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Utilities · head to head

Hazel vs WizTree

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
WizTree logo

WizTree

Utilities

Windows disk space analyser that reads the NTFS master file table, scanning a drive in seconds

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only WizTree 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.; WizTree it is free for personal use only, so deploying it across company machines without licences is a compliance problem rather than a saving.
  • They diverge on capability: Hazel covers Folder watching, WizTree covers Master file table scanning.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hazel and WizTree actually diverge.

Attributes where Hazel and WizTree differ
AttributeHazelWizTree
Starting price$42/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchasequote
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMacWindows

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 WizTree

  • Master file table scanning
  • File list view
  • Treemap
  • Hard link handling
  • Portable version
  • File deletion and export

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

WizTree

  • Clearing a full system drive quickly when someone is waiting and a multi-minute scan is unacceptablenot Hazel
  • Finding large files across a whole volume without knowing which folder to look innot Hazel
  • Repeated checks on a machine where disk space fills unpredictablynot Hazel
  • Support work where the scan must finish while you are still on the callnot 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.

WizTree

  • It is free for personal use only, so deploying it across company machines without licences is a compliance problem rather than a saving.
  • The speed advantage exists only on local NTFS volumes; network shares, exFAT, FAT32 and ReFS fall back to ordinary directory scanning and lose the advantage entirely.
  • Reading the master file table requires administrator rights, so it cannot be used by standard users on managed machines without an elevation policy.
  • It is Windows only, with no macOS or Linux build, so a mixed estate needs a second tool anyway.
  • It analyses one machine at a time with no scheduling or central reporting, so it is a diagnostic tool rather than a way to manage storage across an organisation.

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

WizTree

Free
  • WizTree FreeFree
    • Full scanning and treemap features
    • Personal, non-commercial use only
    • No feature limitations for home users
  • WizTree Professional and Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Licence required for any business use
    • Per-user and site licensing tiers
    • Commercial deployment rights

Which should you pick?

Choose Hazel if

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

Choose WizTree if

  • You need master file table scanning.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want file list view.
WizTree review

Questions people ask

Is Hazel or WizTree better?
Neither clearly leads. Hazel starts at $42/one-time and WizTree at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hazel or WizTree?
WizTree has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $42/one-time for Hazel and Free for WizTree.
Does Hazel or WizTree run on more platforms?
Hazel runs on Mac. WizTree runs on Windows.
Can I use WizTree for free?
Yes. WizTree 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 WizTree is typically brought in for.
What can Hazel do that WizTree cannot?
Hazel covers Folder watching, Conditional actions, Content-based matching, Duplicate detection. WizTree covers Master file table scanning, File list view, Treemap, Hard link handling.

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.

WizTree: Why is it so much faster than other analysers?

It reads the NTFS master file table, the index the filesystem already maintains, instead of walking directories. It is one read of a structure rather than thousands of folder operations.

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.

WizTree: Can I use the free version at work?

No. The free build is licensed for personal use only, and business use requires a paid licence. WinDirStat and TreeSize Free are the no-cost options that allow commercial use.

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.

WizTree: Is it fast on network drives?

No. Master file table access needs local NTFS. Over a network share it scans conventionally and is no faster than the alternatives.

WizTree: Does it need administrator rights?

Yes, for master file table access. Without elevation it either cannot scan or falls back to the slow method.

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