BalaneDisk
Finally see what your machine is doing.
BalaneDisk makes the inside of your machine visible. The sonar shows every running process as a mark on a radar — split into sectors by origin, distance from the centre is memory, and each mark only updates when the beam passes over it. Click one and you see what it is and where it came from. The disk view measures where the space went: a heatmap where colour carries the statement rather than size, plus a full account of the entire drive — including the hidden volumes Finder never shows, and stating openly what could not be attributed. The standing report says what happened over the last hours and where it leads if nothing changes. The menu bar carries the status even when the window is closed. One principle runs through all of it: BalaneDisk deletes nothing. It measures, it recommends, you decide. Runs unsandboxed so it can read the whole disk, and without a cloud — not a byte leaves the machine. For macOS and Windows. Currently in development.
Secure payment & invoice via Lemon Squeezy. Billed in EUR — your bank handles the conversion. License key arrives by email.
Finally see what your machine is doing
The machine slows down, the disk fills up, something is chattering in the background — and the only thing the system tells you is a bar reading "Other: 214 GB". BalaneDisk makes the inside visible: processes, memory, disk, network — not as a wall of numbers, but as a picture you read in three seconds. Runs unsandboxed so it can read the whole disk, and without a cloud: not a byte leaves the machine. For macOS and Windows.
The sonar — every process a mark
At its heart is a radar. Every running process is a mark, split into sectors by origin — the system, your own programs, the network. Distance from the centre is memory: whatever holds a lot sits far out. Each mark only updates when the beam sweeps over it, so you see movement instead of flicker. Click a mark and it tells you what it is and where it came from.
Where the space actually went
The disk view is a heatmap where colour carries the statement, not size — a small, deep-red patch catches your eye faster than a large pale one, and that small patch is usually the problem. Alongside it, a full account of the entire drive: including the hidden volumes Finder never shows. And whatever couldn't be attributed is stated plainly as "unattributed" — rather than as a soothing "Other" that explains nothing.
The leftovers nobody needs anymore
Programs leave; their remains stay: caches, preferences, application-support folders from apps you deleted a year ago. BalaneDisk finds them and groups them by confidence — from "clear case" to "look first" — and for each one shows every file and its size. What goes is your call: on request, a dead app moves to the Bin (never a real delete), and before it does you see every single path you're agreeing to.
Where your machine talks to the world
A world map shows which countries your programs talk to, shaded by how much data went to each — and who is behind it: a cryptic address becomes the company that runs the server. The important part is how it works: the country, operator and tracker databases live entirely inside the app. No geolocation service, no online lookup. Looking at where your machine sends never reveals where you are.
The standing report — what happened, what's coming
Instead of a single instant reading, BalaneDisk tells a story: what happened over the last hours, and where it leads if nothing changes. Small history curves show whether memory is really climbing or just breathing. And the menu bar carries the status even when the window is closed — you don't have to keep the app open to know things are quiet.
It deletes nothing. Ever.
That's the difference from the cleanup tools that frighten you first and sell you the delete second. BalaneDisk measures, explains — and you decide. The only thing it ever does to a file is move it to the Bin: reversible, on your confirmation, with every path in front of you. No cleanup app carries the liability for damage anyway — so the deleting stays with you, where it belongs.
What leaves the machine: your licence key. Nothing else.
Every table BalaneDisk uses to name a country, a company or a tracker is bundled inside the app — precisely so that looking something up never becomes a request. File contents, paths, process names, addresses: they never leave. What goes out is your key when you activate, and the check for updates. That is the entire list.
Free to use, pay for the memory
Everything that is true right now — every process, every file, the whole disk, the map — is free forever. The subscription doesn't unlock a feature you'd otherwise miss; it buys memory. Free, you see the last two hours of history; with a subscription, the whole day and further back — the answer to "what happened while I was away". €4.99 a month, €24.99 a year. One computer per licence, and you can move it yourself at any time.
Further reading
The product site goes into detail on how the measurements are taken — and what the numbers your system keeps to itself actually mean:
- Windows storage full: where the space actually goes — WinSxS, `hiberfil.sys`, WSL disks and the twelve other places
- Mac storage full: where the gigabytes actually hide — what "System Data" really contains
- Antimalware Service Executable: why MsMpEng.exe eats your CPU
- Where does my PC send data? · and on a Mac
- A DaisyDisk alternative that tells you what the folder is · a CleanMyMac alternative that doesn't clean anything · a Little Snitch alternative that watches without blocking
- Why BalaneDisk never deletes anything — the reasoning behind the one design decision
Still a preview
BalaneDisk is in development. What you see here is an early, honest preview — usable already, but not finished. Feedback goes straight into the next versions.
Screenshots
Frequently asked.
Does BalaneDisk delete files itself?
No. BalaneDisk measures and explains — you do the deleting. The only thing it ever does to a file is move it to the Bin on your confirmation, and before it does you see every single path with its size. There is no real, irreversible delete.
What's free, and what does the subscription cost?
Everything that is true right now — every process, every file, the whole disk, the world map — is free forever. The subscription doesn't unlock a feature, it buys memory: free you see two hours of history, with a subscription the whole day and further back. €4.99 a month, €24.99 a year, one computer per licence, movable by you at any time.
Does any of my data leave the machine?
No. Every table BalaneDisk uses to name a country, a company or a tracker is bundled in the app — a lookup never becomes a request. File contents, paths, process names and addresses never leave. The only things that go out are your licence key when you activate and the check for updates.
Why does it run unsandboxed?
Because a sandboxed app only sees its own small corner — and then it can't tell you where your space went or what's on the whole drive. BalaneDisk deliberately runs unsandboxed so it can read the entire disk. That doesn't cost you any data: there is no cloud involved and nothing goes out.
How is it different from CleanMyMac or DaisyDisk?
Cleanup tools like to show you a problem and then sell you the delete. BalaneDisk inverts that: it measures and explains, and the decision stays with you — at most a reversible move to the Bin. On top of that it sees the whole disk including hidden volumes, states openly what couldn't be attributed, and does everything offline: no cloud, no online lookups.
Does BalaneDisk run on Windows too?
Yes. On Windows, BalaneDisk lives in the Microsoft Store — installed from there it skips the SmartScreen dialog and updates itself. If you don't use the Store, the same build is available as a signed direct installer here.
Tech stack
- Flutter
- Dart
Platforms
- macOS
- Windows
Tags
- Storage
- Monitoring
- Privacy
- Menu Bar
Articles about this app.
- №01│August 15, 2026
BalaneDisk and FlowVisual are in the Microsoft Store
BalaneDisk and FlowVisual are now in the Microsoft Store, WindowNote follows. No SmartScreen dialog, updates from there. The installer stays.
→ Read article - №02│August 5, 2026
August Update 2026: a chess game, an X-ray of your machine, and three Odoo modules
Four weeks after the summer update: Chessplosion 1.0 for the Mac, BalaneDisk in public preview, Balane Desk and usable.software in the works, three free Odoo modules — plus updates for WindowNote and FlowVisual.
→ Read article
Legal.
Purchase and payment are handled by Lemon Squeezy as Merchant of Record (the legal seller). Their terms and refund policy govern the purchase; use of the software is governed by the license agreement below. Lemon Squeezy buyer terms.
Show license agreement (EULA)
BalaneDisk – Licence Agreement (EULA)
Last updated: 2026-07-23 Provider: Balane GmbH, Balanstraße 84, 81541 Munich, Germany · HRB 301320, Amtsgericht München · support@balane.tech
This agreement governs use of the application "BalaneDisk" for macOS and Windows (the Software). By installing or using the Software you accept these terms.
Scope: This agreement applies to the build obtained directly from balane.app. The build obtained from the Microsoft Store is the same build; delivery and updates are handled by the Store, and its terms with Microsoft additionally apply to the installation. The licence to use the Software is still granted by the provider under this agreement and unlocked with the licence key. The provider's privacy policy, by contrast, applies to all builds.
The offering is aimed at both consumers and businesses.
1. Sale and contracting party
The Software is free to use (see §2). The subscription is sold through Lemon Squeezy (Lemon Squeezy LLC) acting as Merchant of Record. For the purchase contract (payment, VAT, invoicing, withdrawal), your counterparty is Lemon Squeezy and their buyer terms apply. The subscription is unlocked with a licence key.
This agreement covers solely the licence to use the Software, granted by the provider.
2. Free use and subscription
The Software is free to use with no time limit. Everything about the current state of your machine — running processes, memory, the full disk breakdown, the network overview — is available permanently in free use.
The subscription does not unlock any additional measurement; it unlocks the history beyond the last two hours — the memory of what happened on the machine while you were away. It is offered as a monthly or annual subscription. A licence key permits activation on one computer at a time; the activation can be released in the Software at any time and used on a different computer.
3. After a subscription ends
When a subscription ends, the Software returns to free use. The full functionality for the current state is retained; only the view of history further back is limited to two hours again. No user data is locked, deleted or made inaccessible.
4. Right of withdrawal for consumers
Consumers generally have a 14-day right of withdrawal for distance contracts. For digital content this right expires early if you expressly consent to immediate performance and acknowledge that you thereby lose your right of withdrawal (§ 356(5) German Civil Code). Obtaining this consent and handling any withdrawal is done through Lemon Squeezy; their withdrawal policy and buyer terms govern.
5. System requirements and permissions
macOS: The Software requires macOS 11 or later. So that it can fully break down disk usage, it reads the disk outside the app sandbox. Full access may require the operating-system-managed Full Disk Access permission, which you grant in System Settings. Without it the Software still works, but sees less and states openly what remains hidden from it.
Windows: The Software requires Windows 10 or later. Some system areas are only readable with elevated rights; here too the Software states what could not be read, rather than presenting an incomplete figure as complete.
The macOS build is signed with an Apple Developer ID, notarised by Apple and carries a built-in updater; it is distributed outside the Mac App Store. The Windows build is available in the Microsoft Store and, alongside it, as a signed installer directly from balane.app.
6. Scope of the licence
The provider grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use the Software within the agreed scope. Resale, rental, sublicensing and circumventing the licence check are not permitted. Decompilation is permitted only within the limits of applicable law.
7. Advisory nature — the Software deletes nothing
The Software measures and explains; it does not decide. It deletes no files on its own and does not modify your data by itself. Pointers to possible leftovers, large or unused files and the like are recommendations — an aid to judgement, not an instruction and not an assurance that something can be removed safely.
The only action the Software performs on a file, and only at your explicit request, is moving it to your operating system's Bin — reversible, after showing every affected path, and only after your confirmation. The Software performs no permanent, irreversible deletion.
The decision whether and what is actually removed is yours. The provider does not warrant that a recommendation is correct in every case and accepts no liability for the consequences of a deletion or move decision made by you. When in doubt, check for yourself before acting. Backing up your data is your responsibility; the Software performs no backup.
8. Warranty and liability
Statutory warranty rights apply.
The provider is liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence, and for injury to life, body or health. For ordinary negligence the provider is liable only for breach of a material contractual obligation, limited to the foreseeable damage typical for this type of contract. Liability is otherwise excluded. Liability under the German Product Liability Act remains unaffected.
9. Changes and final provisions
The provider may continue to develop the Software and change functionality, provided the agreed scope of performance is not materially reduced.
German law applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. For consumers, this choice of law applies only insofar as it does not deprive them of the protection of mandatory provisions of the state of their habitual residence. Should any provision be invalid, the validity of the remainder is unaffected.
Privacy
Show full privacy policy
Privacy Policy – BalaneDisk
Last updated: 2026-08-14
Controller under the GDPR: Balane GmbH · Balanstraße 84 · 81541 Munich · Germany Commercial register: HRB 301320, Amtsgericht München · VAT ID: DE455102718 Represented by the managing director Jonas David Höttler support@balane.tech
BalaneDisk is a local-first app for macOS and Windows. It is built so that what it measures about your machine never leaves your machine.
1. What is measured — and stays local
BalaneDisk reads running processes, memory usage, the full occupancy of your disk(s) and your machine's existing network connections. This data is processed and displayed solely on your device. There is no account, no synchronisation and no cloud; the measurements are not transmitted to the provider or any third party.
A short history of these measurements is kept locally so the app can answer "what happened recently". That history, too, stays on the device.
2. Access to system and disk information
So that BalaneDisk can fully break down disk usage, it reads the disk outside the app sandbox. On macOS this may require the Full Disk Access permission, which you grant yourself in System Settings; on Windows some areas are only readable with elevated rights. The access serves only the on-device display. File contents, file paths, process names and network addresses are not transmitted.
3. Reference tables live inside the app
To attribute a network connection to a country, an operator or a known tracker, BalaneDisk uses databases that are bundled inside the app. There is no online lookup to a geolocation or lookup service — so looking at where your machine connects never reveals where you are.
4. Licence management
BalaneDisk is free to use; the subscription is handled by Lemon Squeezy (Lemon Squeezy LLC) as Merchant of Record. When you activate a licence key, the licence key and a name for this computer (the hostname) are transmitted to Lemon Squeezy to verify and manage the activation. The legal basis is performance of a contract (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR). For the purchase, Lemon Squeezy is the controller and their privacy terms apply.
To bind the key to a device, the app reads a device identifier (the hardware UUID on macOS, the corresponding system UUID on Windows). This identifier is used locally only and does not leave the machine. The check whether the licence is still valid happens at most once a day; if the server cannot be reached, the licence remains valid for a transitional period.
5. Updates
The build obtained directly from balane.app checks periodically whether a new version is available and fetches a file from balane.app to do so; this transmits your IP address to our hosting provider. The legal basis is our legitimate interest in secure, up-to-date installations (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). The automatic check can be switched off in the settings. The version distributed through the Microsoft Store contains no update check; updates are delivered by the Store.
6. No analytics, no telemetry
The app contains no analytics, tracking or crash-reporting libraries. No usage data is collected.
7. Your rights
Because the provider collects no personal data through the app, requests for access, rectification or erasure directed at the provider will generally have no subject matter. For data processed as part of a purchase, contact Lemon Squeezy as the controller. For email or form support requests, the general privacy policy of this website applies: https://www.balane.app/en/privacy
You can delete your local data by removing the app and deleting its data folder — on macOS `~/Library/Application Support/com.balanedisk.balanedisk/`, on Windows `%APPDATA%\Balane\BalaneDisk\`.