At a glance
| Batch File Renamer | Finder | |
|---|---|---|
| Replace text, add text, numbering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Several changes in one pass | Stacked steps | One change per pass |
| Preview every new name first | Old and new, changes highlighted | One example name |
| Conflict check before renaming | Duplicates, illegal characters, too long | — |
| Undo | Last batch, even after quitting | ⌘Z right after |
| Saved presets and recipes | ✓ | — |
| Change case, remove characters, dates | ✓ | — |
| Regex, EXIF and ID3 tokens (Pro) | ✓ | — |
| Works from Finder's right-click menu | Quick Action | ✓ |
What Finder does well
Finder's Rename has three modes: Replace Text, Add Text, and Format, which turns names into a base name plus a counter or date. For "replace IMG with Trip" it's perfect.
Where it runs out
Anything that needs two changes means two passes, and you only see a single example of the result. Turning 000001.MTS into 01_Dec26.MTS takes several rounds and some luck. There's no way to change case, strip characters, or save what you did for next time.
Batch File Renamer stacks steps (replace, then remove, then number, then fix the extension) and shows the result of all of them on every file before anything moves.
Free for the same jobs
Lite has no file limits. It covers up to 3 steps and 3 saved presets, which already beats Finder for most jobs. Pro adds regex, metadata and unlimited steps.
Questions
Can Finder batch rename files?
Yes: select files, right-click, Rename. It does one replace, add or format change per pass.
Can Finder rename with regex?
No. Batch File Renamer Pro supports regex with capture groups and a live match tester.
Is Batch File Renamer free?
Yes. Lite is free with no file limits or watermarks. Pro adds regex, metadata and unlimited steps.