Freedom251 › Disk Space Analyzers
Pruneapple
What Pruneapple is
Pruneapple is a free, open-source macOS app that scans files and folders to locate large disk users. It displays nested folder usage as concentric rings in a sunburst chart, with sizes and paths shown on hover. Physical APFS allocation is measured, accounting for clones, sparse files, and compression so results correspond with Finder values. Selecting a chart segment opens the item in Finder for review or cleanup. The app is read-only and does not delete or modify files; Smart Prune uses local Apple Intelligence heuristics to suggest large candidates. Scans run offline on the Mac without telemetry, tracking, or network calls. Directory data can be exported to CSV with locale-based delimiter detection. During long scans, Pruneapple can stay in the menu bar, prevent sleep, and signal completion with a trackpad haptic. Protected folders may require read-only permission. The app is distributed outside the Mac App Store and may require manual authorization on first launch.
Who it suits
Pruneapple suits Mac users who want to inspect disk usage without direct file deletion. It also suits users who need offline scanning, CSV export, or Finder-based cleanup.
What it does well
- Free and open source
- Read-only cleanup workflow through Finder
- Physical APFS usage calculations
- Offline operation without telemetry
- CSV directory export
What to know first
- macOS only
- No treemap view
- Protected folders may require permission
- Distributed outside the Mac App Store
Verdict
Pruneapple maps disk usage while keeping deletion decisions in Finder. Its offline, read-only design and APFS-aware measurements suit users reviewing large files on macOS.
Facts from Pruneapple's own pages
- APFS measurement
- It calculates physical disk usage to account for APFS clones and sparse files and match Finder values. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Availability
- The precompiled app is distributed outside the Mac App Store, and macOS requires manual authorization on first launch. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Background scans
- During long scans, the app can remain in the menu bar, prevent system sleep, and provide a trackpad haptic when scanning finishes. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Contact
- The product site invites users to contact Alex with questions, feedback, or feature requests. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- CSV export
- The app can export directory data to CSV with delimiter detection based on locale. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Disk map
- It displays nested folder usage as concentric rings in a sunburst chart, with sizes and paths available on hover. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The app is distributed outside the Mac App Store, and first launch may require manual authorization in macOS security settings. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Exportable reports
- Yes · pruneapple.com, 22 Sept 2026
- File permissions
- Scanning protected locations may require read-only access to folders such as Desktop, Documents, or Downloads; without permission, those locations may appear empty. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Finder workflow
- Clicking a chart segment opens the selected item in Finder for review or cleanup. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · pruneapple.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Offline privacy
- The help guide says the app runs offline without telemetry, tracking, or network calls, and performs scan calculations locally. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Permissions
- Scanning requires read-only access to the selected files and folders; denied access can cause those locations to be reported as empty. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Physical disk usage
- It measures physical APFS disk allocation, accounting for sparse files, clones, and compression. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Desktop platforms
- macos · pruneapple.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Privacy
- The app operates offline with no telemetry, tracking, or network calls, and performs scan calculations locally on the Mac. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Pruneapple is an open-source, privacy-first disk space analyzer built natively for macOS. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Read-only behavior
- The app does not delete or modify files directly; users manage deletions in Finder. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Read-only safety
- Pruneapple does not delete files; users manage deletions through Finder. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Scan scope
- files_folders · pruneapple.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Smart Prune
- Local Apple Intelligence heuristics analyze large candidate files and suggest items for pruning. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Source and license
- The project is available on GitHub under the MIT License and can be built from source. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can contact the developer with questions, feedback, or feature requests, and can donate to support development. · pruneapple.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Treemap view
- No · pruneapple.com, 22 Sept 2026
Where Pruneapple stands on Freedom251
- Disk Space Analyzers#85 of 105