Bulk Rename Utility alternatives for Windows and Mac
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The realistic alternatives to Bulk Rename Utility are PowerRename, ReNamer, Advanced Renamer and Mass Rename. They split on one question: does a rule transform the old name, or does a list already say what each file should be called? Bulk Rename Utility and the first three are rule engines for Windows; Mass Rename takes the list itself, as a CSV, XLSX or TSV, and runs in a browser tab on any platform.
- PowerRename — best free alternative for a find-and-replace sweep, if you already have PowerToys.
- ReNamer — best when the rename is a chain of rules, with Pascal scripting for the rest.
- Advanced Renamer — best when the new name comes from metadata: EXIF dates, timestamps, counters.
- Mass Rename — best when the old and new names already exist in a spreadsheet, and you want macOS support.
| Mass Rename | Bulk Rename Utility | ReNamer | Advanced Renamer | PowerRename | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | A browser tab on macOS, Windows or Linux | Windows desktop | Windows desktop | Windows desktop | Windows, part of Microsoft PowerToys |
| What drives the rename | A CSV, XLSX or TSV table of old and new names | Rules and patterns | A chain of rules, with scripting | Rename methods and metadata fields | Search and replace, with regular expressions |
| Preview before applying | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Files leave your machine | No | No | No | No | No |
| Price | Free for 50 files per batch; $19 one-time for the rest | Free | Free version, paid Pro edition | Free for personal use, paid commercial licence | Free |
PowerRename (the closest free alternative)
PowerRename is part of Microsoft PowerToys and appears in the Windows Explorer context menu. It does search and replace, with regular expressions and a preview, and it is excellent for a global text change across a selection. If what you use Bulk Rename Utility for is finding and replacing part of a name, this is the smallest switch: no separate install, and the preview is right there in the dialog.
It is not a lookup tool. It cannot give each file a different name from a two-column table, so it stops where a name list begins.
ReNamer
ReNamer is a Windows renamer built around a chain of rules, with Pascal scripting for cases the rules do not cover, and it is available as a portable executable. It is a good fit for repeatable, rule-shaped jobs, and the free version covers most personal use.
Mass Rename does not try to match its rule language; it handles the lookup-shaped job: hundreds of rows of old and new names, a preview of what matched, and a report of what did not.
Advanced Renamer
Advanced Renamer offers many rename methods, including metadata and timestamp fields, and is aimed at large batches. It is strong when the new name should be derived from the file — its EXIF date, its extension, a counter — rather than looked up. Mass Rename also has a date-taken mode, but its main input is still the table.
Bulk Rename Utility
Bulk Rename Utility is a long-standing free Windows utility with a dense, tabbed interface and a live preview. Its strength is control: filters, replacements, numbering, timestamps and case changes can be combined and applied to a whole folder at once. That control is also the trade-off. If the new names come from a spreadsheet — SKUs, invoice numbers, names a client already approved — you have to translate the list into rules or retype it.
When Bulk Rename Utility is still the right choice
- You do not have a list; the new name is a transformation of the old one.
- You need regular expressions, scripting or a long chain of conditional rules.
- You want Explorer integration on Windows, or a portable executable.
- You are deriving names from metadata or timestamps rather than looking them up.
- You are on Windows only and want one free tool that covers every rename shape.
When Mass Rename is the better fit
- The old and new names already exist in a spreadsheet, a CSV export or a client email.
- You work on macOS, Windows and Linux, or cannot install desktop software.
- The files are sensitive and must not be uploaded to a service.
- You want a per-row report of what was renamed, skipped or left unmatched.
The CSV guide shows the two-column format, and the PowerShell, Python and bash guides cover the script route for the same job.
About the name
Mass Rename at massrename.com is an independent product. Other software and directory entries may use a similar name; this page describes only the tool at massrename.com and does not claim to be any third-party listing. It is unrelated to the video-editing extension that also uses the name "MassRename".
Questions about choosing a bulk renamer
What is the best alternative to Bulk Rename Utility?
It depends on what drives the rename. For search-and-replace work, PowerRename ships with the free PowerToys and runs from the Explorer context menu. For a name list you already have, Mass Rename takes the CSV or XLSX directly and runs in a browser tab. For chained rules with scripting, ReNamer and Advanced Renamer are the closer match.
Is Mass Rename a replacement for Bulk Rename Utility?
Only for one job: renaming a batch from a name list you already have. Bulk Rename Utility is a rules engine for Windows with far more rename options, and it is the better tool when you want to transform names rather than apply a list.
Is there a Bulk Rename Utility alternative for Mac?
Bulk Rename Utility, ReNamer, Advanced Renamer and PowerRename are Windows programs. Mass Rename runs in any modern browser on macOS, Windows and Linux, and macOS also has Finder's built-in batch rename, which covers counters, text replacement and dates.
Can Mass Rename do search and replace or regular expressions?
Not directly. It maps each old name to a new name, so you build the new names in the spreadsheet, with formulas if you like. If the transformation is easier to express as a regex than as a list, a rule-based tool is the better fit.
Do these desktop tools upload my files?
No. Bulk Rename Utility, ReNamer, Advanced Renamer and PowerRename work locally on your PC, just as Mass Rename works locally in your browser. The difference is where they run and what drives the rename, not whether your files leave the machine.
When is a rule-based desktop renamer the better choice?
When the new name is a transformation of the old one: add a prefix, replace a string, number the files, insert a date or EXIF field. Those tools are built for that and offer more controls than a two-column mapping table.
How much does Mass Rename cost?
The free tier covers 50 files per batch with every feature. A $19 one-time licence removes the limit, with a 30-day refund and no subscription.
Does Mass Rename keep the file extension?
Yes. The extension comes from the file on disk, not from the spreadsheet, so a renamed file still opens in the right program.