dust
dust: A free, open-source terminal analyzer for ranking storage use across three operating systems. Ranked #71 of 104 in Disk Space Analyzers by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for terminal users needing ranked file lists.
At a glance
- Editor score3.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTerminal users needing ranked file lists
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Desktop platformslinux, macOS, Windows
- Facts checked23 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Hierarchical percentage bars make directory usage easy to scan
- Ranks large files and subdirectories with configurable result limits
- Supports regex filters, file-type grouping, and JSON output
Where it doesn't
- Terminal-only workflow without a graphical treemap view
- No app-size view for comparing installed applications
- External-drive scanning is not explicitly documented
Our verdict on dust
dust is an open-source command-line disk-space analyzer for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It is designed for terminal users who want a more visual alternative to du, with hierarchical output that shows how files and directories contribute to overall storage use. The tool focuses on files and folders rather than graphical application-size analysis, making it a practical fit for people who prefer ranked lists and shell-based workflows.
The published project details show a free tool with no paid tiers. Its main strength is the combination of ranked results and configurable scans: users can set recursion depth and result count, choose file-only or directory-only views, group results by file type, and report apparent size. Regex-based include and exclude filters help narrow scans, while same-filesystem restrictions keep the scan scope controlled. Hard links are not counted multiple times by default, which affects how storage totals are represented.
dust also supports JSON output, giving terminal-oriented workflows a structured format for scan results. It runs across Linux, macOS, and Windows, with documented installation paths for each platform. The trade-off is a narrow presentation model: it is a terminal utility rather than a graphical treemap application and does not provide an app-size view. Choose dust if ranked disk-usage output, filtering, and command-line control matter most. Choose another analyzer if you need graphical visualization or application-focused storage comparisons.
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dust pricing
dust fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Desktop platforms | linux, macOS, Windows |
| Treemap view | No |
| Application sizes | No |
| File-type breakdown | Yes |
| External drive scans | Not verified |
| Exportable reports | Yes |
| Scan scope | Files_folders |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | github.com |
| Facts checked | 23 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to dust
- TreeSizeA broad Windows analyzer with strong free features and tiered automation tools.9.3
- WinDirStatA classic Windows analyzer with treemaps, file breakdowns, duplicate detection, and CSV export.9.1
- FilelightA free, open-source disk analyzer with strong KDE integrations and ring-based visuals.9.0
Also Ranked In
dust is ranked in 4 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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