gdu review
A free, open-source analyzer for detailed local storage inspection across five platforms.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
gdu is an open-source disk-usage analyzer written in Go for inspecting local files and folders. It suits users who want storage visibility from a terminal, a non-interactive command-line workflow, or a browser interface served locally by the command-line application. Its coverage spans Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and web access, while its free model makes it suitable for individual users and teams that prefer open-source tools.
Its standout strength is the range of ways it presents and preserves scan results. Interactive terminal browsing includes sortable directory listings and size bars, while treemap and donut-chart views provide visual summaries. Users can export and import JSON, store results in SQLite or BadgerDB, and apply file-type inclusion or exclusion filters. Archive browsing for ZIP, JAR, and TAR files adds depth when storage is distributed across packaged files. Parallel analysis is also included for directory scanning.
The main fit is for people comfortable with local command-line operation who need detailed disk inspection across multiple operating systems. File and directory deletion or trash movement can support cleanup workflows, but these features make review important before removing content. The browser experience is local rather than a hosted SaaS product, so users seeking a managed web service should choose another type of tool. gdu is a strong choice for free, open-source storage analysis with terminal and visualization options; it is less suitable when hosted collaboration or remote service management is the priority.
gdu pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Interactive terminal, command-line, and local browser interfaces
- Treemaps, donut charts, JSON, SQLite, and BadgerDB storage
- Supports Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and web access
- Where it doesn't
- The browser interface depends on the command-line application
- Focused on local disks rather than hosted storage analysis
- Deletion and trash features require careful operator review
gdu fact sheet, pricing and score →
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