Clipboard manager apps keep a searchable record of everything you copy, so a link, address or snippet from an hour ago is still one shortcut away.
This guide orders fourteen tools by how little setup they need, what they cost over several years, how easily history stays under your control, and which devices and operating systems they cover.
Vendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. Every vendor link is marked the same, whatever the arrangement behind it. How that works.
In short
What clipboard manager apps software does
A clipboard manager records each item you copy, lets you search, pin and paste earlier entries by shortcut, and sometimes syncs or transforms them across your devices.
In this order: setup effort, what it really costs, how your data comes back out, whether you can leave, and who each clipboard manager apps tool is built for. Top three places belong to challengers outside the best-known brands whenever possible, and incumbents follow from four. Reasons for the choice of tests, and for skipping a score out of ten, can be read on the how we work page.
Keyboard-first Mac history that stays on your own computer
Ranked #1 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Free tierOpen sourcePublished pricingElsewhere
Maccy keeps a copy history with fast search and lets you choose an entry with Enter, so the whole flow stays on the keyboard. It also clears copied passwords when the password manager removes them from the clipboard.
Because everything is stored on your computer, the trade is convenience: with no sync described, the history lives on one Mac, and Sonoma 14 is the oldest system it supports.
What stands out
MIT licence
Local storage
Keyboard-first
Where it costs you
It needs macOS Sonoma 14 or higher, which rules out older Macs.
The page describes no sync, so history cannot follow you to a second device.
Right for
Mac users who want a quick searchable history without paying or syncing
Wrong for
Anyone who needs clips on an iPhone or a Windows PC
Not stated by the vendorFree to use, with no price on the page; Mac App Store or direct download
Scriptable history manager running on Linux, Windows and macOS
Ranked #2 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Pricing on requestElsewhere
CopyQ lets you edit, sort, move and drag items between tabs, and system-wide shortcuts can run customisable commands. A command-line interface means other programs can read and write the clipboard.
The cost is a bigger surface than a simple history: users who only want recent copies will configure features they never touch, and the page leaves licence and company unstated.
What stands out
Scripting
Cross-platform
Tabs
Where it costs you
The page does not name a licence, so a company review has to find it elsewhere.
Scripting and tabbed items add setup time compared with a plain history list.
Right for
Linux or mixed-platform users who want to script their clipboard
Wrong for
Buyers who need a stated licence or a vendor contract
Not stated by the vendorPrice not stated on the page, which lists downloads and a donation link
Tapbots Mac manager with filters, stacks and rule-based pastebins
Ranked #3 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Pricing on requestElsewhere
Pastebot adds custom and rule-based Smart Pastebins, notes on clippings, and a Quick Paste menu on Shift+Command+V. The purchase has a 30-day refund policy and a 14-day trial with either option.
Where the cost bites is the update model: bought direct, a further year of updates is a repeat charge, and the subscription route runs through your Apple Account.
What stands out
Filters
Stacks
Smart Pastebins
Where it costs you
Updates after the first year are an extra yearly charge.
The country of the company is not stated on the page.
Right for
Mac users who reshape text on paste and accept a paid app
Wrong for
Anyone who wants a zero-cost tool or Windows support
Not stated by the vendorOne-time purchase with a year of updates, or an App Store subscription; 14-day trial
Low-cost clipboard history synced across iPhone, iPad and Mac
Ranked #4 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Pricing on requestElsewhere
PastePal keeps a searchable clipboard history that syncs across Apple devices through iCloud. Quick Mode pastes when you release the keys, and Hot Edge plus a side window offer other ways in.
The Mac-only edition is for one Mac and excludes iPhone and iPad, so choose the edition that matches your devices, because the two are priced and licensed separately.
What stands out
Apple sync
One-time purchase
No analytics
Where it costs you
The trial length is not stated, so evaluation time is unclear.
The page covers Apple devices only, with nothing for Windows.
Right for
Apple households wanting synced history for a single purchase
Wrong for
Teams on Windows or a mix of operating systems
Not stated by the vendorOne-time purchase for Apple devices or Mac only; try before buying
Subscription Mac and iPhone manager with pinboards and AI links
Ranked #5 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Pricing on requestElsewhere
Paste syncs across Mac, iPhone and iPad and supports pinned snippets and templates. Its Intelligent Clipboard suggests the next paste and links history to AI tools such as Claude and Cursor.
It sits fifth here because the model is a subscription with no ongoing no-cost version, and because a Team plan is named without any price.
What stands out
Pinboards
iCloud sync
AI features
Where it costs you
After the seven-day trial a payment is needed to keep using it.
The lifetime price is not shown on the pricing page.
Right for
Apple users who want unlimited history and sync, and will pay
Wrong for
People who only want a basic history without a payment
Not stated by the vendorSubscription by month or year, a lifetime option, 7-day trial
Windows manager with macros, trigger actions and encrypted sync
Ranked #6 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Published pricingElsewhere
The manager window lists Clipboard History, Pinned Items, Online Items and custom Macros, with shortcuts for the first ten items.
It can strip formatting and replace clipboard text with predefined strings. To go back to the basic edition after the trial you must remove the licence key in settings, a step that is easy to miss.
What stands out
C# macros
Trigger actions
Pro syncing
Where it costs you
Pro prices are not shown, only a purchase link.
Syncing and advanced triggers sit behind the paid edition.
Right for
Windows users who transform copied text with macros
Wrong for
Buyers who need sync without a Pro licence
Not stated by the vendorA basic edition stays free; Pro adds syncing, with a 30-day trial
Windows-only history tool with network sync between computers
Ranked #7 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Open sourcePricing on requestElsewhere
Sharing between computers needs network access, and the listing links out to the developer's website instead of describing a cloud product.
That makes Ditto a fit for people who want to run their own link between machines. The age of the last release is the main caution when deciding whether to rely on it for daily work.
What stands out
GPLv3
Windows only
Network sync
Where it costs you
The listing's last update is dated 16 April 2023.
It is Windows only, with no Mac version.
Right for
Windows users wanting open source history shared across PCs
Wrong for
Mac users or buyers who need a hosted service
Not stated by the vendorOpen source under GPLv3; the SourceForge listing shows no price
Open source Mac menu with images and reusable snippets
Ranked #8 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Free tierOpen sourcePublished pricingElsewhere
Clipy opens its menu with a keyboard shortcut and stores snippets for reuse. Because it is run by a community project, support routes are GitHub contributions and bug reports rather than a vendor desk.
No cloud storage or sync is mentioned, so history is an on-device matter, and the missing licence name matters if your organisation checks open source terms.
What stands out
Open source
Snippets
Image history
Where it costs you
The licence name is not stated on the page.
It needs macOS 13.0 or later and mentions no sync.
Right for
Mac users who want snippets and images at no cost
Wrong for
Buyers who need a named company and licence terms
Not stated by the vendorFree to use according to the page; funded by donations
MIT-licensed Jumpcut descendant for Mac with an iOS version
Ranked #9 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Open sourcePricing on requestElsewhere
Hotkeys and other settings live in preferences. The repository includes a CloudKit user-defaults sync component, which could be read as a hint of sync, but the page stops short of saying so.
Treat it as a plain, small tool: the stated features are limited, and for deeper search or snippets you would look further up this list.
What stands out
MIT licence
Jumpcut-based
iOS version
Where it costs you
The page does not say whether the app is purely local.
Its feature list is short, mainly reopening history.
Right for
Mac users who want a small, inspectable history utility
Wrong for
Anyone needing search-heavy or scripted workflows
Not stated by the vendorOpen source under the MIT licence; App Store or GitHub download
Windows freeware with fixed phrases and a 10,000-entry history
Ranked #10 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingElsewhere
Beyond phrases and regular expressions, Clibor offers FIFO and LIFO paste order, colour themes and many hotkey settings. The page is the only source we used, and it names no company.
For a personal desktop the price of nothing is attractive, but the dependence on one author is the thing to weigh before rolling it out widely.
What stands out
Fixed phrases
Regex reformatting
10,000 entries
Where it costs you
It is a one-person project, so continuity rests on the author.
The page states no country or company.
Right for
Windows users who paste the same phrases all day
Wrong for
Teams that need vendor support commitments
Not stated by the vendorFreeware, with donations welcome but optional
London-made Mac clip saver with pinned clips and plain-text paste
Ranked #11 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Pricing on requestEurope
Cmd plus a number pastes the first ten clips straight into the frontmost app, and a Plain Text Paste option strips formatting. History is capped at hundreds of clips, not unlimited. Without a published price the app is hard to place on cost, so ask the vendor before budgeting for several seats.
What stands out
Pinned clips
Plain Text Paste
Cmd+number paste
Where it costs you
The price is not shown anywhere on the page.
The trial duration is not stated.
Right for
Mac users who like a simple, long-established paid utility
Wrong for
Anyone who must compare a price before downloading
United KingdomPrice not shown beside the Buy button; trial download offered
Local clip history with a password-protected AES-256 database
Ranked #12 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Pricing on requestElsewhere
It records plain text, RTF, BMP images, HTML and files, and clips can be starred and labelled, with snippets for text you reuse. Current version 5.7 is offered with a 5.73 beta.
The lack of any commercial terms on the page is the obstacle: functionally it is described, commercially it is blank, so confirm terms with the vendor first.
What stands out
AES-256 database
Starred clips
Local storage
Where it costs you
The page does not say whether a free version or trial exists.
No company or country is named.
Right for
Users who want an encrypted history kept on one computer
Wrong for
Buyers who need a published price before trialling
Not stated by the vendorNo prices, plans or trial are shown on the page
Portable Windows freeware with permanent clips and macros
Ranked #13 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingElsewhere
ArsClip handles pictures, RichText, file copies, Unicode and HTML, and a hotkey opens the paste window. The global clipboard is optional, so sharing is a choice rather than a default. Its position near the bottom reflects the unstated company, the single author and the platform list that stops at Windows 10.
What stands out
Portable
Permanent clips
Macros
Where it costs you
The page lists Windows XP through 10 and does not mention Windows 11.
The author is a single named individual with no company.
Right for
Windows users who want a portable tool with macros
Wrong for
Organisations that need vendor support or Windows 11 assurance
Not stated by the vendorFreeware from JoeJoe's utilities; donations accepted
Mac files, notes and clipboard panel opened from the top edge
Ranked #14 of 14 in Best Clipboard Manager Apps in 2026.
Pricing on requestElsewhere
The one-time lifetime licence has no renewals and a 30-day money-back guarantee, and the trial runs ten days without a card.
Since the clipboard tracks copies and pastes inside a bigger product, you pay for files and notes whether or not you use them. That is why dedicated tools rank above it for pure clipboard work.
What stands out
Files and notes
Scroll gesture
Lifetime licence
Where it costs you
Clipboard history is one part of a larger files and notes app.
The lifetime price is not shown on the page.
Right for
Mac users who also want a drawer for files and notes
Wrong for
People who want a dedicated clipboard tool only
Not stated by the vendorLifetime licence, price not shown; 10-day trial, no card
A clipboard manager records each item you copy, lets you search, pin and paste earlier entries by shortcut, and sometimes syncs or transforms them across your devices. Compare on the following points, in this order, before you compare features.
01
Start with pricing transparency
9 vendors on this page sell by quote, while 5 publish a pricing model you can read today: Maccy, ClipboardFusion, Clipy, Clibor, ArsClip.
02
Look at where the vendor sits
The 14 companies behind this list are established in 2 countries, by region Elsewhere 13, Europe 1. Disclosure obligations attach to the company, so they travel with the vendor even when the servers stay at home.
03
Decide if open source matters
Open source here means Maccy, Ditto, Clipy, Flycut. The price of self-hosting is the time your team spends maintaining it.
Pick a clipboard manager for your operating system first
Most clipboard manager apps are tied to one platform, and that single fact removes half the list before features matter. Maccy, Clipy, Flycut, Pastebot, PastePal and Paste target the Mac, with PastePal and Paste also reaching iPhone and iPad. Ditto, Clibor and ArsClip are Windows tools, and Clipdiary's page does not name its platform.
CopyQ is the one entry here that runs on Linux, Windows and macOS. Write down every device you copy on, including the phone, before you open a pricing page. If a Mac and a Windows PC share one desk, a tool that works on only one of them forces a second product, and clips will not travel between the two without a sync feature that both ends support.
List every device and operating system that needs history
Check the oldest system version the page supports
Confirm that sync, if wanted, reaches each of those devices
Decide whether history should stay on one machine or sync
Sync is the dividing line in this market. Maccy says everything is stored on your computer, and Clipdiary says history stays on your computer, while Paste syncs through private iCloud and PastePal syncs across Apple devices.
ClipboardFusion encrypts its sync with 256-bit encryption but only in the Pro edition, and Ditto can keep several computers in sync over a network. Clipboards hold passwords and private text, so the question is where copies travel. Pick a local tool if you never need a second device, and read what the vendor says about where synced data goes before you enable it.
Ask where synced clips are stored and how they are encrypted
Check whether sync belongs to a paid edition
Find out whether you can switch sync off
Compare price models: free, one-off, subscription or unstated
Clipboard managers run the full range of pricing. Maccy, Clipy, Clibor and ArsClip cost nothing according to their pages, Pastebot and PastePal sell one-time purchases, and Paste is a subscription with a lifetime option. Pastebot charges again for updates after the first year, while Unclutter's lifetime licence has no renewals.
Several vendors, including CopyClip, Clipdiary and CopyQ, show no price on the page at all. A small monthly fee adds up over years, and a one-off charge can leave you on an old version. Work out three-year cost for each shortlisted tool before you commit.
Calculate the three-year cost of each option
Check whether updates are included beyond the first year
Look for a trial long enough to cover a working week
Look at history limits, formats and power features
Once platform, sync and price are settled, compare what each tool can hold and do. Clibor keeps up to 10,000 entries and CopyClip keeps hundreds of clips. CopyQ stores text, HTML, images and custom formats and offers scripting, while ClipboardFusion supports C# macros.
Pastebot adds Filters and Stacks that change or sequence clippings, and Clipdiary lets you protect the database with AES-256 and a password. Tools such as Unclutter treat the clipboard as one part of a larger app. Choose by the task you repeat most, such as pasting plain text, reusing phrases or reshaping text with rules.
Name the one task you repeat most each day
Test that the tool keeps images and files if you copy them
Check how the paste shortcut behaves in your main apps
What goes wrong most often when buying clipboard manager apps software
Installing a Mac-only tool such as Maccy or Flycut and then discovering the Windows machine at the office needs a different product.
Treating a synced history like local storage: Paste and PastePal send clips through iCloud, which matters if you copy passwords or client data.
Assuming freeware stays maintained: Ditto's SourceForge listing shows its last update in April 2023, so check release dates before relying on it.
Starting with a tool that publishes no price, such as CopyClip or Clipdiary, and finding the cost only after the trial has been used.
07
Frequently asked questions
7 answers
What is the best clipboard manager apps in 2026?
Maccy takes first place among the 14 we reviewed. Maccy is the work of one named author, Alex Rodionov, and its page promises it is and will always be free.
It is open source under the MIT licence and stores everything on the computer, so nothing leaves the Mac. The limits are plain: it needs macOS Sonoma 14 or higher and the page describes no sync to other devices.
Which clipboard manager apps tools publish their pricing?
Published pricing exists for 5 products on this page:
Maccy: Free to use, with no price on the page; Mac App Store or direct download.
ClipboardFusion: A basic edition stays free; Pro adds syncing, with a 30-day trial.
Clipy: Free to use according to the page; funded by donations.
Clibor: Freeware, with donations welcome but optional.
ArsClip: Freeware from JoeJoe's utilities; donations accepted.
The remaining 9 sell by quote.
Is there a free clipboard manager apps tool?
Maccy, Clipy, Clibor, ArsClip come with a no-cost entry point, a free plan or a self-hosted edition.
Where are these clipboard manager apps vendors established?
Across 2 countries (Elsewhere 13, Europe 1):
Maccy: Not stated by the vendor.
CopyQ: Not stated by the vendor.
Pastebot: Not stated by the vendor.
PastePal: Not stated by the vendor.
Paste: Not stated by the vendor.
ClipboardFusion: Not stated by the vendor.
Ditto: Not stated by the vendor.
Clipy: Not stated by the vendor.
Flycut: Not stated by the vendor.
Clibor: Not stated by the vendor.
CopyClip: United Kingdom.
Clipdiary: Not stated by the vendor.
ArsClip: Not stated by the vendor.
Unclutter: Not stated by the vendor.
Which clipboard manager apps tools are open source?
Maccy, Ditto, Clipy, Flycut.
What should you use instead of Maccy?
Look at CopyQ (made for Linux or mixed-platform users who want to script their clipboard) and Pastebot (made for Mac users who reshape text on paste and accept a paid app), which hold places two and three.
Who should not buy Maccy?
Anyone who needs clips on an iPhone or a Windows PC. It needs macOS Sonoma 14 or higher, which rules out older Macs..
This list covers 14 clipboard manager apps products. A product we left out can be put to us by its maker, with a short note on its purpose and its customers; we decide on inclusion ourselves. The rules are under software advice.
