Freedom251 › Disk Space Analyzers
Sift
What Sift is
Sift is a macOS application that visualizes disk usage and helps locate large files, duplicates, and removable storage. It maps folders across three size-scaled rings, with a fixed size-band view for another way to browse. Duplicate matching is byte-for-byte; you choose which copy to keep, and Sift preserves at least one copy in each group. Removed files go to the Trash, while Command-Z restores the latest move. A large-and-old view finds files over 1 GB not opened for six months, without preselecting items. The menu bar monitor shows free space, weekly fastest-growing folders, and a warning below 10% free space. Scanning and browsing are free forever. Pro Yearly costs $19.99 a year and adds cleanup features, duplicate finding, monitoring, and Family Sharing for up to six people.
Who it suits
Sift suits Mac users who want a visual storage map and controlled cleanup. It requires macOS 14 or later on Apple silicon or Intel Macs.
What it does well
- Free disk scanning and browsing
- Byte-for-byte duplicate matching
- Trash removal can be undone
- Menu bar low-space warnings
- No network calls or account required
What to know first
- macOS 14 or later required
- Cleanup features require Pro Yearly
- Cannot access sealed system or private app data
- Storage-only scope
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free scanning and browsing | Scan and browse disk usage | Free |
| Pro Yearly | Billed by Apple through the Mac App Store; auto-renews yearly unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. · Cleanup to Trash · duplicate finder and smart categories · menu bar space watch and low-space warnings · Family Sharing up to six people | $19.99 a year |
As sift-mac.com lists them, read 22 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Sift focuses on visual disk analysis and reversible cleanup while keeping scanning free. Its macOS requirement and inability to handle sealed or private data define its limits.
Facts from Sift's own pages
- Compatibility
- Sift requires macOS 14 or later and supports Apple silicon and Intel Macs. · apps.apple.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Disk map
- Folders are shown to scale across three rings, with a fixed size-band view also available. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Duplicate matching
- Sift matches duplicates byte for byte, keeps at least one copy in each group, and lets users choose which copy to keep. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free features
- Disk scanning and browsing are free forever; the yearly plan is for cleanup features. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · sift-mac.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Large and old files
- The large and old files view surfaces files over 1 GB that have not been opened for six months, with nothing preselected. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Limit
- The maker describes Sift as storage-only and says sealed macOS system files and private app data cannot be read or removed. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Menu bar
- The menu bar monitor shows free space, folders growing fastest that week, and a warning before free space falls below 10%. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Desktop platforms
- macOS · sift-mac.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says Sift makes no network calls, has no account, analytics, or crash-reporting SDK, and collects no data according to its App Store privacy label. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Sift analyzes Mac disk usage with a visual map and helps users find large files, duplicates, and storage to clear. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Reversible cleanup
- Files sent for removal go to the Trash, and Command-Z restores the last move. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Scan scope
- files_folders · sift-mac.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Security
- Sift is distributed through the Mac App Store and runs in Apple's sandbox; its file access depends on permissions granted by the user. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Seller
- The listed seller is CODEPAD YAZILIM VE DIJITAL HIZMETLER LIMITED SIRKETI. · apps.apple.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Support is available by email at [email protected]; the maker says it cannot retrieve diagnostic logs from a user's Mac. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- System data
- Sift separates removable items such as backups and caches from sealed system files that it says apps cannot access or remove. · sift-mac.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Treemap view
- No · sift-mac.com, 22 Sept 2026
Where Sift stands on Freedom251
- Disk Space Analyzers#62 of 105