Hazel - AI Tools Nav

What it is for

Hazel is a macOS folder-automation desk: you watch Downloads, match Newly Added Items when Date Added is after Date Last Matched, set a color label, and Hazel 6 is US$42 once. Use it when the job is a folder rule you start at a public $, not when you need Keyboard Maestro’s US$36 macro chain.

Soft-note: Hazel 6 US$42 one-time; Family Pack US$65 (up to 5 household Macs); Upgrade US$20 (free if Hazel 5 was bought on/after 1 January 2024). Distinct from Alfred, Raycast, and Keyboard Maestro.

What makes it unique: the cover is Noodlesoft’s official Rules editor (Folders Downloads, Rules Newly Added Items / Old Items / Movies / Music / Pictures / itunes sample, Name Newly Added Items, Date Added is after Date Last Matched, Set color label, Continue matching rules) from noodlesoft.com/kb/wp-content/uploads/main.png — not a wordmark. The Newly Added Items row itself is ops of the rule.

Key features

Rules editor — name + conditions + actions on one desk (cover still; product). One desk. Cover Newly Added Items sits here.
Folder watcher — Downloads (and any folder you add) on the cover (cover). A folder, not a Hazel 6 tile.
Conditions — Date Added is after Date Last Matched (cover; store). A condition, not a US$42 meter.
Actions — Set color label on the cover (cover). An action, not Purchase.
Continue matching rules — later rules still run (cover). A chain, not Enterprise.
Sample rule set — Old Items / Movies / Music / Pictures / itunes sample (cover). A library, not SSO.

Download / Buy are CTAs (not desks). US$42 / US$65 / US$20 stay in Pricing. There is no AI extra to drop.

Who it's for

Best fit: Mac users on macOS 13+ who will run the trial while they file a first Downloads rule — then Hazel 6 at US$42 once (or Family Pack US$65 for ≤5 household Macs), not Keyboard Maestro US$36 first unless they want a general macro suite, and not if they need Windows / a GUI that is not a folder watcher.

Pricing

Verified 2026-10-23 (Asia/Shanghai) from store.noodlesoft.com/store (Hazel 6 $42; Family Pack $65; Upgrade $20) plus noodlesoft.com and the store FAQ (upgrade is free when Hazel 5 was purchased on/after 1 January 2024; not a subscription). Soft-note: taxes may apply.

Hazel 6 — US$42 one-time. Current major. Not a subscription.
Family Pack — US$65 one-time. Up to 5 Macs in one household.
Upgrade to 6 — US$20. Free if Hazel 5 was bought on/after 1 January 2024.
Trial — listed on noodlesoft.com. Do not invent a trial-day count the storefront does not print.
macOS 13+. Intel and Apple Silicon.

Limitations / costs

Alternatives

Alfred — a launcher + workflows when you want Free £0 / Powerpack £34, not a Downloads folder rule.
Raycast — a launcher + File Search when you want Free $0 / Pro $10, not Hazel’s condition/action editor.
Keyboard Maestro — a macro desk when you want US$36 Type ⌘C / Activate / Type ⌘V, not a folder watcher.

Official tutorial

We searched @Noodlesoft (200 — the uploads we could open are ski clips such as pVjgHfpGBrs, not a Hazel how-to), @noodlesoft (same), @HazelMac (200 — turtles, not this app), @Hazel (unrelated), and @NoodleSoft. noodlesoft.com has no product YouTube embed we could oEmbed as first-party Hazel. No official product how-to to embed. Written path: noodlesoft.com plus store and the in-app Help.

Website

https://www.noodlesoft.com/

Source

Catalog row curated for AI Tools Nav. Cover is Noodlesoft’s official Rules editor still (Downloads / Newly Added Items / Date Added is after Date Last Matched / Set color label) from noodlesoft.com/kb/wp-content/uploads/main.png. Dollars checked on store.noodlesoft.com/store (Hazel 6 US$42; Family Pack US$65; Upgrade US$20; free Hazel 5→6 if bought on/after 1 January 2024). No invented GitHub. No official YouTube how-to.

Last verified

2026-10-23 (Asia/Shanghai) editorial check.