DaisyDisk vs MediaOptim: Honest Comparison (2026)
An unbiased look at DaisyDisk ($9.99) and MediaOptim ($49 one-time). We'll tell you when DaisyDisk is the better choice.
Quick Verdict
DaisyDisk is the best disk visualization tool on Mac—hands down. Its sunburst diagram makes it effortless to see what's eating your space. But it's diagnosis only: it shows the problem, then you have to manually delete files. MediaOptim is the treatment: it compresses your media files so they take less space without deleting anything. Ideally, you'd use both.
$9.99 (One-time)
$49 (One-time)
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DaisyDisk | MediaOptim |
|---|---|---|
| Video Compression | ||
| Photo Compression | ||
| Audio Compression | ||
| Batch Folder Processing | ||
| Space Scanner | ||
| HEVC/H.265 Support | ||
| 100% Local & Private | ||
| Format Conversion (WebP/AVIF) | ||
| Price | $9.99 | $49 |
Detailed Breakdown
Price
DaisyDisk is $9.99 one-time—excellent value for what it does. MediaOptim is $49 one-time. They solve different problems though, so comparing price directly isn't quite fair. DaisyDisk shows you the problem; MediaOptim fixes a specific type of problem (large media files).
Features
DaisyDisk excels at one thing: visualizing disk usage. Its interactive sunburst chart is the best way to understand where your space went. MediaOptim's Space Scanner is more basic visually but directly connects to action—it finds large media files AND lets you compress them. DaisyDisk has no compression capability whatsoever.
Ease of Use
Both are excellent. DaisyDisk is arguably one of the most intuitive Mac apps ever made—scan, look at the pretty chart, drag to delete. MediaOptim is also straightforward: scan for large media, select, compress. DaisyDisk wins on visual polish.
Privacy
Both work locally. DaisyDisk scans your entire filesystem but doesn't upload anything. MediaOptim also processes everything locally.
Format Support
DaisyDisk doesn't deal with file formats—it just shows file sizes. MediaOptim supports video (H.264, HEVC), photos (JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, HEIF), and audio (MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV) compression.
When to Choose DaisyDisk
- You want a clear visual overview of your entire disk
- Your storage problem is from unexpected files (not just media)
- You need to find large hidden folders or forgotten downloads
- You're comfortable manually deciding what to delete
- You want a gorgeous interface for disk analysis (it really is beautiful)
When to Choose MediaOptim
- You already know your media files are the problem
- You want to compress files instead of deleting them
- You need actual media optimization (HEVC, WebP, AVIF)
- You want batch processing to compress entire folders
- You prefer a tool that takes action, not just shows information
DaisyDisk: Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Best-in-class disk visualization (sunburst diagram)
- Very affordable at $9.99
- Beautiful, Apple Design Award-winning interface
- Fast scanning of entire drives
- Great for finding unexpected space hogs
Weaknesses
- Cannot compress or optimize any files
- Only shows what's using space—you must manually act on it
- Solution is always "delete something"
- No media-specific intelligence (doesn't know a video is compressible)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can DaisyDisk compress files?
Should I get DaisyDisk or MediaOptim?
Is DaisyDisk worth buying?
Does MediaOptim have a disk visualizer like DaisyDisk?
Ready to Free Up Storage?
Compress your videos, photos, and audio files without losing quality. One-time purchase, no subscription, 100% private.
$49 one-time. Free trial available. macOS only.