Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SpaceSniffer VS Process Monitor

Compare SpaceSniffer VS Process Monitor and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

SpaceSniffer logo SpaceSniffer

SpaceSniffer is a freeWare (donations are welcome) and portable tool application that lets you understand how folders and files are structured on your disks.

Process Monitor logo Process Monitor

Monitor file system, Registry, process, thread and DLL activity in real-time.
  • SpaceSniffer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Process Monitor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-03

SpaceSniffer features and specs

  • Visual Representation
    SpaceSniffer provides a graphical view of disk usage through treemaps, making it easy to identify large files and folders.
  • Freeware
    The software is available for free, making it accessible to a wide range of users without any cost.
  • Portability
    SpaceSniffer is portable and does not require installation, allowing it to be run from a USB drive on different computers.
  • Customizable Filters
    Users can apply filters to focus on specific file types, sizes, or attributes, which helps in detailed analysis of disk usage.
  • Real-time Update
    The tool updates in real-time as the disk content changes, ensuring that the visual data remains current and relevant.

Possible disadvantages of SpaceSniffer

  • Windows Only
    SpaceSniffer is only available for Windows, limiting its usability for Mac and Linux users.
  • No File Management
    While it provides good visualization, the tool does not offer advanced file management features like moving or deleting files directly within the interface.
  • Resource Intensive
    Large scans can consume significant system resources, potentially slowing down the computer during use.
  • No Scheduled Scans
    SpaceSniffer does not have options for scheduling scans or automated reports, which may be a drawback for users looking for regular monitoring.
  • Limited Support and Updates
    As a freeware product, it may not receive frequent updates or direct support, which could be a concern for long-term reliability.

Process Monitor features and specs

  • Comprehensive Monitoring
    Process Monitor provides detailed real-time data on process, file system, registry, and network activity. This allows for in-depth analysis and troubleshooting.
  • Advanced Filtering
    Users can apply complex filters to focus on specific events or processes, which helps in pinpointing issues more efficiently.
  • Event Highlighting
    The tool supports highlighting rules that can be used to visually differentiate events of interest, making it easier to identify key activities.
  • Boot Time Logging
    It can be configured to record events during the boot process, which is invaluable for diagnosing startup issues.
  • Integration with other Sysinternals Tools
    Seamless integration with other Sysinternals tools allows for a more comprehensive diagnostic toolkit.

Possible disadvantages of Process Monitor

  • Resource Intensive
    Process Monitor can consume significant system resources, especially when monitoring extensive activities, which might affect system performance.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its wide range of features and the detailed information it provides, new users might find it challenging to navigate and use effectively.
  • Overwhelming Data
    The volume of data generated can be overwhelming, making it difficult to isolate relevant information without proper filtering.
  • No Native Support for Non-Windows Systems
    As a tool originally designed for Windows, it does not support non-Windows operating systems natively.
  • Potential for Information Overload
    The granular level of detail provided can lead to information overload, particularly for users unfamiliar with interpreting the data.

Analysis of SpaceSniffer

Overall verdict

  • SpaceSniffer is generally considered a good tool for anyone who needs to quickly understand their disk usage patterns and free up space. Its visual approach is intuitive, making it accessible for both technical and non-technical users.

Why this product is good

  • SpaceSniffer is a free disk space analysis tool for Windows. It uses a visually engaging, Treemap-style layout to help users identify large files and folders, making it easier to manage disk space efficiently. The program is lightweight and portable, which means it doesn't require installation and can be run from external drives.

Recommended for

  • Users looking for a free disk space analysis tool
  • Windows users who want a portable and lightweight solution
  • Individuals who prefer a visual representation of their data
  • Anyone needing to manage and optimize storage space efficiently

Analysis of Process Monitor

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Process Monitor is a highly effective tool for those needing deep system-level diagnostics. Its robust feature set and real-time monitoring capabilities make it indispensable for complex troubleshooting tasks.

Why this product is good

  • Process Monitor is widely regarded as a valuable tool for system administrators and developers due to its ability to provide detailed insights into file system, registry, and process/thread activity in real-time. It helps in diagnosing system problems and comprehensively troubleshooting issues. Its ability to filter output and capture intricate details makes it powerful for advanced users who need to understand interactions within the Windows OS.

Recommended for

  • System Administrators
  • Software Developers
  • IT Support Specialists
  • Security Analysts
  • Anyone needing to diagnose complex system or software-level issues on Windows.

SpaceSniffer videos

Visualize and free up disk space with SpaceSniffer

More videos:

Process Monitor videos

Process Monitor, powerful tool to troubleshoot applications and Windows.

More videos:

  • Review - Process Monitor: Basic Operation
  • Review - Malware Analysis - Tools - Process Monitor Basic

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SpaceSniffer and Process Monitor)
Disk Analyzer
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Hard Disk Usage
100 100%
0% 0
Command Line Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using SpaceSniffer and Process Monitor. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Process Monitor seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 184 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.

SpaceSniffer mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SpaceSniffer yet. Tracking of SpaceSniffer recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Process Monitor mentions (184)

  • TaskExplorer
    Don't agree. It's just as complex (may be a bit more) as ProcessMonitor by Sysinternals https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procmon. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Why did Windows 95 setup use three operating systems?
    Https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procmon Windows does a tonne of things in the background, yes. If I run that and let it monitor everything, things will happen even if I do nothing. It is an OS and complex. >It is shown instantly, fully rendered, in the next video frame. There is no delay THIS is true and also crazy to me. I forgot how fast XP was. Especially on modern hardware. I... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • DLLs in Rust🦀
    To be sure that our exe is actually looking for the DLL, fire up the SysInternals' Process Monitor. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • can't get PTAT to run on RPL-U i7-1365URE eval board
    Don't know what PTAT stands for, but whenever I have issues with windows software running properly I pull out Process Monitor to log what that program was doing at the time of the error message. Sometimes there is a clue such as not being able to find a particular file, or registry key, or something else crashing etc. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Software developer looking to experiment with SCCM
    This might be a bit advanced but if it was me I would probably get frustrated and use SysInternals specifically procmon Https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procmon. Source: almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing SpaceSniffer and Process Monitor, you can also consider the following products

WinDirStat - WinDirStat is a disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool, inspired by KDirStat.

Process Explorer - The top window always shows a list of the currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts, whereas the information displayed in the bottom window depends on the mode that Process Explorer is in: if it is in handle mode you'l…

WizTree - WizTree quickly finds the files and folders using the most space on your hard drive. It scans the MFT (Master File Table) instead of crawling the entire disk which makes it very fast.

htop - htop - an interactive process viewer for Unix. This is htop, an interactive process viewer for Unix systems. It is a text-mode application (for console or X terminals) and requires ncurses. Latest release: htop 2.

TreeSize - TreeSize tells you where precious disk space has gone to.

Windows Task Manager - Need assistance with your Microsoft product? Find helpful articles for Windows, Office, Microsoft Account, Microsoft Store, Xbox, and more.