Sparkle

Sparkle is an AI-powered file organizer exclusively for Mac that automatically sorts and manages files using OpenAI's GPT-4, GPT-4o-mini, and Google Gemini Flash to analyze filenames and create custom organizational systems. When you install Sparkle, you select which folders to manage—Desktop, Downloads, Documents, or any custom folder—and Sparkle creates a three-tier organizational structure: Recents (temporary holding area where new files stay for three days), Manual Library (protected space for pre-existing folders and manual management), and AI Library (automated zone where AI creates custom subfolders and organizes loose files automatically). The entire process happens automatically in the background—you simply continue saving files normally, and Sparkle handles organization without any manual intervention. Sparkle never opens, reads, or downloads your files, using only filenames to determine categorization, ensuring complete privacy. Developed by Every Studio and launched in August 2024, Sparkle has organized over 10 million files for more than 10,000 users.

Sparkle is exclusively for Mac and currently has no Windows version. The application requires macOS 11.0 or later and works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3 chips). According to discussions from Sparkle's development team, a Windows version is "unlikely to be released anytime soon"—the developers have focused on building a native macOS experience optimized for Apple's ecosystem. If you need similar AI-powered file organization on Windows, consider alternatives: Sortio ($12.99 one-time, supports both Mac and Windows), File Juggler (~$50, Windows-only with rule-based automation), or Organize (free, open-source, cross-platform command-line tool). Windows users seeking automated file organization should explore these alternatives, as Sparkle's Mac-only limitation is a fundamental design decision unlikely to change.

Sparkle offers multiple pricing options as of November 2025. Free Trial: 15 days (recently extended from 7 days)—no credit card required to start. Standalone Pricing: Monthly $10/month, Yearly $99/year (saves $21 compared to monthly billing), Lifetime $179 one-time payment (use forever with all future updates). Every Bundle (Best Value): $20/month includes Sparkle (AI file organization), Lex (AI-powered writing assistant), Spiral (content automation tool), Cora (email management), All Every daily writing and research content, and Exclusive discounts on courses like "How to Write With AI." The Every bundle represents exceptional value—individually, these tools would cost $65+ per month, but subscribers get everything for just $20/month. Special Offers: Six Colors readers can use code SIXCOLORS for 20% off the lifetime plan. No Refunds: Sparkle follows Every's standard subscription policy—once your billing cycle starts, payments are non-refundable. However, if you cancel during the 15-day free trial, you won't be charged at all.

Sparkle and Hazel represent fundamentally different approaches to file automation. Automation Philosophy: Sparkle offers zero-configuration AI automation—install, select folders, and it works immediately with AI making all organizational decisions automatically. Hazel uses rule-based automation requiring upfront configuration where you define conditions (filename, date, content, type) and actions (move, rename, tag, archive). Content Analysis: Sparkle analyzes only filenames—never opens or reads file contents. Hazel reads full file contents, including text inside PDFs, Word documents, Excel files, and even images via OCR (added in version 6), and can extract specific data like invoice numbers, account details, dates, and client names from within documents. Pricing: Sparkle costs $10-20/month subscription or $99/year or $179 lifetime. Hazel costs $42 one-time payment (new users), $20 upgrade from previous versions, no subscription required. Customization Level: Sparkle offers low customization—AI makes all decisions automatically, you cannot create custom rules or override AI logic. Hazel provides unlimited customization—create as many rules as needed with complex conditions, nested logic, custom AppleScript, and Automator integration. Advanced Features: Sparkle includes built-in duplicate detection, cloud storage integration (Dropbox, Drive, Box, iCloud), three-tier organization system, pause/resume controls. Hazel offers OCR for non-OCRed PDFs/images, password-protected PDF reading, App Sweep (removes leftover files from uninstalled apps), trash management, custom list attributes, complex condition chaining. Best For: Choose Sparkle for Mac users who want instant, effortless automation without learning curves—ideal for creatives, freelancers, busy professionals who hate manual filing. Choose Hazel for power users, developers, accountants, lawyers, and professionals needing precise control over file workflows with content-based processing. Practical Example organizing bank statements: With Sparkle, drop "Statement_Nov2025.pdf" in Downloads, after 3 days AI moves it to AI Library > Financial Documents (folder created automatically). With Hazel, create rule: "If name contains 'Statement' AND source URL contains 'mybank.com' AND file type is PDF, then rename to '[date added YYYY-MM] Bank Statement [extension]' and move to Finance Archive > [date added YYYY] subfolder"—more work initially, but perfect accuracy forever. Verdict: If you want "set and forget" convenience and don't need content-based sorting, choose Sparkle. If you need granular control, content extraction, and one-time payment, choose Hazel.

Yes, Sparkle is safe and maintains strong privacy protections. What Sparkle Does NOT Do: Never opens your files—Sparkle doesn't read, access, or download any file contents. Never stores file contents—only filenames are transmitted, never the actual files. Never sells your data—Every Studio has a strict no-selling policy. Never shares with third parties—files remain on your device only. What Sparkle DOES Do: Analyzes filenames only—Sparkle sends only filenames to Every's servers, which then use OpenAI's API to determine appropriate categories. Automatic 30-day deletion—all filename data is automatically deleted from Every's servers after 30 days. Local file processing—your actual files never leave your Mac. Encrypted transmission—filename data is transmitted securely to AI servers. System Permissions Required: Sparkle requires "Full Disk Access" permission to organize files across your Mac—this is standard for file management apps on macOS. You can revoke these permissions at any time through System Preferences > Security & Privacy. Security: Runs locally on Mac with no unnecessary network access beyond AI categorization. Compatible with macOS security features. No known security vulnerabilities reported as of November 2025. Comparison to Alternatives: Hazel and File Juggler process everything 100% locally with zero cloud transmission, making them more private. However, Sparkle's filename-only approach is reasonable for most users who don't work with highly sensitive documents requiring complete air-gapped security. Verdict: Sparkle is safe for typical personal and professional use. If you handle classified documents, medical records, or legal files requiring absolute privacy, consider fully local alternatives like Hazel.

Yes, Sparkle fully supports cloud storage integration and works seamlessly with Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, iCloud Drive, and any cloud provider with a local sync folder. How It Works: Cloud storage services create local folders on your Mac that automatically sync with the cloud. Sparkle can organize these local folders just like any other folder on your system. Setup Process: Install your cloud provider's desktop sync app (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), ensure the cloud folder syncs locally to your Mac, in Sparkle select the synced cloud folder for organization, and Sparkle organizes the local files which automatically sync to the cloud. External Drive Support: Sparkle also works with external hard drives—connect the drive, select folders to organize, and Sparkle maintains structure across both internal and external storage. Limitations: Cloud folders must be synced locally—Sparkle cannot organize files stored only in the cloud without local copies. Large cloud libraries may take longer for initial organization depending on sync speed. Moving files within cloud folders may trigger re-uploads depending on your cloud provider's sync logic. Best Practice: Let your cloud provider finish syncing before enabling Sparkle organization to avoid conflicts during initial setup.

No, Sparkle is designed to be lightweight and has minimal impact on system performance. Resource Usage: CPU usage is minimal with background processing—Sparkle processes filenames in small batches rather than all at once. RAM: Approximately 100-150 MB while running, negligible for modern Macs. Disk I/O: Low impact since Sparkle moves files locally without copying or duplicating. Network: Occasional brief connections to send filenames to AI servers for categorization. System Requirements—Minimum: macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later, Intel or Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) processor, 4 GB RAM, 600 MB free storage space. Recommended: macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later, 8 GB RAM or more, SSD for faster file operations. Performance on Older Macs: Sparkle runs efficiently even on older Mac hardware—users report smooth operation on 2020 M1 MacBook Air, 2017-2019 Intel MacBooks with 8GB RAM, and Mac minis from 2020 onward. Comparison to Alternatives: Hazel runs continuously in the background monitoring folders and can use slightly more resources during active rule processing, especially with complex content-based rules. Sparkle's AI-based approach is actually more efficient since it doesn't constantly scan file contents. Verdict: Sparkle won't slow down your Mac noticeably. Most users report zero performance impact even on older hardware.

Customization is limited compared to rule-based tools, which is both Sparkle's strength (simplicity) and weakness (lack of control). What You CAN Control: Folder Selection—choose exactly which folders Sparkle manages (Desktop, Downloads, Documents, or any custom folder). Manual Library—move files into the Manual Library to exclude them from AI organization permanently. Pause/Resume—pause organization temporarily and resume when needed (added November 2024). File Revert—move files back to the top-level folder, and Sparkle remembers not to organize them again. Frequency Control—adjust how often Sparkle checks for new files to organize. What You CANNOT Control: AI Categories—you cannot define custom categories or folders; the AI creates them automatically based on detected file patterns. Sorting Rules—no ability to create "if-then" rules like "if filename contains 'invoice' move to Finance folder." Override Logic—you cannot tell Sparkle "always organize PDF receipts this specific way." Custom Naming—Sparkle doesn't rename files, only organizes them into folders. Workarounds: Use meaningful filenames—since Sparkle relies on filenames, descriptive names ("2025-11-Invoice-ClientName.pdf" vs "document.pdf") improve accuracy. Manual Library for exceptions—move important project folders to Manual Library to preserve your existing structure. Combine with Hazel—some power users run both: Sparkle for general organization, Hazel for specific workflows requiring rules. Who This Works For—Ideal: Users who trust AI and want effortless organization without configuration. Not Ideal: Power users needing specific categorization logic, professionals with strict filing requirements (accountants, lawyers), or anyone who wants complete control over every organizational decision. Alternative: If you need full customization, choose Hazel ($42 one-time) for unlimited rule creation and precise control.

Sparkle preserves your existing folders while adding organization—it doesn't destroy what you've already built. Initial Setup Process: When you first enable Sparkle on a folder, Sparkle creates three new subfolders (Recents, Manual Library, and AI Library), existing folders move to Manual Library (all pre-existing folders and their contents automatically move into the Manual Library, preserving your current structure intact), loose files organize into AI Library (any loose files sitting at the root level get sorted by AI into appropriate AI Library subfolders), and going forward new files go to Recents for 3 days, then AI organizes them into AI Library. What Gets Organized vs. Preserved—Automatically Organized (moved to AI Library): Loose files at the root level without folders and new files added after Sparkle setup. Preserved in Manual Library: All pre-existing folders and their internal structures and any system folders or app-related folders Sparkle recognizes. App Data Protection: Sparkle is smart enough to avoid organizing folders that apps use to store data. For example, it won't touch folders used by Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, or development tools. If you're concerned about specific folders, move them to Manual Library during initial setup. Can I Undo Organization? Yes, multiple ways: File Revert—move any file back to the top-level folder, and Sparkle remembers to ignore it forever. Manual Library—drag folders from AI Library to Manual Library to stop AI from managing them. Pause Feature—temporarily pause Sparkle's organization without disabling it entirely. Uninstall—remove Sparkle completely, and your folders remain in their current state (Recents, Manual Library, AI Library folders stay but stop being managed). Best Practice: Start with one less-critical folder (like Downloads) to see how Sparkle organizes before enabling it on important folders like Documents.

No, Sparkle never deletes files—it only moves and organizes them. What Sparkle Does with Your Files: Moves files from one location to another (e.g., from Recents to AI Library subfolders), organizes by creating folder structures and sorts files into appropriate categories, and flags duplicates by identifying duplicate files but doesn't delete them without your explicit action. What Sparkle Does NOT Do: Never Deletes—Sparkle has no automatic deletion function. Never Modifies Contents—files remain exactly as they were; no content changes, no compression, no format conversion. Never Renames—filenames stay identical; only the folder location changes. Safety Measures: Manual Library Protection—files in Manual Library are never touched by AI. Revert Function—move files back to top-level, and Sparkle remembers to ignore them forever. Local Processing—everything happens on your Mac with no cloud uploads that could cause data loss. Accidental Deletion Prevention—User Error (not Sparkle's fault): If you accidentally delete a file from within Sparkle-organized folders, that's your manual action—check Mac Trash to recover. Use Time Machine or backups as protection against any accidental deletions. Sparkle Error: No reported cases of Sparkle deleting files as of November 2025. If files seem "missing," check AI Library subfolders—they've been organized, not deleted. Finding "Lost" Files: If you can't find a file after Sparkle organizes, search Spotlight (Mac's Spotlight search finds files regardless of Sparkle's organization), check AI Library (look in AI Library subfolders—Sparkle likely categorized it there), check Recents (new files less than 3 days old stay in Recents before being sorted), and check Manual Library (pre-existing folders moved here during initial setup). Verdict: Your files are completely safe. Sparkle organizes but never deletes.

Canceling Sparkle depends on whether you have a standalone subscription or the Every bundle. For Standalone Sparkle Subscription: Email Support by contacting sparkle@every.to with "Cancellation Request" in the subject line, include details (provide your name, email address, and account details), confirmation (you'll receive email confirmation of cancellation), and access continues (your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing cycle). For Every Bundle Subscription: Login (visit Every.to and log into your account), account settings (navigate to Account or Subscription Management), cancel button (click the cancellation option), and confirmation (complete the cancellation flow and save confirmation email). Important Cancellation Notes—Timing Matters: Cancel during the 15-day free trial → No charges at all. Cancel after billing starts → No refunds; subscription continues until period ends. Billing Cycle: Monthly subscribers—cancellation prevents next month's charge but current month is non-refundable. Yearly subscribers—partial refunds calculated as: Annual cost - (months used × monthly price). Lifetime License: Lifetime purchases ($179) are non-refundable. Use code SIXCOLORS for 20% off before purchasing. What Happens After Cancellation: Sparkle stops working—once your paid period ends, Sparkle will no longer organize files. Files remain organized—your folder structure stays intact; Sparkle just stops managing new files. No data deletion—your Mac files are untouched, only Sparkle's organizational functionality stops. Refund Policy—No refunds except: Cancellation within 15-day free trial (full refund = no charges). Partial yearly refunds based on unused months (calculated at monthly rate). Technical issues preventing Sparkle from working may warrant case-by-case refunds (email support). Verdict: Test thoroughly during the 15-day free trial before committing to ensure Sparkle fits your needs.