Softwr

Utilities · head to head

Hazel vs Syncthing

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
Syncthing logo

Syncthing

Utilities

Continuous file synchronisation between your own devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Syncthing 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.; Syncthing synchronisation, not backup: a deletion propagates to every device, and versioning must be configured deliberately
  • They diverge on capability: Hazel covers Folder watching, Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hazel and Syncthing actually diverge.

Attributes where Hazel and Syncthing differ
AttributeHazelSyncthing
Starting price$42/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMacWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker

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 Syncthing

  • Peer-to-peer sync
  • Encrypted transport
  • File versioning
  • Selective sync

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

Syncthing

  • Keeping files in step across personal machines without a cloud accountnot Hazel
  • Syncing data that must not sit on a third-party server for policy reasonsnot Hazel
  • Replacing a paid cloud storage subscription for sync-only needsnot 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.

Syncthing

  • Synchronisation, not backup: a deletion propagates to every device, and versioning must be configured deliberately
  • Devices must be online simultaneously to sync, so an always-on machine is effectively required
  • Initial setup involves exchanging device IDs and is less approachable than signing into a cloud service
  • No web access to files, since there is no server holding them

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

Syncthing

Free
  • SyncthingFree
    • Full functionality
    • No usage limits
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Hazel if

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

Choose Syncthing if

  • You need peer-to-peer sync.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker.
  • You also want encrypted transport.
Syncthing review

Questions people ask

Is Hazel or Syncthing better?
Neither clearly leads. Hazel starts at $42/one-time and Syncthing at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hazel or Syncthing?
Syncthing has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $42/one-time for Hazel and Free for Syncthing.
Does Hazel or Syncthing run on more platforms?
Hazel runs on Mac. Syncthing runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker.
Can I use Syncthing for free?
Yes. Syncthing 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 Syncthing is typically brought in for.
What can Hazel do that Syncthing cannot?
Hazel covers Folder watching, Conditional actions, Content-based matching, Duplicate detection. Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync, Encrypted transport, File versioning, Selective sync.

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.

Syncthing: Is Syncthing free?

Yes, open source with no licence fee and no storage costs, because there is no server.

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.

Syncthing: Is Syncthing a backup tool?

No. It synchronises, so deletions propagate. Use it alongside a real backup, not instead of one.

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.

Syncthing: Do my files pass through anyone else’s servers?

No. Transfers are peer to peer and encrypted. Discovery and relay servers can help devices find each other, and relayed traffic remains encrypted end to end.

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