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Utilities · head to head

Everything vs Hazel

Everything logo

Everything

Utilities

Instant filename search for Windows

From
Free
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

  • Only Everything has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Everything searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed; 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: Everything covers Instant results, Hazel covers Folder watching.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Everything and Hazel actually diverge.

Attributes where Everything and Hazel differ
AttributeEverythingHazel
Starting priceFree$42/one-time
Pricing modelFree; donations acceptedOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindowsMac

Identical on both: 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 Everything

  • Instant results
  • MFT-based indexing
  • Tiny footprint
  • Regex and filters

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.

Everything

  • Finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on Windows Searchnot Hazel
  • Locating duplicates and stray files across large drivesnot Hazel
  • Navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of filesnot Hazel

Hazel

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

Where each one falls short

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

Everything

  • Searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed
  • Windows and NTFS only: no macOS or Linux build, and non-NTFS volumes fall back to slower indexing
  • Requires administrator rights to read the Master File Table

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

Everything

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

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 Everything if

  • You need instant results.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want mft-based indexing.
Everything review

Choose Hazel if

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

Questions people ask

Is Everything or Hazel better?
Neither clearly leads. Everything starts at Free and Hazel at $42/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Everything or Hazel?
Everything has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Everything and $42/one-time for Hazel.
Does Everything or Hazel run on more platforms?
Everything runs on Windows. Hazel runs on Mac.
Can I use Everything for free?
Yes. Everything has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hazel starts at $42/one-time.
What is Everything best used for?
Everything is most often used for finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on windows search, locating duplicates and stray files across large drives, navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of files. Of those, finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on windows search and locating duplicates and stray files across large drives are not what Hazel is typically brought in for.
What can Everything do that Hazel cannot?
Everything covers Instant results, MFT-based indexing, Tiny footprint, Regex and filters. Hazel covers Folder watching, Conditional actions, Content-based matching, Duplicate detection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Everything: Is Everything free?

Yes, free to use with donations accepted.

Hazel: Is Hazel a subscription?

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

Everything: Why is it so much faster than Windows Search?

It reads the NTFS Master File Table directly instead of crawling the filesystem, so indexing a whole volume takes seconds.

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.

Everything: Can it search inside files?

Only in a limited way. It is built for filename search, and full content search is not what it is for.

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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