WizTree vs CleanMyWin
These two tools sit at opposite ends of the same job. WizTree optimises for scan speed and data density; CleanMyWin optimises for how fast a person understands the result. Both are honest tools - the choice depends on which second you want to save.
Where WizTree wins
- Speed, by a mile. It reads the NTFS master file table directly instead of walking folders - a 4 TB drive with millions of files finishes in seconds.
- Data density: a treemap plus a sortable table shows everything on one screen.
- Free for personal use.
Where CleanMyWin wins
- No administrator prompt: MFT reading requires elevation, a directory walk does not.
- Works on any file system Windows mounts - exFAT flash drives, network shares - not just NTFS.
- The sunburst map keeps hierarchy visible: every ring is one folder level, so you always know where you are without reading a tooltip.
- Deletion built in and reversible - straight to the Recycle Bin, long paths included.
The numbers
| WizTree | CleanMyWin | |
|---|---|---|
| Scan of a 1.8 TB system drive | seconds | ≈44 s cold, seconds warm |
| Admin rights | required for fast mode | not required |
| File systems | NTFS for fast mode | anything Windows mounts |
| Visual model | treemap + table | sunburst rings |
| Delete to Recycle Bin | yes | yes, incl. paths over 260 chars |
| Price | free personal / paid business | $9.99 once |
The honest verdict
If you know exactly what you are hunting and want it in five seconds - WizTree, no contest. If you want to understand the shape of a drive - what kind of stuff lives where and what deserves to die - the ring map reads faster than any table, and that is where CleanMyWin earns its ten dollars. Plenty of people keep both.
Frequently asked
Is WizTree faster than CleanMyWin?
Yes. WizTree reads the NTFS master file table and is the fastest scanner on Windows. CleanMyWin walks directories in parallel: about 44 seconds for 2.8 million files cold, seconds on repeat scans.
Why use CleanMyWin then?
No admin prompt, any file system, a hierarchy you can read at a glance, and reversible deletion built in.
Sources and official documentation: Microsoft: Free up drive space in Windows, Microsoft: Storage Sense, Microsoft: WSL disk space, DaisyDisk, WizTree, WinDirStat, TreeSize
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