reports
- Where it doesn't
- Provides command-line output rather than graphical visualization
- Does not include app-size or file-type breakdowns
- Offers no listed integrations
dirstat-rs fact sheet, pricing and score →
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