GrandPerspective
Erwin Bonsma
GrandPerspective is a small Mac utility that visually represents disk usage within your file system using treemaps. It helps you manage your disk space by easily identifying large files and folders.
User Sentiments
Top Likes
- Visual treemap representation of disk usage
- Easy identification of large files and folders
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Fast scanning
- Available for free from Sourceforge
Top Dislikes
- Not as feature-rich as some paid alternatives
- Basic interface may not appeal to all users
- Some older reviews mention occasional bugs (now likely fixed)
Popular Comments
Apple App Store - Keith Grennan
2020-02-27
Absolutely essential.
MacUpdate User - ecstabis
2019-11-18
Simple, works perfectly, must have on your pc. Thank you very much!
SourceForge User - asbenicio
2019-08-05
I love GrandPerspective and use it for many years. Great piece of software. Was my first contact with graphic visualization of files by size and... WOW!!!! I don't know how much space it helped me to free for me but, for sure, a loooooot !!
SourceForge User - brucehughw
2014-06-10
Wow, just what I've been looking for. I can see files' sizes, select them, open them, and delete them. Let's me focus on the real space hogs. I can also easily expand my selection and delete a folder hierarchy. Nice work!
SourceForge User - eamonlaser
2014-01-25
This little app is fantastic! Downloads really quickly, scanned my drive and showed me exactly what was taking up all the space on my hard drive, and where it was located so I could find it. Recommended!
Reddit User - CanadianCrumudgeon
2024-07
Daisy Disk, Grand Perspective and Disk Inventory X all appear substantially similar...They all give you a visual representation of your files, so you can find big or abandoned stuff.
Detailed Review
GrandPerspective is a lightweight and effective utility for macOS designed to help users visualize and manage their disk space. It employs a treemap visualization, where each file and folder is represented as a rectangle, with the area of the rectangle proportional to its size. This visual approach allows users to quickly identify which files and folders are consuming the most disk space. GrandPerspective is available for purchase on the Mac App Store, and also as a free download from Sourceforge, offering the same application through both channels.
Standout Features
- Treemap Visualization: Graphically displays disk usage, making it easy to spot large files and folders.
- File System Scanning: Quickly scans selected folders or entire disks to analyze space usage.
- Navigation and Exploration: Allows users to navigate through the treemap, zoom in on areas of interest, and traverse the folder hierarchy.
- File Operations: Enables users to preview files using Quick Look, reveal them in Finder, and delete them directly from within the application.
- Filtering and Searching: Provides options to filter files based on various criteria (name, size, type, etc.) and search for specific files.
- Scan Saving and Export: Allows saving scan results for later review and exporting scan data as images or text.
- Customization: Offers configurable display options, including color schemes and user preferences.
Conclusion
GrandPerspective is a valuable tool for Mac users who need to understand and manage their disk usage. Its intuitive treemap visualization makes it straightforward to identify and address space-hogging files and folders. While its feature set is focused on disk space analysis and lacks some of the advanced features found in more comprehensive paid alternatives, GrandPerspective excels at its core function: providing a clear and visual overview of disk consumption. The availability of a free version on Sourceforge makes it an accessible option for all users, while the Mac App Store version offers convenience and supports the developer. It is particularly useful for users who prefer a visual approach to disk management and need a quick and efficient way to free up disk space.
