NameChanger reshapes the name you already have.
NameQuick reads the file to write one.
NameChanger is the free, live-preview tool for regex, sequence, replace and date tokens on names you already have. NameQuick is the app that renames files based on their content, for Mac and Windows. This comparison is a first-party source audit, not an installer test.
NameQuick Self-Managed includes 50 renames with no card. Managed (Mac and Windows) is a 14-day checkout trial with 250 renames. NameChanger is freeware for personal, commercial, non-profit and educational use.
NameQuick
AI reads your files and names them
NameChanger
Free deterministic batch renaming for Mac
NameChanger wins when the job is a known transform on names you already have: replace, wildcard, append, sequence, regex, case, date tokens or a Finder Services handoff, all free. Its current build is 3.4.4 from 4 October 2022. First-party docs call it Universal for current macOS. NameQuick wins when the name has to come from document text, a scan, a screenshot or a photo, when Windows is required, or when new files should be named as they arrive.
Choose NameQuick- when the useful name is inside the file, or files keep arriving.
- Choose NameChanger
- when you already know the transform and want a free Mac tool with live preview.
- Or use both
- Use NameQuick to discover a descriptive base name, then NameChanger for a free case, sequence or replace pass. A native integration is not documented as of 22 August 2026.
At a glance
How they compare
| Feature | NameQuick | NameChanger |
|---|---|---|
| Determine a name from content | Reads document text, runs OCR on-device for scans and screenshots, uses AI vision for photos, and reads media metadata. 30+ formats on Mac. | Document-body extraction, OCR, scan reading, AI/LLM or vision naming are not documented on mrrsoftware.com as of 22 August 2026. |
| Exact filename transforms | Templates and rules format content-derived names with fields, conditions and fallbacks. | First-party How To lists replace first/last/all, wildcard, append, prepend, date, sequence, character removal, regular expression, change case, and (in 3.4) insert characters. Live preview updates as you type. |
| Dates and photos | Uses media metadata alongside semantic recognition of what a photo depicts. | 3.0 notes document EXIF dates with subseconds, custom date formats, and an Image Browser for visual naming and reordering. Semantic photo naming is not documented. |
| Review before applying | Preview with supporting evidence, History and undo. Original timestamps are preserved on Mac. | Live Renamed Filename column as you type. Automatic rename history is a log (original / new / errors). Undo / revert is not present in the 3.4.4 in-app help. Timestamp preservation is not documented. |
| Recurring automation | Watch Folders process new files automatically on Mac and Windows. | Finder Services lets you right-click files and choose Rename with NameChanger. 3.3 adds a recursive option for adding every file in a directory. Native folder watching is not documented as of 22 August 2026. |
| Beyond naming | Mac rules can move, tag, color-label, comment, adjust dates, archive and trash files. | Official materials describe renaming only. Move, tag, color-label, archive and Trash actions are not documented. |
| Processing and privacy | Local model on Mac, your own cloud key, or EU-routed Managed. OCR always stays on the Mac. | NameChanger is a local Mac app. The only documented network feature is Sparkle update checks. No public privacy policy page was found. |
| Windows | Windows Managed Edition is available now (x64 and ARM64). | No Windows build is documented. |
Choose NameQuick when…
- You are a bookkeeper or ops person with a scanner inbox, and the filename has to come from the invoice or receipt.
- New files should be renamed as they arrive on Mac or Windows.
- The Mac workflow should continue from naming into moving, tagging, labeling, commenting, date adjustment, archiving or trashing.
Choose NameChanger when…
- You are a photographer numbering a shoot and the Image Browser plus sequence is enough ($0).
- You already know the regex, replace or case rule and want live preview on a Mac older than 15.4.
- You want unlimited installs under the freeware EULA, not a one-device $69 license.
Two stages: discover the name, then standardize it
Use NameQuick to derive a descriptive base name from the file, then NameChanger for a free case, sequence or replace pass.
IMG_4821.jpg2026-03-10_Starbucks_Receipt.jpgNameChanger can still apply a sequence or case rule. It will not read the receipt.Screenshot 2026-01-14 at 9.14.22 AM.png2026-01-14_Checkout-Error.pngNameChanger can strip the default screenshot prefix or number the batch. It will not name the error on the screen.A native integration between the two applications is not documented as of 22 August 2026.
Common questions
NameChanger facts and primary sources
This is a first-party source audit (site, EULA, Sparkle appcast, and the official 3.4.4 zip’s Info.plist and in-app help), not a runtime test of every control. Not documented: privacy policy page, undo/revert in 3.4.4 help, timestamp preservation, watch folders, Windows, content/OCR/AI, file actions beyond rename, AppleScript/Shortcuts. The advertised minimum OS is 10.13+ and Universal; the 3.4.4 Info.plist still lists 10.9. That conflict is noted here, not treated as settled. Do not confuse this with Mac App Store “Name Changer” by Lucas Raggers.
Try NameQuick on your messiest folder. 50 renames, no credit card.