Hazel alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Hazel: mac only, and building reliable rules takes some testing. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Hazel, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Keyboard Maestro currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Hammerspoon	Open source	Yes	macOS	4 of 4	62.6
2	Alfred	Free plan + paid	No	macOS	4 of 4	50.3

1. HammerspoonTop pick
Best for: Developers who want to script their own Mac utilities instead of buying several
Open sourcemacOS
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Hazel
Free, scriptable folder watchers for people who write Lua.
Pros
Can replace many small utilities with code
Broad APIs across windows, input, network and devices
Spoons provide ready-made modules
Free and open source
Cons
Requires writing Lua
No graphical editor for automations
Debugging configs can be fiddly
Visit Hammerspoon Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Hammerspoon a good Hazel alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Scripting language
Lua
Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
Default behaviour
Does nothing until configured
Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
Plugins
Spoons
Checked Oct 25, 2026hammerspoon.org(opens source in a new tab)
2. Alfred
Best for: Mac users who want a powerful, local launcher with workflows and no subscription
Free plan + paidmacOS
50.3
score / 100
Why switch from Hazel
Manual but fast keyboard file actions if you prefer to file things yourself.
Pros
One-off Powerpack licence instead of a subscription
Visual workflow editor with thousands of community workflows
Fast, stable and keeps everything on your Mac
Cons
Clipboard history and workflows need the paid Powerpack
Mac only
Major versions are paid upgrades unless you buy the lifetime licence
Visit Alfred Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.346
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Alfred a good Hazel alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Powerpack price
£34 (single licence)
Checked Oct 25, 2026alfredapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
Lifetime licence
£59 with free lifetime upgrades
Checked Oct 25, 2026alfredapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
Clipboard history
Powerpack feature
Checked Oct 25, 2026alfredapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
Developer
Running with Crayons Ltd
Checked Oct 25, 2026alfredapp.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Hazel alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Hazel alternative for most people

Keyboard Maestro

Can also react to folder changes, plus automate apps and text.

Best Hazel alternative for a free option

Hammerspoon

Free, scriptable folder watchers for people who write Lua.

Best Hazel alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Alfred

Manual but fast keyboard file actions if you prefer to file things yourself.

Best Hazel alternative for open source

Hammerspoon

Free, scriptable folder watchers for people who write Lua.

Best Hazel alternative for Mac

Keyboard Maestro

Can also react to folder changes, plus automate apps and text.

Hazel alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Hazel?

Keyboard Maestro ranks first right now. Can also react to folder changes, plus automate apps and text. Hammerspoon and Alfred follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Hazel?

Yes. Hammerspoon (open source) and Alfred (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Hazel?

Yes: Hammerspoon.

Why do people switch from Hazel?

The complaints we hear most: mac only; building reliable rules takes some testing; major versions are paid upgrades.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Hazel, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.