Hazel alternatives: 4 open-source picks
These 4 Hazel alternatives replace it for $0, led by Forel, Stirling PDF and Flameshot. All 4 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Hazel's folder rules, previews, history, and Finder tags, fresh enough that the paint is still wet.
Web app with 50+ PDF operations — merge, split, sign, OCR, redact — all processed locally on your server.
licenseMIT
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Powerful cross-platform screenshot tool with annotations and pin-to-screen.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
AirDrop for every device — share files across platforms in the browser, peer-to-peer.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: Stirling PDF · Flameshot · PairDrop
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
how to choose a Hazel alternative
Easiest to get running
Forel — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
Stirling PDF, with 60,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 4, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
what you give up by leaving Hazel
- mature filesystem automation, rule depth, Apple integrations, and reliability
- years of OS-version edge cases
- large extension ecosystem
- cross-device sync
- commercial support and rapid compatibility fixes
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Hazel alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forel | open source | one-click install | macos | 275 | 2026-07 |
| Stirling PDF | MIT | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 60,000 | 2026-08 |
| Flameshot | GPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 27,000 | 2026-08 |
| PairDrop | GPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 6,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Hazel
People still pay for Hazel because small utilities are technically reproducible, but customers pay for polish and immediate fixes when an OS update breaks a daily habit. The recurring cost buys permissions, accessibility APIs, sandboxing, signing, notarization, OS regressions, updates, backups, and support, not just the visible interface.
questions about switching from Hazel
Is there an open-source alternative to Hazel?
Yes: Forel, Stirling PDF, Flameshot and 1 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Hazel?
Our verdict is KINDA. Forel and Stirling PDF cover the core of Hazel, but they're early or partial — expect gaps like mature filesystem automation, rule depth, Apple integrations, and reliability and years of OS-version edge cases. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/hazel.
What is the easiest open-source Hazel alternative to set up?
Forel — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source Hazel alternative?
By GitHub stars, Stirling PDF (60,000). Flameshot is next with 27,000.
