Side by side
BleachBit vs ncdu
Both stand on disk cleanup software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source LinuxMacWindows
BleachBit provides configurable cleanup, preview, and secure deletion options across Linux, macOS, and Windows. It is free and open source, though users seeking technical support should use the listed documentation, GitHub, videos, or feature-request channels.
Visit BleachBit Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
ncdu offers focused disk-usage analysis with interactive actions and export formats suited to large trees. Choose the release branch carefully and protect exported files because shared links are publicly viewable.
Visit ncduThe facts
| BleachBit | ncdu | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Maker | BleachBit | Not published |
| Website | bleachbit.org | dev.yorhel.nl |
| On disk cleanup software | #1 of 22 | #3 of 22 |
BleachBit: what it does well
- Previews selected files before deletion
- Can shred files and overwrite free disk space
- Command-line interface supports scripting
- GPLv3 open-source software requires no payment or registration
What to know first
- Technical support is not offered by direct email
- Custom cleaners require CleanerML knowledge
ncdu: what it does well
- Interactive text-mode directory browser
- Works on remote servers
- Scans external drives
- Exports JSON and compressed binary trees
- Read-only mode can disable actions
What to know first
- No treemap view
- No application-size or file-type breakdown
- Zig build requires Zig 0.14 or 0.15
- Web uploads are visible by URL
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