Mac file organizer comparison
Sorty vs Hazel, Folder Tidy, and Sparkle
See how four Mac organizers handle the decisions that matter: how they sort, what you can review, where AI runs, and how easily changes can be undone. Every comparison is grounded in the products’ official documentation.
Why Sorty stands out
Among these four apps, Sorty uniquely combines an AI-generated semantic plan, review before apply, local and cloud model choice, and complete GPL-licensed source code. Hazel is stronger for intricate fixed rules, Folder Tidy for a focused rule-based tidy, and Sparkle for automatic cleanup and deduplication.
Feature comparison
The workflow differences that matter
Scroll sideways on smaller screens. Sorty is highlighted in blue.
| Capability |  SortyReview-first AI |  Hazel |  Folder Tidy |  Sparkle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How files are classifiedWhether organization comes from semantic AI or rules you define in advance. | AI proposes folders from names, metadata, context, and optional Deep Scan. | User-authored conditions inspect names, dates, contents, metadata, and more. | 22 built-in rules plus custom predicate rules. | AI uses file names, types, and supported content to build an adaptive folder structure. |
| Review before files moveWhether the app presents the complete proposed organization before applying it. | Yes. Review, edit, or reject every proposed move before Apply. | Preview a rule against an item or inspect rule status; not a full move plan. | Configure rules and destinations before a tidy; no item-by-item move plan is documented. | You approve the folder structure, then Sparkle automatically sorts new files after a Recents delay. |
| AI processing choiceWhere AI analysis runs and whether cloud providers are optional. | Choose local Ollama or supported Apple models, or a cloud provider. | No AI provider required; rules run on the Mac. | No AI provider required; predicates run on the Mac. | Sparkle documents encrypted processing and zero content retention, but does not describe a local-model option. |
| Undo and recoveryHow the app helps reverse organization changes. | Organization History records applied runs and supports rollback. | Revert supported changes per file; some actions cannot be reverted. | Immediate and later undo restore files and the original structure. | Movement logs show where files went, and Revert restores files to their previous locations. |
| Open sourceWhether the complete app source is publicly available under an open-source license. | Yes. Full source is public under GNU GPL v3. | Commercial app; no public source repository is offered. | Commercial app distributed under an end-user license. | Commercial app; no public source repository is linked from the official site. |
Decision guide
Which Mac file organizer should you choose?
There is no honest universal winner. Choose the workflow that matches how much automation and review you want.
Choose Sorty for review-first AI organization
Sorty is the strongest fit when you want folders proposed by meaning, a complete plan before anything moves, local or cloud AI choice, and open-source code.
Choose Hazel for deep deterministic automation
Hazel is a strong fit when you already know the exact conditions and actions you want, and those rules should run continuously.
Choose Folder Tidy for focused rule-based cleanup
Folder Tidy suits on-demand tidying with built-in categories, custom predicates, a chosen destination, and historical undo.
Choose Sparkle for automatic AI cleanup
Sparkle suits people who want always-on folder organization, deduplication, storage cleanup, and a reversible workflow after setup.
See the review-first workflow yourself
Sorty is free, open source, and available for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs running macOS 15 or later.