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Utilities · head to head

Hazel vs Starbucks

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
Starbucks logo

Starbucks

Utilities

Starbucks mobile ordering, payment and Starbucks Rewards loyalty app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Starbucks 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.; Starbucks loading a prepaid balance onto the app effectively lends Starbucks money interest-free until it is spent, and Starbucks has reported billions of dollars in unredeemed stored value outstanding at any time.
  • They diverge on capability: Hazel covers Folder watching, Starbucks covers Mobile order and pay.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hazel and Starbucks actually diverge.

Attributes where Hazel and Starbucks differ
AttributeHazelStarbucks
Starting price$42/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseFree app, revenue from prepaid stored value and purchases
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMaciOS, Android

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 Hazel

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

Only in Starbucks

  • Mobile order and pay
  • Starbucks Rewards
  • Stored value card
  • Personalised offers
  • Delivery integration
  • Order customisation

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 Starbucks
  • Anyone whose Downloads folder becomes unmanageable and wants files auto-sorted by type or agenot Starbucks
  • A photographer who wants imported files renamed by date pattern and moved to a project folder automaticallynot Starbucks
  • A user who wants old files in a scratch folder auto-deleted after a set number of days without remembering to clear it manuallynot Starbucks

Starbucks

  • A regular customer wanting to order ahead and skip the in-store queuenot Hazel
  • Someone accumulating Rewards Stars toward free drinks through routine purchasesnot Hazel
  • A customer who prefers paying with a preloaded balance instead of a card at each purchasenot Hazel
  • Someone wanting personalised offers based on their usual ordernot 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.

Starbucks

  • Loading a prepaid balance onto the app effectively lends Starbucks money interest-free until it is spent, and Starbucks has reported billions of dollars in unredeemed stored value outstanding at any time.
  • Mobile order pickup often creates its own bottleneck at busy stores, so the convenience of skipping the register queue can be offset by waiting at the pickup counter instead.
  • Rewards redemption values and item eligibility change periodically, so accumulated Stars do not have a fixed, predictable cash value over time.
  • The app collects detailed purchase history to power targeted offers, which is the trade for the free loyalty programme rather than a neutral convenience feature.
  • Auto-reload linked to a card can catch users off guard with unexpected small recurring charges if they are not tracking their balance.

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

Starbucks

Free
  • Starbucks RewardsFree
    • Free to join
    • Stars earned per dollar spent
    • No cost beyond purchases made

Which should you pick?

Choose Hazel if

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

Choose Starbucks if

  • You need mobile order and pay.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want starbucks rewards.
Starbucks review

Questions people ask

Is Hazel or Starbucks better?
Neither clearly leads. Hazel starts at $42/one-time and Starbucks at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hazel or Starbucks?
Starbucks has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $42/one-time for Hazel and Free for Starbucks.
Does Hazel or Starbucks run on more platforms?
Hazel runs on Mac. Starbucks runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Starbucks for free?
Yes. Starbucks 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 Starbucks is typically brought in for.
What can Hazel do that Starbucks cannot?
Hazel covers Folder watching, Conditional actions, Content-based matching, Duplicate detection. Starbucks covers Mobile order and pay, Starbucks Rewards, Stored value card, Personalised offers.

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.

Starbucks: Does it cost anything to join Starbucks Rewards?

No, joining and using the app is free; you pay only for what you order.

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.

Starbucks: What happens to money loaded onto the app if I stop using Starbucks?

It remains as a stored balance unless redeemed; Starbucks does not pay interest on it and, subject to local law, unredeemed balances can eventually be treated as breakage revenue.

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.

Starbucks: Can I pay without preloading a balance?

Yes, many stores accept direct card or contactless payment without using the app's stored value feature.

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