Hazel vs NameChanger (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Hazel if

• Fits if your Downloads and Desktop fill up with files you never sort
• Works for people who scan bills and statements and want them filed by the text inside

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you're on Windows or Linux, as it's macOS only, and Hazel 6 needs macOS 13.0 or later
• Tight if you're not paying, because Demo mode is one folder, two active rules and no import or export
• Not for you if you want every future version included, since a license covers one major version and the upgrade to 6 is $20
• Watch out: rule sync works per folder and overwrites a second Mac's rules instead of merging them
• Not for you if you want filing to work out of the box, since you write every rule yourself first

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NameChanger

• Free$0

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

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.

NameChanger

No public discounts listed.