Parallel Disk Usage (pdu) review
A free, open-source terminal analyzer with parallel scans, ASCII charts, and JSON modes.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Parallel Disk Usage (pdu) is an open-source command-line utility for examining disk usage across files and directories. It is aimed at developers and technical users who prefer terminal workflows, configurable output, and tools that can fit into scripts. Published binaries support Linux, macOS, and Windows, while installation is also available through Cargo or Arch Linux. The tool scans files and folders, compares multiple paths, and presents usage through ASCII graphical charts rather than a graphical treemap.
There are no commercial paid tiers: the project is distributed as open-source binaries and source code. Its platform coverage is broad for a command-line analyzer, and JSON input and output give it a defined place in command-line pipelines. JSON is the listed integration format, so it can connect with other tools that can read or produce JSON. The published feature set also includes configurable maximum tree depth, visualization width, and column width, allowing users to tune output for different terminal layouts.
Its standout capability is parallelized directory-tree analysis, supported by optional scan-progress reporting and optional hardlink detection with deduplication. Users can measure apparent size, block size, or block count, which makes the output useful for different disk-usage questions. The trade-off is a narrow terminal-first focus: there is no graphical treemap, app-size view, or file-type breakdown. Choose pdu if you want an open-source analyzer with comparison, scripting, and low-level measurement controls. Choose an alternative if visual exploration or application-oriented storage reporting matters more than terminal output.
Parallel Disk Usage (pdu) pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Parallel directory-tree analysis across Linux, macOS, and Windows
- ASCII charts with depth, width, and measurement controls
- JSON input/output plus optional hardlink deduplication
- Where it doesn't
- No graphical treemap view
- No app-size or file-type breakdown
- External-drive scanning is not documented
Parallel Disk Usage (pdu) fact sheet, pricing and score →
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