Product guide · Erwin Bonsma

GrandPerspective review: features and tradeoffs

An open-source Mac treemap with filters, Quick Look, and saved scans. Explore its strengths, pricing, and practical tradeoffs before choosing.

GrandPerspective at a glance

A good fit for people who want a free, inspectable treemap and reusable scan records.

FeatureGrandPerspective
VendorErwin Bonsma
PlatformmacOS 14+ (current release)
PricingOpen source — Free from SourceForge; the same app is $2.99 in the US App Store.
VisualizationTreemap with configurable colors and filters
Open sourceYes
CleanupDelete files or folders from the view; review selection and deletion preferences.
Reports and switchingSave the scan for reopening in GrandPerspective, or export text and images. NullDisk does not import GrandPerspective scan files; retain exports and rescan the same location.

Strengths and considerations

Strengths

  • Configurable colors, masks, searches, and scan exclusions
  • Quick Look, Finder integration, and file/folder deletion
  • Save/reload scans and export text or images

Considerations

  • Treemap rather than radial navigation
  • Older macOS versions require an older release
  • App Store updates can follow SourceForge releases later

How cleanup works

Delete files or folders from the view; review selection and deletion preferences. Confirm each file’s path and purpose before removing it. Items in Trash still occupy storage until it is emptied.

How NullDisk compares

A native Mac disk analyzer with radial and treemap views, SSH/cloud sources, and development cleanup. Consider it for Git-aware development cleanup or a workflow spanning local, SSH, and cloud storage. The separate CLI provides terminal browsing and structured reports.

All direct Mac features are free with reminders; an optional one-time license removes them.

NullDisk has no content-based duplicate finder. Its Mac app sends anonymous usage telemetry; read the privacy policy if that affects your choice.

Compare GrandPerspective and NullDisk → · Other alternatives → · Reports and switching →

Questions about GrandPerspective

Who should choose GrandPerspective?

A good fit for people who want a free, inspectable treemap and reusable scan records.

Is GrandPerspective free?

Free from SourceForge; the same app is $2.99 in the US App Store.

How does GrandPerspective handle deletion?

Delete files or folders from the view; review selection and deletion preferences.

Can I export a scan from GrandPerspective?

Save the scan for reopening in GrandPerspective, or export text and images. NullDisk does not import GrandPerspective scan files; retain exports and rescan the same location.

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