Bulk Rename Utility vs NameChanger (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Bulk Rename Utility if

• Fits if you rename photos or files in bulk on a Windows PC at home
• Works for people who want to preview every change before it happens

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you use a Mac or Linux, as it is Windows only
• Pricey if you use it at work, at $92.95 per computer, one for each machine
• Watch out: yearly maintenance with updates and priority support is an add-on from $29.95
• Watch out: any business, company or government use needs a commercial licence on every computer

Pick NameChanger if

• Fits if you rename photos or files on a Mac and want a free preview-first tool
• Works for quick one-rule jobs, like adding a prefix to 50 files

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want to chain several rules in one pass, as it applies one at a time
• Not for you if you use Windows or Linux, since it is Mac only
• Watch out: the page carries a 2018 copyright line, so how often it is updated isn't clear
• Too light for you if names should come from photo or music tags in bulk

Bulk Rename Utility

• Runs on Windows only, with no Mac or Linux version.
• Business and commercial use needs a paid license for each computer where it is installed.
• Yearly maintenance with updates and priority support is an add-on, starting at $29.95 for one item.
• The vendor's prices can be shown in other currencies at checkout; the figures here are the US dollar ones.

NameChanger

• Mac only; it needs OS X 10.13 or later, with older builds offered for earlier systems.
• Renames files by one rule at a time rather than by chained methods.
• The vendor page carries a 2018 copyright line, so its update cadence is not clear from the page.

Bulk Rename Utility

Flexible renaming rules

Adds, replaces and inserts text, converts case, adds auto-numbers and removes or changes extensions.

Preview before renaming

Shows a detailed preview of the new names before any file is changed.

Photo and media metadata

Renames photos from EXIF data, MP3s from ID3 tags and other files from Windows file properties.

Folders and sub-folders

Processes whole folders and their sub-folders, not just a single list of files.

Timestamp changes

Changes files' creation and modification times.

JavaScript renaming

Scripted renaming is unlocked by a home/academic or commercial license.

NameChanger

Live preview of new names

An Original Filename column and a Renamed Filename column update as you type, so every change is visible before you press Rename.

Eleven rename types

Replace first, last or all occurrences, wildcard, append, prepend, date, sequence, character removal, regular expression and case change.

Checkbox control per file

Load a folder of files once and rename only the checked rows, without adding and removing files between runs.

Rename history

The app keeps a history of the renames it has performed, and reports any files it could not change.

Finder service and drag and drop

Right-click files in Finder and choose Rename with NameChanger, or drop files or folders onto the app.

Image browser and EXIF dates

Reorder and name pictures visually, and use EXIF dates, including subseconds when available, in names.

Bulk Rename Utility

• Home use$0

  Free for personal, private use at home; a business, company or commercial use needs a commercial license.

• Home / Academic license$24.95

  per user, one-time

  Unlocks all features, including JavaScript renaming, for home or school and university use. $22.95 each for 2 to 5 users and $19.95 each for 6 or more.

• Commercial license$92.95

  per computer, one-time

  Required for each computer in a business, company, government or commercial use. $63.95 each for 2 to 5 computers and $49.95 each for 6 or more.

NameChanger

• Free$0

  The full app is free. The download page asks for an optional donation of $5 to $40 to fund future development.