Utilities · head to head
Hazel vs Shottr
Hazel
Utilities
Rule-based file organisation for macOS that watches folders and automatically files, renames or deletes
- From
- $42/one-time
- Rated
- -
Shottr
Utilities
Free Mac screenshot tool with annotation and OCR, with an optional paid tier for extra features
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Shottr has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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.; Shottr it lacks CleanShot X cloud link hosting and self-cleaning desktop features, so teams that share links constantly may find it thinner.
- They diverge on capability: Hazel covers Folder watching, Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hazel and Shottr actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (One-time purchase), 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 Hazel
- Folder watching
- Conditional actions
- Content-based matching
- Duplicate detection
- Trash auto-empty
- App Sweep
Only in Shottr
- Pixel-precise annotation
- Built in OCR
- Scrolling capture
- Colour picker
- Quick resize and export
- Free core functionality
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Hazel
- A freelancer who wants invoices and receipts auto-filed into client folders based on the text inside themnot Shottr
- Anyone whose Downloads folder becomes unmanageable and wants files auto-sorted by type or agenot Shottr
- A photographer who wants imported files renamed by date pattern and moved to a project folder automaticallynot Shottr
- A user who wants old files in a scratch folder auto-deleted after a set number of days without remembering to clear it manuallynot Shottr
Shottr
- A user who wants OCR and precise annotation without paying anything up frontnot Hazel
- Someone evaluating whether a screenshot tool is worth paying for before committing money, unlike CleanShot X which requires payment firstnot Hazel
- A user who occasionally needs a colour picker and is fine with the free tier for everything elsenot Hazel
- Anyone who wants a lighter alternative to CleanShot X without giving up scrolling capture or annotationnot Hazel
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
Shottr
- It lacks CleanShot X cloud link hosting and self-cleaning desktop features, so teams that share links constantly may find it thinner.
- Pricing tiers and their exact contents have shifted and are inconsistently reported across sources, making it harder to know exactly what a given tier unlocks before buying.
- The free tier periodically prompts to purchase, which some users find naggy over long term daily use.
- It is Mac only, offering nothing for a Windows machine in a mixed environment.
- Video and GIF recording is more limited than a tool built specifically for that, such as Kap or CleanShot X.
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Shottr
Free- FreeFree
- Full capture and annotation for everyday use
- Built in OCR included
- Occasional prompt to consider purchasing
- Basic$8/one-time
- One-time unlock of extra features
- Removes purchase prompts
- Friends Club$25/one-time
- Higher one-time tier
- Access to experimental features and priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Hazel if
- You need folder watching.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want conditional actions.
Choose Shottr if
- You need pixel-precise annotation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want built in ocr.
Questions people ask
- Is Hazel or Shottr better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hazel starts at $42/one-time and Shottr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hazel or Shottr?
- Shottr has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $42/one-time for Hazel and Free for Shottr.
- Does Hazel or Shottr run on more platforms?
- Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Shottr for free?
- Yes. Shottr has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Hazel starts at $42/one-time.
- What is Hazel best used for?
- Hazel is most often used for a freelancer who wants invoices and receipts auto-filed into client folders based on the text inside them, anyone whose downloads folder becomes unmanageable and wants files auto-sorted by type or age, a photographer who wants imported files renamed by date pattern and moved to a project folder automatically, a user who wants old files in a scratch folder auto-deleted after a set number of days without remembering to clear it manually. Of those, a freelancer who wants invoices and receipts auto-filed into client folders based on the text inside them and anyone whose downloads folder becomes unmanageable and wants files auto-sorted by type or age are not what Shottr is typically brought in for.
- What can Hazel do that Shottr cannot?
- Hazel covers Folder watching, Conditional actions, Content-based matching, Duplicate detection. Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation, Built in OCR, Scrolling capture, Colour picker.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Hazel: Is Hazel a subscription?
No. It is a one-time purchase per major version, currently 42 US dollars for a single user licence.
Shottr: Is Shottr free?
Yes, the core app can be used free indefinitely, with an optional one-time paid tier for extra features and no more purchase prompts.
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.
Shottr: Does Shottr do OCR?
Yes, built in OCR extracts text from a captured screenshot without needing a separate app.
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.
Shottr: Is there a subscription?
No. Any paid tier is a one-time purchase, not a recurring subscription.
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