Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Free folder monitor VS FSMonitor

Compare Free folder monitor VS FSMonitor and see what are their differences

Free folder monitor logo Free folder monitor

Free file monitor software - free file monitor to record the system changes in real-time, investigating exactly what files/folders have been altered, created or removed.

FSMonitor logo FSMonitor

FSMonitor is a macOS app that monitors all changes in the file system, including file creation...
  • Free folder monitor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-04
  • FSMonitor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-02

Free folder monitor features and specs

  • Real-time Monitoring
    Free Folder Monitor allows users to monitor file changes in real-time, providing instant notifications for any alterations, additions, or deletions within selected directories.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The software boasts a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to set up and begin monitoring without needing extensive technical knowledge.
  • Free of Charge
    The program is completely free, making it an economical solution for individuals and small businesses looking to track folder changes without incurring costs.
  • Lightweight
    Free Folder Monitor is a lightweight application that doesn't consume significant system resources, ensuring it runs smoothly on a variety of hardware configurations.

Possible disadvantages of Free folder monitor

  • Limited Features
    Compared to paid solutions, Free Folder Monitor offers a more restricted set of features, which may not meet the needs of users requiring advanced monitoring capabilities.
  • Windows Only
    The application is designed specifically for Windows, limiting its usability for users on macOS or Linux platforms.
  • No Customer Support
    Free Folder Monitor lacks direct customer support, which could be a concern for users who require help or encounter issues while using the software.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    As a free application, some users might experience stability issues or occasional crashes, which could disrupt real-time monitoring tasks.

FSMonitor features and specs

  • Real-time Monitoring
    FSMonitor provides real-time monitoring of file system changes, allowing users to quickly detect and respond to modifications.
  • Detailed File Information
    The tool offers comprehensive insights into file attributes such as size, path, and type, which can help in effective file management.
  • Cross-platform Support
    FSMonitor is available on multiple operating systems, providing flexibility and convenience for users working in diverse environments.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The software features an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Customizable Alerts
    Users can set up customizable alerts to receive notifications of specific file system events, enhancing proactive management capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of FSMonitor

  • Resource Intensive
    The constant monitoring can be resource-heavy, potentially impacting system performance, especially on older hardware.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, some advanced features may require a learning curve for full utilization.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of FSMonitor has limited capabilities, prompting users to opt for the paid version to access all features.
  • Potential for Information Overload
    With extensive monitoring capabilities, users may encounter an overwhelming amount of information, making it challenging to identify critical alerts.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There may be compatibility issues with certain file systems or configurations, which could hinder optimal functioning on specific setups.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Free folder monitor and FSMonitor)
Note Taking
43 43%
57% 57
Image Optimisation
47 47%
53% 53
File Management
54 54%
46% 46
Computer Monitoring Software

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FSMonitor seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Free folder monitor mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Free folder monitor yet. Tracking of Free folder monitor recommendations started around Mar 2021.

FSMonitor mentions (6)

  • Mac Power Users 690: Better Touch Tool with Andreas Hegenberg
    Links and Show Notes:More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segmentsSubmit Feedbackfolivora.ai - Great Tools for your Mac!iPhone Praktikum 2009GitHub - quicklywilliam/multiclutch: Customization App for Macbooks with MultiTouch supportHopperFSMonitorProxyman ยท Native, Modern Web Debugging Proxy ยท Inspect network traffic from Mac, iOS, Android devices with easeCharles Web Debugging Proxy โ€ข HTTP... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Sloth โ€“ A Mac app that shows all open files, directories, sockets, etc.
    FSMonitor[0] is similar to the old FileMon[1] but for macOS. In the default tree view, as new data is written, the entries are highlighted and sort of throb, so it's easy to track what's going on. [0] https://fsmonitor.com/ [1] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/filemon. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • App wants to make changes
    They're hard to find these days for later versions of macOS, but you could try a file monitor so you can see what files the app is making changes to. You could try the free trial of FSMonitor. I'm just not sure how much you can do with the free trial though. Or look on GitHub to see if someone has scripted something similar. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • An app to find out which app created a file/folder?
    Maybe FSMonitor can help if you set it to watch the parent folder. Source: over 3 years ago
  • The orange dot appears while on the lock screen but goes away right after I login. Does this happen for anyone else? I'm starting to think that a hidden process is using the microphone
    You can use something like FSMonitor to watch/analyze which files are being touched while the orange dot is on. Source: almost 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Free folder monitor and FSMonitor, you can also consider the following products

FileActivityWatch - FileAccessErrorView - Show file open / read / write / delete errors on Windows

iWatch - iWatch is a realtime filesystem monitoring program.

Folder Monitor - FolderMonitor helps you monitor what happens in a folder.

File Juggler - File Juggler is a Windows utility for automatic file management.

FolderChangesView - FolderChangesView is a simple tool that monitors the folder or disk drive that you choose and lists every filename that is being modified, created, or deleted while the folder is being monitored

File Watcher Utlities - File system/directory monitoring utilities with loggin and task processing support (can execute...