About
Hazel watches the folders you point it at and acts on files according to rules you write: rename invoices by their contents, file screenshots by date, tag downloads by source website, archive anything untouched for a month. Rules match on name, date, kind, contents and dozens of other attributes, and actions extend to AppleScript, Automator and Shortcuts for anything bespoke. It also manages the Trash on a schedule and sweeps away an app's support files when you delete it.
Hazel 6, released in October 2024, added on-the-fly text recognition so rules can read scanned PDFs, plus support for encrypted PDFs and a revert option in the Finder. Version 6.1.2 arrived in February 2026 with refinements for macOS Tahoe. A single licence is a one-time $42, and it has quietly kept Macs tidy for nearly two decades.
Alternatives
- Keyboard Maestro
Pick Keyboard Maestro if you want to automate more than files: it is $36 once, has a folder trigger, runs on macOS 10.13 or newer, and offers a free trial.
- File Arbor
Pick File Arbor if you want rule-based sorting for less: it has a free plan, Pro is $24.99 once with automatic mode and scheduling, and it also runs on Windows.
At a Glance
- Requires
- macOS 13 Ventura or later
- Price
- $42 one-time for a single user, or $65 for a family of up to 5; free trial available
- Get It From
- noodlesoft.com
Curator's Note
“Set up a handful of rules on a quiet afternoon and your Downloads folder never embarrasses you again.”
Theo, Mac Dept.
