Comparison
OCDify vs Hazel: The AI-First Hazel Alternative
Hazel has been the gold standard for Mac file automation for nearly two decades. OCDify takes a different approach: instead of writing rules, you let an on-device AI model figure out where files belong. Here's an honest side-by-side.
TL;DR
- Choose OCDify if you want "set it and forget it" file organization for your Downloads and Desktop without writing rules, with a one-time purchase and full offline AI privacy.
- Choose Hazel if you have complex deterministic workflows (auto-tagging, shell scripts, multi-step file processing) and don't mind investing time in rule design.
- The two tools solve overlapping problems with very different philosophies — and they can coexist.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Dimension | OCDify | Hazel | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| How files are sorted | On-device AI reads the file content and name, then picks the right category automatically. | You write rules with conditions (filename contains X, date older than Y, kind is Z). Each rule needs manual maintenance. | O |
| Setup time | ~3 minutes: install, pick folders, list category names. | Significant — rule sets are powerful but require time to write and tune to your file patterns. | O |
| Privacy / data handling | 100% offline AI model. Files and metadata never leave your Mac. No analytics in-app. | Local processing too — files don't leave your Mac. (Both are local-first.) | = |
| Pricing model | One-time purchase, lifetime license, all future updates free. | One-time purchase per major version, with paid upgrades for new major releases. | O |
| Customization depth | Custom category names. AI handles routing — limited to file-into-folder organization. | Very deep. Can rename, tag, run shell scripts, sort by metadata, chain actions. | H |
| Learning curve | Near-zero. If you can name folders, you can use it. | Moderate. Rule logic is intuitive for power users, intimidating for everyone else. | O |
| Best for | People who want their Downloads and Desktop folders organised without thinking about it. | Power users with complex, deterministic file-handling workflows (e.g., "every PDF tagged 'invoice' moves to a year/month folder and runs a script"). | = |
| Free trial | 30-day fully functional free trial. No credit card. | Trial available. | = |
O = OCDify edge · H = Hazel edge · = tied
The fundamental difference: rules vs. understanding
Hazel's mental model is "if this, then that." You tell it: when a file lands in Downloads, if the name contains "Invoice" and the kind is PDF, move it to ~/Documents/Invoices. It works perfectly — for files that match the rule. For everything else, you need another rule. Real-world Hazel users accumulate dozens of rules over time.
OCDify's mental model is "just figure it out." You give it folder names — "Invoices," "Receipts," "Contracts," "Screenshots" — and an on-device AI model reads each new file and picks the right one. There's no rule to break when a vendor changes their invoice naming convention, because there was never a rule.
Neither approach is universally better. Rules are predictable and powerful for complex workflows. AI is forgiving and low-maintenance for the messy reality of how files actually accumulate.
Which one is right for you?
Pick OCDify if...
- ✓You want your Downloads folder organised without thinking about it
- ✓You don't enjoy writing or maintaining rules
- ✓Privacy matters and you want zero cloud uploads
- ✓You'd rather pay once than re-buy on every major version
- ✓Your file patterns vary — vendor names, naming conventions, languages
- ✓You're not a power user but want power-user results
Stick with Hazel if...
- ✓You have complex deterministic workflows already built
- ✓You need to run shell scripts as part of file processing
- ✓You need tag-based organization, not folder-based
- ✓You need to rename files based on metadata patterns
- ✓You want chained multi-step actions on file events
- ✓You enjoy crafting rules and tuning automation
Hazel is a great tool — it's been refined for nearly 20 years for good reason.
Can I use both?
Yes. They watch different folders or play different roles. A common setup: OCDify handles the messy general-purpose folders (Downloads, Desktop, "stuff I'll sort later"), while Hazel runs your high-precision automation (invoice processing, screenshot renaming, project file tagging). They don't conflict.
Try the AI-first approach for free
OCDify is a 30-day free trial. Best installed via the Mac App Store for auto-updates and Family Sharing — same trial, same lifetime license.
Recommended · Auto-updates · Family Sharing