What is Hazel?
Hazel is a macOS file-automation tool: you point it at folders and it applies rules you write — matching on name, date, type, the site a file came from, tags, contents and more — to move, rename, tag, archive, open or upload files as they arrive. It also goes beyond filing: App Sweep detects when you throw an application away and offers to delete the leftover support files, and it manages the Trash by age or size. It is a one-time purchase of US$42 for a single user, or US$65 for a family pack covering up to five members of one household, with upgrades from any previous version at US$20. It is not a subscription: a licence keeps unlocking the major version you bought. The current 6.1.2 build requires macOS 13 Ventura or later, and Hazel 6 supports all Apple Silicon Macs. A 14-day free trial is offered during installation.
Verified product facts
- Type
- file automation toolEditorially reviewed
- Platform
- macOS
- Apple Silicon
- Yes
- Pricing
- One-time purchaseDeveloper-stated
- Developer
- NoodlesoftDeveloper-stated
- Relationship to Nuanyue
- Third-party product — not published by NuanyueEditorially reviewed
- Licence
- Proprietary; a licence unlocks the major version purchased and includes free upgrades within that version.
- Current version
- 6.1.2Developer-stated
- Official website
- www.noodlesoft.com
Last updated . Facts marked developer-stated come from the developer and are not independently confirmed; editorially reviewed marks a Nuanyue judgement.
Key features
What Hazel does at a glance.
Watches folders and files files automatically according to rules
Rules match
On name, date, type, source site, tags and file contents
Actions include move, rename, tag, archive, open and upload
App Sweep finds and offers to remove an application's leftover support files
Trash management
By file age or when the Trash grows too large
On-the-fly text recognition (OCR) and reading of encrypted PDFs
What you can use Hazel for
- Filing files automatically as they arrive in folders such as Downloads or the Desktop
- Renaming, tagging and archiving files according to rules you write
- Removing the support files an application leaves behind when you delete it
- Emptying the Trash automatically by file age or when it grows too large
Who is Hazel for?
- Mac users whose Downloads or Desktop folder fills up faster than they clear it
- People who want files organised by rules rather than moved by hand
Who is Hazel not for?
- Windows or Linux users — Hazel is macOS only
- Macs running macOS 12 or earlier — the current 6.1.2 build requires macOS 13 Ventura
- Anyone who wants to manage files by hand — Hazel's value comes from rules that run automatically
Limitations
- Trash features require Full Disk Access
Strengths and trade-offs
What Hazel does well, and what to weigh before choosing it. Points marked developer-stated come from the developer’s own material and have not been independently confirmed.
Strengths
- A one-time purchase rather than a subscription: a licence gives free upgrades for the major version bought.
- Supports all Apple Silicon Macs, per the developer's FAQ.
- App Sweep detects when an application is thrown away and offers to delete the support files it left behind.Developer-stated
Trade-offs
- The current 6.1.2 build requires macOS 13 Ventura or later, so users on macOS 12 must stay on the older Hazel 6.0 line.
- Moving to a new major version is a paid upgrade of US$20, and the licence is tied to the version purchased.
First-use experience
What the app asks of you when you set it up. Only established facts appear here; anything we could not confirm is left out rather than guessed at.
- Installation
- Download the disk image, open it, read and accept the licence, then double-click Hazel and click Install in Applications.
- First launch
- On first install an alert explains the 14-day free trial and asks whether to install sample rules; it may also ask for access to the folders Hazel watches and for notifications.
- System integration
- Installs a Finder extension and a menu bar item; Trash features require Full Disk Access, and it integrates with Spotlight, Shortcuts, AppleScript and Automator.
- Apple Silicon
- Supported
What it does
Hazel watches the folders you choose and applies the rules you write to the files that appear in them. A rule combines a condition — the file’s name, date, type, tags, the site it came from, its contents — with an action: move, rename, tag, archive, open or upload. The point is that a folder such as Downloads or the Desktop keeps itself tidy without you touching it.
Beyond filing
Hazel is not only a sorter. Two features sit outside the rule engine:
- App Sweep detects when you drag an application to the Trash, searches for the support files it left behind and offers to delete them too.
- Trash management deletes files that are too old, or empties the Trash when it grows past a size you set.
It also performs text recognition on the fly when a rule matches against a file’s contents, and can read password-protected PDFs.
Pricing and licensing
Hazel is a one-time purchase, not a subscription:
| Licence | Price |
|---|---|
| Single user | US$42 |
| Family pack (up to 5 household members) | US$65 |
| Upgrade from any previous version | US$20 |
The licence unlocks the major version you bought and includes free upgrades within it, so a Hazel 5 licence still works after Hazel 6 shipped. Moving to a new major version is a paid upgrade, and the upgrade keeps the same licence type — single user to single user, family pack to family pack.
Requirements
Hazel’s minimum macOS version changed within the version 6 line:
| Version | Minimum macOS |
|---|---|
| Hazel 6.0 | macOS 12 (Monterey) |
| Hazel 6.1 and later (current 6.1.2) | macOS 13 (Ventura) |
Apple Silicon
Verified. The developer’s FAQ states that Hazel 6 supports all Apple Silicon Macs.
Release history
Dated releases recorded for Hazel, newest first, each with the source it was read from.
6.1.2
Current release; requires macOS 13 (Ventura) or later and fixes tag colours and custom table attribute editing on Tahoe.
Source: Official website
6.1
Raised the requirement to macOS 13 (Ventura), added folder options for cloud-only files and a Tahoe look.
Source: Official website
Questions about Hazel
Is Hazel a subscription?
No. When you purchase a licence you get free upgrades for that major version, and the licence keeps unlocking the version you bought even after a new major version ships.
How much does Hazel 6 cost?
US$42 for a single-user licence and US$65 for a family pack covering up to five members of one household. Upgrading from any previous version costs US$20.
Which macOS version does Hazel require?
Hazel 6.0 required macOS 12 (Monterey) or later, and Hazel 6.1 raised the requirement to macOS 13 (Ventura). The current 6.1.2 build therefore needs macOS 13.
Does Hazel support Apple Silicon?
Yes. The developer's FAQ states that Hazel 6 supports all Apple Silicon Macs.
Is there a free trial of Hazel?
Yes. During installation Hazel informs you about a 14-day free trial and asks whether to install sample rules.
Similar apps
Related in purpose, but not a straight swap.
AppCleaner
Thoroughly uninstall apps.
Both remove the support files an application leaves behind; Hazel's App Sweep does this as part of folder automation, while AppCleaner is a dedicated uninstaller.
Works well with
Not a replacement — apps commonly used alongside this one.
Keyboard Maestro
Automate repetitive tasks with triggers and macros.
Hazel reacts to files arriving in folders while Keyboard Maestro runs macros from input triggers; they are commonly paired for file workflows.
Alfred
Launcher and automation tool with workflows and snippets.
Alfred's workflows can trigger Hazel rules and open the folders Hazel watches, so the launcher and the file automation are often used together.
In category
Other apps filed under the same category.
Folders File Manager
A file manager with an expandable folder tree, similar to that of Windows Explorer.
Both are in the file-management category, but Folders is a manual file manager with a folder tree while Hazel works in the background according to rules.
Links
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the sources below. Last updated .
- Hazel — official websiteGrade B
- Noodlesoft — developer websiteGrade B
- Hazel — documentationGrade C
