01 The short version
Choose Delve for a treemap and sunburst in one app, a reviewed path to the Trash, and a $4.99 one-time purchase or free access through referrals. It requires Apple Silicon and macOS 26 or later. Choose DaisyDisk for connected cloud accounts or support for Intel Macs and earlier macOS versions.
Both apps offer Quick Look previews and a Collector for gathering files before removal. Those shared features matter: you can inspect an unfamiliar item before deciding what to do with it.
02 Side by side
Delve and DaisyDisk compared| Feature | Delve | DaisyDisk |
|---|
| Purchase | $4.99 once or free through referrals | $9.99 once, direct from developer |
|---|
| Trial | 14 days | Free trial; some features require a license |
|---|
| Visual views | Treemap and sunburst | Sunburst |
|---|
| Preview | Quick Look | Quick Look |
|---|
| Review before removal | Collector | Collector |
|---|
| Removal | Moves selected files to Trash | Permanently deletes after a cancel window |
|---|
| Connected cloud accounts | No direct cloud-account scanning | Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Box |
|---|
| Requirements | macOS 26+, Apple Silicon | macOS 10.13+, Intel or Apple Silicon |
|---|
The DaisyDisk deletion guide explains its Collector and permanent removal. Its trial comparison lists paid features, including deletion and cloud scanning.
03 Where DaisyDisk wins
DaisyDisk runs on Intel Macs and supports macOS versions back to 10.13, so it is an option on Macs that cannot run Delve. It also scans connected cloud-storage accounts, which Delve does not. If cloud scanning or the sunburst workflow is central to how you work, those capabilities can be worth the $9.99 direct price.
04 Where Delve wins
Delve offers a 14-day free trial with every feature, deletion included. Like the app? Support our work for $4.99 once, or share with a few friends through the referral program to get it free. It offers both a treemap and a sunburst, with selected removals going to the macOS Trash. It requires macOS 26 or later and Apple Silicon.
In a treemap, rectangles make large files and groups of files easy to compare by area. In a sunburst, rings make the path through nested folders easier to follow. Delve lets you switch between both views of a scan. DaisyDisk centers its experience on the sunburst.
A familiar view can be more useful than a longer feature list. Try a folder you know well in each app and see which view helps you identify the next useful action.
Understand the numbers before cleanup
DaisyDisk documents handling for hard links and APFS clones. Delve exposes logical and on-disk sizes. Neither fact turns a file-size label into a guarantee of the space a deletion will recover: shared blocks, snapshots, and files retained in the Trash can affect the result.
Read Delve’s storage accounting notes for the distinction between a file’s reported size and reclaimable space.
05 Our recommendation
Choose by workflow
Try Delve if you want two visual views and prefer to review selected files in the system Trash. Stay with DaisyDisk if direct cloud-account scanning, an older Mac, or its sunburst workflow serves you better. A working setup is a good reason to keep the tool you already use.
Common questions
Is Delve cheaper than DaisyDisk?
Delve costs $4.99 once, or you can get it free through referrals. DaisyDisk lists $9.99 for a direct license. Delve requires macOS 26 or later and Apple Silicon; check compatibility before choosing on price.
Does DaisyDisk have Quick Look and a Collector?
Yes. DaisyDisk supports Quick Look previews and a Collector for reviewing files before deletion. Delve includes these features too.
What is a free alternative to DaisyDisk?
GrandPerspective is free from its official SourceForge download and provides a treemap. OmniDiskSweeper is a free option for a list of files sorted by size. Delve is paid software with a 14-day free trial.
Can Delve scan a cloud account directly?
Delve does not connect directly to cloud-storage accounts. DaisyDisk supports connected cloud scans. Files in a local sync folder are different from a complete view of the remote account.
Sources and further reading
Product details checked September 19, 2026. Prices are in USD where shown; storefronts, taxes, and offers may differ. Recommendations reflect the workflows described here, without a comparative performance benchmark.
Continue with DaisyDisk alternatives, Delve pricing.
Make room for what matters.
Explore your storage with Delve. See the largest files, preview what you find, and choose what belongs in the Trash.
14-day free trial · $4.99 once or free by sharing · macOS 26+ · Apple Silicon