7 Best Clipboard Managers for Mac in 2026 (Free and Paid)

For most of the Mac’s history, the macOS clipboard, which Apple calls the pasteboard, has exposed only the most recent item you copied. Copy something with Cmd + C, then copy something else, and the first item disappears from the clipboard. That changed on macOS 26 Tahoe, which added a searchable clipboard history to Spotlight.

On macOS 26 Tahoe and later, you can search recent copies from Spotlight. It helps, but dedicated apps still add pinboards, snippets, cross-device sync, and app-exclusion privacy controls that Spotlight’s history doesn’t offer.

If you’re coming from Windows, where Win + V opens a clipboard history, this gap is one of the first things you’ll notice. A clipboard manager fills in the rest: a searchable list of everything you’ve copied, open with a keyboard shortcut.

• Our top pick for most Apple users is Paste. Based on each developer’s site and App Store listings as of November 6, 2026, it’s the only one of these seven with official iPhone and iPad apps that sync your clipboard history with your Mac.
• The best free pick is Maccy. It’s free, open source, and needs no account.
• If you already use a launcher, try Raycast. Its free tier includes clipboard history.

A note on how we built this list: We didn’t run hands-on lab tests. These picks are based on each app’s official site, its pricing page, and reviewer consensus. Pricing and system requirements were last checked on November 6, 2026, against each developer’s site, GitHub page or App Store listing. Where a detail comes only from third-party reports, we say so, and you should confirm it on the official page before you buy.

Quick Comparison

Why Your Mac Only Remembers One Thing You Copy

The macOS clipboard, which Apple calls the “pasteboard,” has traditionally held one item at a time, with each new copy replacing the last. On macOS 26 Tahoe, Apple added a searchable clipboard history to Spotlight (see Apple Support).

Starting with macOS Tahoe 26.1, MacRumors reports you can choose how long Spotlight keeps clipboard items (30 minutes, 8 hours, or 7 days) or turn clipboard history off in System Settings > Spotlight (MacRumors). Like any clipboard history, it can hold sensitive things you copy, such as passwords, for as long as that retention window lasts.

Apple’s Universal Clipboard transfers your most recent copy between Apple devices, such as an iPhone and a Mac. On its own, it doesn’t keep a multi-item history; Spotlight’s clipboard history on macOS 26 Tahoe is a separate feature.

Reports conflict on how the two interact. Some coverage describes items that arrive through Universal Clipboard showing up in Spotlight’s history on the Mac, while other testers found that items copied on an iPhone weren’t added. Apple doesn’t document Spotlight’s clipboard history as a synced, multi-item history across your devices, so don’t count on it for that. Treat it as a Mac-only history of what you copy, and if you need your history on your iPhone and iPad too, choose an app that documents sync, like Paste.

If you’re on macOS 26 Tahoe, check Spotlight’s new clipboard history before buying anything. It’s separate from Universal Clipboard’s cross-device copying, and it doesn’t add pinboards, snippets, paste stacks, or the per-app privacy controls covered below. That’s why dedicated apps still earn their place.

Dedicated Clipboard Apps vs. Launchers With Clipboard History

The seven picks fall into three groups. Knowing which group you want narrows things down fast.

• Purpose-built clipboard managers are Paste, Pastebot, and Maccy. Clipboard history is the whole product, so these apps go deepest on it.
• Launchers that include clipboard history are Raycast and Alfred. They replace Spotlight for opening apps and running commands. Clipboard history is one feature among many. They’re a great deal if you’d use the launcher anyway, and overkill if you only want clipboard history.
• Multi-purpose utilities are Unclutter and Clipy. They pair clipboard history with notes, files, or snippet folders.

1. Paste: Best for Apple Users Who Want Synced Clipboard History

Paste is the most polished, Apple-like clipboard manager on this list. Your history appears as a horizontal timeline of cards, so images, links, and text are easy to spot. You can also save items you use often to pinboards so they never scroll away.

Paste’s biggest advantage is sync. Its Mac App Store listing describes Paste remembering what you copy on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and the app syncs through iCloud. Of the seven apps here, it’s the only one with official iPhone and iPad apps. Pastebot can sync between Macs, and Unclutter offers cloud sync for its files and notes, but neither offers Paste’s Mac-to-iPhone clipboard history.

Pricing: Paste’s US Mac App Store listing shows in-app plans of $3.99/month or $29.99/year for Mac and iOS, plus a $99.99 lifetime plan and a $59.99 family plan (checked November 6, 2026). Prices vary by region and storefront, and Paste’s own pricing page may show different direct-purchase offers, so compare before you subscribe.

Key Specs & Features:

• Platforms: Mac, iPhone, and iPad
• Sync: iCloud, via your Apple Account
• Organization: Searchable history plus pinboards
• Requirements: macOS 14.0 or later on Mac; iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 or later on iPhone and iPad, per the App Store listing

2. Raycast: Best for Mac Power Users Who Want a Launcher

Raycast is a keyboard-first launcher that can replace Spotlight. It opens apps, runs commands, manages windows, and connects to a large library of extensions. Clipboard history is built in, and it works on the free plan.

The free tier keeps clipboard history for 3 months. Raycast Pro costs $10/month billed monthly, or $96/year, which works out to about $8/month when billed annually, per Raycast’s pricing page as listed when we checked in November 2026. Pro extends clipboard history to unlimited retention and adds other features. Plans and limits can change, so check Raycast’s site for current retention and for whether clipboard history syncs on your plan.

This review focuses on the Raycast Mac app. Raycast says the new Raycast 2.0 requires macOS Tahoe and an Apple silicon Mac, and it installs alongside Raycast 1 (Raycast). If you’re on an older macOS version or an Intel Mac, check which Raycast build supports it before you rely on it.

Pros:

• Clipboard history is part of a broader productivity tool
• A strong keyboard-driven workflow, and the free tier covers what many users need

Cons:

• Heavier than a dedicated clipboard app if you only need history
• Longer retention and some advanced features require Pro

3. Alfred: Best for Clipboard History Alongside Workflows and Snippets

Alfred is a long-running Mac launcher known for workflows. These are chains of actions you can trigger with a keyword or hotkey. It also handles text snippets. That makes it popular with people who type the same replies, addresses, or code over and over.

One detail to check before you commit: Alfred’s clipboard history has historically required the paid Powerpack license rather than the free app, though you should confirm current entitlements and pricing on Alfred’s official site, since we couldn’t verify them independently.

Alfred’s minimum requirements page lists macOS 10.14 as the minimum for Alfred 5, while Alfred recommends macOS 13 Ventura or later. We couldn’t verify Alfred’s exact clipboard retention limits, so check its settings after installing.

Pros:

• A powerful automation and workflow ecosystem
• A one-time purchase instead of a subscription

Cons:

• Clipboard history is locked behind the paid Powerpack
• Clipboard features are secondary to the broader launcher

4. Clipy: Best Lightweight Open-Source Snippet Utility

Clipy is a free, open-source menu-bar utility released under the MIT license, according to its GitHub repository. The menu bar is the strip of icons at the top-right of your Mac screen. Click it to see recent clipboard items and saved snippets. It’s simple and doesn’t ask for an account.

As of the repository README we checked on November 6, 2026, Clipy lists macOS 14 Sonoma or later as the requirement, and its default shortcuts are Shift + Cmd + V for the main menu and Control + Cmd + V for history. The project notes that macOS ties Accessibility permission to the app’s code signature, so you’ll grant Accessibility when it asks. Check the GitHub page for recent releases before you install.

Pros:

• Free and open source (MIT license)
• Simple, lightweight menu-bar access to history and snippets

Cons:

• Fewer features than the commercial apps, such as no sync or text filters
• Community-maintained, so support is via GitHub rather than a vendor

5. Unclutter: Best for Clipboard History Plus Notes and Recent Files

Unclutter is a pull-down panel with three tools: clipboard history, a quick notes area, and a shelf for recent files. It’s a nice fit if your desktop tends to fill up with stray screenshots and half-written notes.

Pricing is listed as a one-time purchase on Unclutter’s official site, though we couldn’t independently verify the current price, so check before buying. It’s also included in a Setapp subscription, which Setapp prices separately.

Unclutter’s site says it runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel Macs and requires macOS 10.13 or later. It also offers cloud auto-sync for your files and notes across devices. We couldn’t verify Unclutter’s clipboard retention limits, so check its settings after installing.

Pros:

• Combines several desktop utilities in one app
• A one-time purchase avoids another subscription

Cons:

• More than you need if you only want clipboard history
• Less specialized than dedicated clipboard managers

6. Pastebot: Best for Paste Stacks, Filters, and Text Cleanup

Pastebot, from Tapbots, is built for people who paste a lot of text and need it cleaned up. Paste stacks let you queue several items and paste them in order. That’s great for filling forms. Filters change text before it lands, such as stripping formatting or changing case.

Tapbots’ site lists two ways to buy, both with a 14-day free trial: $39 direct, which includes one year of updates (another year costs $19, and you keep the last version you paid for), or a Mac App Store subscription at $2.99/month or $24.99/year.

Tapbots’ Pastebot page states that the current version requires macOS 26 Tahoe or later (checked November 6, 2026), so check your macOS version first. Pastebot also offers iCloud sync between multiple Macs and a blacklist to keep sensitive apps out of your history.

Pros:

• Excellent text cleanup and transformation tools
• A strong fit for repetitive paste workflows

Cons:

• Requires macOS 26 Tahoe, so it’s out for older Macs
• Syncs between Macs only, with no iPhone or iPad clipboard history like Paste

7. Maccy: Best Free, Local, Open-Source Clipboard Manager

Maccy does one thing well. Press a keyboard shortcut, type a few letters, and paste something you copied an hour ago. It’s free and open source under the MIT license, and it doesn’t need an account (Maccy on GitHub).

For privacy, Maccy’s documentation says it ignores copy types marked as confidential or temporary by default, including 1Password’s, and you can pause recording or skip the next copy from its menu bar icon. Maccy works on macOS 14 Sonoma or later. You can download it from the Maccy website, GitHub, or Homebrew (brew install maccy).

There’s also a Mac App Store version. We couldn’t confirm its current price or how it differs from the free download, so check the listing before buying.

Pros:

• Free, with no subscription
• Described by its developer as “lightweight and fast”, with no account needed

Cons:

• Fewer productivity features than commercial apps
• No cross-device sync, and support is via GitHub rather than a vendor

Setup and Privacy: Permissions You’ll Need to Grant

On your Mac (macOS)

Permission requirements vary by app, version, and where you downloaded it, so grant only what the installed app actually asks for rather than enabling permissions in advance. Accessibility is a powerful permission: it lets an app observe and control other apps. Some clipboard managers request it, for example so they can paste into the app you’re using, but not every feature needs it.

We haven’t listed a per-app permission table because most of these developers don’t publish one. Clipy’s repository is the exception: it notes that macOS ties Accessibility permission to the app’s code signature. For every other app, follow its first-run prompt and its official support page.

General setup steps:

• Download the app from its official site, or from the Mac App Store where offered.
• For non-App Store downloads, drag the app into your Applications folder, then open it.
• If the app prompts for a permission, open System Settings > Privacy & Security and grant only that permission, such as Accessibility.
• In the app’s own settings, set your preferred keyboard shortcut, turn on launch at login if it’s offered, and set up any app exclusions or ignore rules it supports.

If the app isn’t recording or pasting, a missing permission is a common cause. Recheck the toggle for the permission that app requested, then quit and reopen the app.

On your iPhone or iPad (iOS/iPadOS)

Of the seven apps here, only Paste offers official iPhone and iPad apps for clipboard history, based on the developers’ sites and App Store listings we checked. Install Paste from the App Store. Then sign in with the same Apple Account you use on your Mac to turn on sync. If items don’t show up, confirm that both devices use the same Apple Account and that sync is on in Paste’s settings.

Is It Safe to Record Everything You Copy?

A clipboard manager can record whatever you copy, which may include passwords copied from a password manager, unless the app ignores it. Defaults differ: Maccy says it skips copy types marked as confidential by default, and Pastebot offers a blacklist for sensitive apps. Spotlight’s built-in clipboard history on macOS Tahoe can also keep copied items for the retention period you choose. To reduce the risk:

• Use ignore or exclusion settings. Add your password manager and banking apps where the app supports it, and check each app’s settings, because support varies.
• Prefer local storage if you’re cautious. Maccy keeps history on your Mac. Paste syncs through iCloud, which is handy but means your history leaves the device.
• Only grant permissions an app actually requests. Accessibility and Input Monitoring are both powerful, so download from the developer’s site or the App Store and verify in-app prompts before enabling anything.

How to Choose the Best Clipboard Manager for Mac

• Do you need iPhone and iPad sync? Then choose Paste. It’s the only option here with official iPhone and iPad apps. Pastebot syncs between Macs only.
• Do you want it free? Choose Maccy for a dedicated, actively distributed free app, or Raycast’s free tier if you’ll use the launcher. Clipy is free and open source too, and it adds snippet folders.
• Do you hate subscriptions? Alfred’s Powerpack and Unclutter are one-time purchases. Pastebot’s $39 direct purchase is yours to keep, with one year of updates included and later years at $19.
• Do you paste the same text often? Pastebot’s stacks and filters, or Alfred’s snippets, will save you the most typing.
• What macOS version are you running? Check yours under Apple menu > About This Mac. Pastebot and Raycast 2.0 need macOS 26 Tahoe, Paste, Maccy and Clipy need macOS 14 Sonoma, and Alfred and Unclutter run on much older versions (see the comparison table).
• How keyboard-heavy is your work? All of these apps revolve around hotkeys. If you’re switching from Windows, it’s worth learning the Mac’s Cmd-based shortcuts first.

Wrapping Up

If you live across Mac, iPhone, and iPad, Paste is worth the subscription. Nothing else here brings your clipboard history to iPhone and iPad. If you just want your Mac to remember more than one thing, start with Maccy. It’s free, open source, and needs no account, and you can always upgrade later.

Power users who like the idea of a launcher should try Raycast’s free tier before paying for anything. Whatever you pick, take two minutes to set up the exclusion list so your passwords stay out of your history, and check the minimum macOS version in the comparison table first.