Drive Atlas vs QDirStat

Drive Atlas catalogs drives so users can search for files even when the drive containing them is unplugged. Search by file name, project, or date range, then see which drive holds a file and where that drive is located. A treemap shows drive contents, including offline drives. The app can find files that exist in only one place, verify backup copies by hashing both sides, and check duplicate groups byte for byte before moving selected copies to the Recycle Bin. Drive health tools benchmark drives over time and can list unique files on a failing drive for evacuation. It also analyzes numbered image sequences for timelapse interval and steadiness, and creates printable QR labels with drive summaries. The maker says the app makes zero network connections and does not interpret image content or use AI. Drive Atlas runs on Windows and Linux. The free plan covers the first two drives and includes all features, with no card or timer; the one-time license is 20.00 USD for all drives.

QDirStat is free graphical software for examining disk usage and cleaning selected files. It displays directory and file sizes in a tree and colored treemap, with views for file types, size histograms, file ages, and free, used, and reserved space on mounted filesystems. Users can select multiple items and run configurable cleanup actions, including moving items to the trash or deleting them. On Linux systems using dpkg, rpm, or pacman, the Packages view lists installed packages and their files; an Unpackaged Files view highlights system files outside those packages. QDirStat targets Linux, BSD, and Unix-like systems on X11 desktops. Third parties provide macOS binaries and Homebrew distribution. There is no native Windows version, although Docker is suggested for non-Linux systems. A Perl script collects headless-server directory data into a cache for desktop viewing; cleanup then occurs on the desktop. Cache files may reveal directory contents and should be protected. QDirStat is GPL V2 software.