NameChanger review (2026): is it any good?
Free Mac app for renaming a list of files with a live preview
NameChanger report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a free Mac renamer with a live preview
NameChanger is a free Mac app that renames a list of files, with a live preview as you type. But it applies one rule at a time, it is Mac only, and its page carries a 2018 copyright line.
Who NameChanger is for
- 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
Who NameChanger is not for
- 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
Why NameChanger gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree, with donations optional. No paid edition is listed.
- AFree plan and trialThe whole app is free, with no limits or trial on record.
- CFeaturesEleven rename types, a per-file checkbox and rename history. It does that one job fully, but it is a smaller job: one rule at a time, no chaining.
- BEase of useDrag files in, choose a rule, watch the preview. Nothing to set up, though no store rating is on record.
- CPlatforms and integrationsMac only, with older builds for older systems. No other platform.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from MRR Software's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/namechanger#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/namechanger.svg" alt="NameChanger: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where NameChanger stands among desktop utilities
NameChanger's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on features (C, above 2).
NameChanger has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. NameChanger’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186, level with 131
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186, level with 79
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186, level with 110
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186, level with 108
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 111 of 186, level with 60
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep NameChanger, or make your own?
Keep it
NameChanger is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade.
What you could not
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. NameChanger’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is NameChanger?
NameChanger is a Mac app built for one job: renaming a list of files. Files are dragged in, a renaming rule is chosen, and the new names update in a preview column as you type before anything is changed. It is free, with optional donations to fund development, and it also runs as a Finder service.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
NameChanger pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, NameChanger is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full app is free. The download page asks for an optional donation of $5 to $40 to fund future development. |
Read from mrrsoftware.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with NameChanger before you buy.
NameChanger alternatives
- NameChanger vs Renamer
From $26 one-time
- NameChanger vs Advanced Renamer
Free plan · from $16 one-time
- NameChanger vs Bulk Rename Utility
Free plan · from $24.95
- NameChanger vs Hazel
Free trial · from $42 one-time
- NameChanger vs Path Finder
Free trial · from $2.95/mo
Common questions
Does NameChanger have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. NameChanger is listed for macOS.
Does NameChanger have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. NameChanger is listed for macOS.
Is NameChanger open source?
NameChanger is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does NameChanger work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.