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FilelightLinux vs TreeSize FreeWindows

Filelight as a Linux alternative to TreeSize Free

Updated

Our verdict

Filelight is a solid visual alternative to TreeSize Free for KDE users who prefer graphical disk analysis over text-based trees. It excels at quickly identifying space hogs through its concentric ring interface and allows direct file deletion. However, it lacks the explicit hierarchical tree view and robust export options that power users often rely on in TreeSize. If your workflow depends on sorting large lists of folders or generating reports, Filelight will feel limiting. For casual users who just need to spot and remove large files on local or remote disks, it is a capable, native Linux replacement.

Feature parity75%
License
GPL-2.0+
Price
Free
Latest version
26.04.3 (July 2, 2026)
Rating
—
Filelight screenshot

What works the same

  • Scans local, remote, and removable file systems for disk usage.
  • Visualizes folder sizes to help identify large data consumers.
  • Allows direct deletion of files and folders from the application interface.
  • Open-source software available on major Linux distributions.

What is different

  • Uses concentric rings instead of a traditional hierarchical tree view.
  • Lacks built-in options to export results to CSV or text files.
  • Does not provide a command-line interface for scripting or automation.
  • Tightly integrated with KDE file managers like Dolphin, which may be less relevant for GNOME or XFCE users.

Opening your TreeSize Free files

Filelight does not read or write TreeSize Free project files. There is no documented way to import a TreeSize scan into Filelight or export a Filelight analysis into a format compatible with TreeSize. You must perform a fresh scan in Filelight to view disk usage.

Switching from TreeSize Free to Filelight, step by step

  1. Install Filelight via your distribution's package manager or Flathub.
  2. Launch Filelight and select the specific disk or mount point to scan.
  3. Review the concentric ring visualization to identify large folders.
  4. Right-click on rings to view details or delete unwanted files directly.
  5. Use the KDE file manager integration for more complex file management tasks if needed.

Key features of Filelight

  • Scan local, remote, and removable disks
  • Concentric ring visualisation of folder sizes
  • Direct deletion of files/folders from the diagram
  • Integration with Dolphin, Konqueror, Krusader
  • Configurable colour schemes
  • Detailed file/folder information on hover
  • Supports multiple languages
  • Open source under GPL-2.0+

How to install Filelight on Linux

Flatpak (Flathub)flatpak install flathub org.kde.filelight
Ubuntu / Mintsudo apt install filelight
Debiansudo apt install filelight
Fedorasudo dnf install filelight
Arch / Manjarosudo pacman -S filelight
openSUSEsudo zypper install filelight

Frequently asked questions

Can I see a list of folders sorted by size in Filelight?

No, Filelight relies on the ring visualization. It does not provide a sortable text list or tree view of all folders, which is a key feature of TreeSize Free.

Does Filelight work on non-KDE desktop environments?

Yes, it runs on any X11 or Wayland environment, but its file manager integrations are specific to KDE tools like Dolphin and Krusader. It functions as a standalone app elsewhere.

Is there a command-line tool similar to Filelight for scripting?

Filelight itself has no CLI. For scripting disk usage analysis on Linux, users typically rely on standard tools like 'du' or 'ncdu' instead.

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Is it a good replacement for TreeSize Free? 9