Dropzone vs Hazel

Dropzone

• Mac users who move, copy and upload files by drag and drop all day
• People who want a temporary shelf for files while switching apps
• Scripters who want to write their own drop actions in Ruby or Python

Hazel

• Mac users whose Downloads and Desktop folders fill up with unsorted files
• Filing scanned bills and statements by the text inside them
• People who want file automation bought once instead of by subscription

Dropzone

• macOS only; Dropzone 5 requires macOS 13 or later.
• Amazon S3 and SFTP uploads, add-on actions, action keyboard shortcuts and unlimited grids are Pro features.
• On the Mac App Store, Pro is a subscription unless you buy the $34.99 lifetime unlock, and Pro features stop when a subscription ends.
• Dropzone 5 Pro is a paid upgrade for Dropzone 4 owners, at up to 50% off with a Dropzone 4 serial number.

Hazel

• macOS only; Hazel 6 requires macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later.
• After the 14-day evaluation, an unlicensed copy drops to Demo mode: one monitored folder, two active rules and no import or export.
• A license covers one major version. Moving from any earlier version to Hazel 6 is a $20 paid upgrade.
• Rule sync works per folder and cannot merge rule sets: a second Mac's existing rules for that folder are overwritten.

Dropzone

Action grid

Dragging a file makes Dropzone appear at the top of the screen; dropping it on an action moves, copies, shares or uploads it. The grid also opens from the menu bar item.

Drop Bar

A temporary holding place for files: drag items on, then drag them off into another app or onto an action. Pro can detach it into a floating window and name its stacks.

Multiple grids

Actions can be arranged in several grids and switched between, with adjustable columns and grid size. Adding unlimited grids and categories is listed as a Pro feature.

Sharing and uploads

Built-in actions send files by AirDrop, upload images to Imgur for a shareable link and shorten URLs with TinyURL. Amazon S3 and SFTP uploading need Pro.

Add-on actions

A library of add-on actions installs from inside the app, and new actions can be written in Ruby or Python. Installing or developing add-ons is listed as a Pro feature.

Keyboard and terminal control

F3 or a custom shortcut opens the grid from any application, and the dz command-line tool runs actions, adds files to Drop Bar and switches grids.

Hazel

Folder rules

Hazel monitors the folders you pick and applies rules, much like those in Apple Mail, that match items by name, size, date, type, source website and other attributes.

File actions

A matching item can be moved, copied, renamed, sorted into subfolders, tagged, commented, archived or synced, with patterns that build names and tags from its attributes.

Reading file contents

Hazel 6 uses on-the-fly text recognition to read text in PDFs without OCR and in image files, and reads encrypted PDFs when you supply a password.

Trash management and App Sweep

Deletes items from the Trash by age or when it grows too large. App Sweep notices a discarded application and offers to remove its support files as well.

Scripts, Shortcuts and uploads

Rules can run Shortcuts, AppleScript or JavaScript, Automator workflows and shell scripts, and can upload files to FTP, SFTP or WebDAV servers.

Revert and rule sync

Revert returns a file to its original place and name, with its tags and comments. A folder's rules can sync through a shared file to other Macs or user accounts.

Dropzone

• Dropzone 5 (free)$0

  Free download from aptonic.com or the Mac App Store with the action grid, Drop Bar and built-in actions.

• Dropzone 5 Pro Monthly$4.99

  per month, auto-renewing (US Mac App Store)

  Pro features and all app updates while subscribed, after a 14-day free trial. Pro features stop if the subscription is cancelled.

• Dropzone 5 Pro Yearly$19.99

  per year (US Mac App Store in-app purchase)

  The same Pro subscription billed once a year through the Mac App Store.

• Dropzone 5 Pro Lifetime (App Store)$34.99

  one-time in-app purchase (US Mac App Store)

  Lifetime unlock of the Pro features in the Mac App Store edition.

• Dropzone 5 Pro Lifetime (direct)$35

  one-time purchase, lifetime license

  Lifetime license for the version downloaded from aptonic.com, registered with a serial number.

Hazel

• Hazel 6$42

  one-time purchase, single-user license

  Includes free upgrades within version 6. The license keeps unlocking the version you bought after a new major version ships.

• Hazel 6 Family Pack$65

  one-time purchase, up to 5 household members

  One license for up to 5 members of your household. For private households only.

Dropzone

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Pro license for $35

  Dropzone 5 Pro is sold as a lifetime license for $35 from aptonic.com, or as a $34.99 lifetime in-app purchase on the Mac App Store.

• Annual discount

  Yearly Pro subscription for $19.99

  On the Mac App Store, Pro costs $4.99 a month or $19.99 a year. Twelve monthly payments would come to $59.88.

• Other savings

  Up to 50% off for Dropzone 4 owners

  Entering a Dropzone 4 serial number on the vendor's upgrade page gives a discount of up to 50% on Dropzone 5 Pro.

Hazel

• Other savings

  $20 upgrade from any previous version

  Owners of any earlier Hazel version can upgrade to Hazel 6 for $20. The price is the same for single-user and family pack licenses.

• Other savings

  Volume pricing on request

  The store page asks buyers interested in volume pricing or with other special pricing needs to contact Noodlesoft.