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Utilities · head to head

CleanShot X vs Hazel

CleanShot X logo

CleanShot X

Utilities

Paid Mac screenshot and screen recording tool with annotation, scrolling capture and cloud sharing

From
$29/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hazel logo

Hazel

Utilities

Rule-based file organisation for macOS that watches folders and automatically files, renames or deletes

From
$42/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CleanShot X there is no free tier at all, unlike Shottr, so a user has to commit 29 dollars before ever trying the full feature set beyond a trial.; Hazel there is no free tier, only a 14-day trial, so the full 42 dollar cost is a real barrier for a casual user just wanting one simple rule.
  • They diverge on capability: CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar, Hazel covers Folder watching.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CleanShot X and Hazel actually diverge.

Attributes where CleanShot X and Hazel differ
AttributeCleanShot XHazel
Starting price$29/one-time$42/one-time

Identical on both: pricing model (One-time purchase), free tier (No), platforms (Mac), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CleanShot X

  • Annotation toolbar
  • Scrolling capture
  • Cloud sharing links
  • Self-cleaning desktop
  • Quick GIF and video recording
  • All in one clipboard

Only in Hazel

  • Folder watching
  • Conditional actions
  • Content-based matching
  • Duplicate detection
  • Trash auto-empty
  • App Sweep

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CleanShot X

  • A support or design team that shares annotated screenshots constantly and wants a polished result without extra editing stepsnot Hazel
  • Someone who frequently captures long web pages or documents and wants a single stitched scrolling screenshotnot Hazel
  • A user who wants a screenshot with no desktop clutter visible in the background without manually tidying firstnot Hazel
  • A team that wants branded shareable links with custom domains rather than generic hosted image URLsnot Hazel

Hazel

  • A freelancer who wants invoices and receipts auto-filed into client folders based on the text inside themnot CleanShot X
  • Anyone whose Downloads folder becomes unmanageable and wants files auto-sorted by type or agenot CleanShot X
  • A photographer who wants imported files renamed by date pattern and moved to a project folder automaticallynot CleanShot X
  • A user who wants old files in a scratch folder auto-deleted after a set number of days without remembering to clear it manuallynot CleanShot X

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CleanShot X

  • There is no free tier at all, unlike Shottr, so a user has to commit 29 dollars before ever trying the full feature set beyond a trial.
  • App updates beyond the first year require an optional 19 dollar a year fee, which some users only discover after the first year lapses.
  • Cloud Pro team features are a separate ongoing subscription on top of the one-time app purchase, so the full cost for a team is higher than the headline 29 dollars suggests.
  • It is Mac only, so a mixed Windows and Mac team cannot standardise on one screenshot tool across both platforms.
  • Its video recording is more basic than a dedicated screen recorder such as Kap or a full editor, so heavier video work still needs separate software.

Hazel

  • There is no free tier, only a 14-day trial, so the full 42 dollar cost is a real barrier for a casual user just wanting one simple rule.
  • Rules are entirely hand-built, so the tool provides no value until a user invests time writing and testing conditions.
  • A misconfigured rule can silently move, rename or delete the wrong files, and mistakes are only obvious after the fact unless tested carefully first.
  • It is Mac only, so it does nothing for a Windows machine sharing the same file workflow.
  • It focuses purely on file automation, so a user also wanting window management, clipboard history or gesture control needs entirely separate tools.

Pricing, plan by plan

CleanShot X

$29/one-time
  • CleanShot X$29/one-time
    • Permanent licence, keep the app forever
    • 1GB of cloud storage included
    • One year of app updates, optional 19 USD per year after
  • Cloud Pro$8/month
    • Per user, billed annually
    • Branded sharing domains and self-destruct links
    • SSO for team accounts

Hazel

$42/one-time
  • Single User Licence$42/one-time
    • One user, Hazel 6
    • Free updates within the major version
    • 14-day free trial before purchase
  • Family Pack$65/one-time
    • Multiple users covered under one purchase
    • Same feature set as the single licence

Which should you pick?

Choose CleanShot X if

  • You need annotation toolbar.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want scrolling capture.
CleanShot X review

Choose Hazel if

  • You need folder watching.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want conditional actions.
Hazel review

Questions people ask

Is CleanShot X or Hazel better?
Neither clearly leads. CleanShot X starts at $29/one-time and Hazel at $42/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CleanShot X or Hazel?
CleanShot X starts at $29/one-time and Hazel at $42/one-time.
Does CleanShot X or Hazel run on more platforms?
Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is CleanShot X best used for?
CleanShot X is most often used for a support or design team that shares annotated screenshots constantly and wants a polished result without extra editing steps, someone who frequently captures long web pages or documents and wants a single stitched scrolling screenshot, a user who wants a screenshot with no desktop clutter visible in the background without manually tidying first, a team that wants branded shareable links with custom domains rather than generic hosted image urls. Of those, a support or design team that shares annotated screenshots constantly and wants a polished result without extra editing steps and someone who frequently captures long web pages or documents and wants a single stitched scrolling screenshot are not what Hazel is typically brought in for.
What can CleanShot X do that Hazel cannot?
CleanShot X covers Annotation toolbar, Scrolling capture, Cloud sharing links, Self-cleaning desktop. Hazel covers Folder watching, Conditional actions, Content-based matching, Duplicate detection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CleanShot X: Is CleanShot X a subscription?

The app itself is a one-time purchase. Only the optional Cloud Pro team plan and post-first-year update access are subscriptions or recurring fees.

Hazel: Is Hazel a subscription?

No. It is a one-time purchase per major version, currently 42 US dollars for a single user licence.

CleanShot X: Does CleanShot X include cloud storage?

Yes, 1GB is included with the base purchase; more storage and team features require the separate Cloud Pro subscription.

Hazel: Can Hazel read the content of files, not just names?

Yes, rules can match on text found inside supported file types such as PDFs and text documents.

CleanShot X: Is there a free version?

No. There is a trial but no permanent free tier, unlike Shottr.

Hazel: Does Hazel run in the background automatically?

Yes, it watches configured folders continuously and applies rules as files change, with no manual trigger needed.

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