Top 10 TreeSize Professional Features Every IT Admin Should Know

TreeSize Professional vs. Competitors: A Quick ComparisonTreeSize Professional is a well-known disk space analysis tool for Windows that helps administrators and power users visualize storage usage, find large files and folders, and clean up space efficiently. This article compares TreeSize Professional with several notable competitors — WinDirStat, SpaceSniffer, WizTree, and FolderSizes — focusing on features, performance, usability, reporting, network support, and pricing to help you choose the right tool for your needs.

At a glance — quick summary

• TreeSize Professional: feature-rich, network-capable, enterprise-focused, extensive reporting.
• WinDirStat: free and open-source, colorful treemap, simple and lightweight.
• SpaceSniffer: portable, visual-oriented with dynamic treemap, good for quick scans.
• WizTree: extremely fast (MFT-based), good for quickly locating large files.
• FolderSizes: enterprise reporting and scheduling, emphasis on professional reporting and automation.

Core features comparison

Performance and scanning methods

• WizTree stands out for raw speed by reading the NTFS Master File Table (MFT), delivering near-instant scans on NTFS volumes. It’s ideal when you need a very fast inventory of file sizes on local disks.
• TreeSize Professional balances speed and thoroughness. It supports both standard file system scanning and MFT-based scanning for speed, and is optimized for larger volumes and network shares.
• WinDirStat and SpaceSniffer use more traditional scanning methods and are adequate for average use, but can be slower on very large drives.
• FolderSizes performs well on both local and networked environments and includes multithreaded scanning modes which improve performance in enterprise scenarios.

Usability and interface

• TreeSize Professional provides a polished, ribbon-style interface with many configurable columns, filters, and a powerful search. It’s aimed at sysadmins and power users who need detailed control.
• WinDirStat has a straightforward UI: directory tree on the left, file extension list on the right, and a colorful treemap below. It’s simple and effective for casual users.
• SpaceSniffer offers an intuitive, zoomable treemap that feels interactive and tactile — great for visually finding large items quickly.
• WizTree’s UI is utilitarian but focused on speed; it presents folders and files sorted by size and includes a treemap.
• FolderSizes focuses on professional reporting; its interface supports deep analysis workflows and scheduled report management.

Reporting, export, and automation

• TreeSize Professional excels in export formats and report customization: PDF exports, Excel-compatible output, HTML reports, and customizable templates make it suitable for audits and compliance.
• FolderSizes is comparable in reporting and adds built-in scheduling, centralized report distribution, and charting tools for enterprise reporting.
• WinDirStat and SpaceSniffer are lightweight on reporting features — they export raw data but lack built-in polished report templates.
• WizTree exports CSV and offers useful quick reports but not the enterprise-level reporting templates found in TreeSize or FolderSizes.

Network, enterprise, and permission features

• TreeSize Professional supports scanning over UNC paths, mapped drives, and can integrate with Active Directory to report by owner and analyze permissions/ACLs. This makes it valuable for administrators managing multiple servers and shares.
• FolderSizes also targets enterprise use with multi-user, scheduled scanning and advanced permissions reporting.
• WinDirStat, SpaceSniffer, and WizTree are primarily local-disk tools and lack deep network or AD integration features.

Pricing and licensing

• TreeSize Professional is commercial software with per-user and site licensing options; pricing reflects its enterprise feature set and support.
• FolderSizes is commercial and similarly priced for business use; it often targets larger organizations needing scheduled reports.
• WizTree offers a free version and a paid pro version with additional features.
• WinDirStat and SpaceSniffer are free (WinDirStat is open-source; SpaceSniffer accepts donations).

Typical use-case recommendations

• Choose TreeSize Professional if you need enterprise features: scheduled scans, AD integration, permission/owner reporting, comprehensive export formats, and reliable support.
• Choose WizTree if you want the fastest possible local-disk scans to quickly locate large files.
• Choose WinDirStat if you want a free, open-source tool with a clear visual treemap for occasional use.
• Choose SpaceSniffer for a portable, highly visual treemap experience when you need to explore disks without installing software.
• Choose FolderSizes when your priority is automated, enterprise-grade reporting and scheduled analysis across many servers.

Strengths and trade-offs (short)

• TreeSize Professional: powerful enterprise features and reporting, steeper price.
• WizTree: fastest scans on NTFS, fewer enterprise features.
• WinDirStat: free and simple, slower on huge volumes.
• SpaceSniffer: visual and portable, limited reporting.
• FolderSizes: best-in-class reporting & automation, commercial licensing.

Conclusion

If your environment requires network scanning, Active Directory-aware reporting, scheduled automated audits, and polished exportable reports, TreeSize Professional is a strong fit. For single-PC, quick inspections or budget-conscious scenarios, the free tools (WinDirStat, SpaceSniffer) or the ultra-fast WizTree may be preferable. FolderSizes competes closely on reporting and automation for larger deployments. Choose based on whether you prioritize speed, visual exploration, enterprise reporting, or cost.