The best free clipboard manager for Mac (2026)
Written by GuruHat, which makes ClipHat. We've tried to be fair to every app here; prices and features were checked in October 2026.
Short answer: for a free, open-source clipboard manager on Mac, pick ClipHat if you want images, files and document previews (or also use Windows), or Maccy if you want the most minimal text-first picker. Both are MIT-licensed and keep your history on your Mac.
On macOS Tahoe (26), Spotlight's built-in clipboard history covers casual use, but it's off by default, items expire, and there are no pins or filters.
Comparison at a glance
| App | Price | Open source | Platforms | Best for | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ClipHat | Free | Yes (MIT) | macOS 13+, Windows 10/11 | Text, links, images and files with filters, previews and drag-out | New in 2026; no cloud sync |
| Maccy | Free from GitHub/Homebrew; $9.99 on the Mac App Store | Yes (MIT) | macOS | A fast, minimal, keyboard-first history | Mac only; fewer previews and filters |
| Spotlight clipboard (macOS Tahoe) | Built in | No | macOS 26+ | Occasional use with nothing to install | Off by default; items expire; no pins or filters |
| Raycast | Clipboard history in the free plan | No | macOS | People who already use Raycast as a launcher | A whole launcher, not a single tool; closed source |
| CopyQ | Free | Yes (GPL-3.0) | macOS, Windows, Linux | Power users who want tabs and scripting | Less Mac-native look and feel |
| Paste | Subscription (free trial) | No | macOS, iPhone, iPad | A polished visual history synced over iCloud | Ongoing cost; not open source |
The apps in more detail
ClipHat — best free option for images, files and Mac + Windows
ClipHat opens with ⌘⇧V (Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows). Type to search, filter to text, links, media or documents, and press Return to put the item back on your clipboard. It captures images, PDFs, Word and Excel files, shows thumbnails and Quick Look previews, and lets you drag clips straight into Finder or another app. History lives in a local SQLite database with no account, sync or analytics; items marked sensitive are skipped, and you can exclude apps such as your password manager. It keeps the latest 500 items by default, and pinned clips are never cleared.
Maccy — best minimal, text-first picker
Maccy is a long-standing open-source favourite: a lightweight menu bar history you open with a shortcut and search instantly. It is free to download from GitHub or Homebrew, and the $9.99 Mac App Store version supports development. If you mainly copy text and want the smallest possible tool, it's an excellent choice.
macOS Tahoe's Spotlight clipboard — best if you'd rather not install anything
macOS 26 added clipboard history to Spotlight. Turn on clipboard results in System Settings › Spotlight, then press ⌘Space and ⌘4 to see recent copies. It's handy, but it's basic: items disappear after a retention period, there are no pins or type filters, and it can record anything you copy, so check the settings if you copy passwords.
Raycast — best if you already live in a launcher
Raycast's clipboard history is part of its free plan and works well alongside its other commands. It's closed source and much more than a clipboard manager, which is great if you want a launcher and overkill if you don't.
CopyQ — best for scripting and Linux
CopyQ is free, GPL-licensed and runs on macOS, Windows and Linux. Tabs, editing and a scripting interface make it the most powerful option here, at the cost of a less native Mac feel.
Paste — best paid option with iCloud sync
Paste is a polished, visual clipboard manager that syncs your history across Mac, iPhone and iPad. It's a paid subscription after a free trial and isn't open source.
How to choose
- You want free and open source: ClipHat or Maccy (CopyQ if you need Linux or scripting).
- You copy screenshots, PDFs or Office files: ClipHat, for its previews, filters and drag-out.
- You use both Mac and Windows: ClipHat or CopyQ.
- You want sync to iPhone: Paste.
- You rarely need it: the built-in Spotlight clipboard on macOS Tahoe.
Frequently asked questions
Does macOS have a built-in clipboard history?
Yes, starting with macOS Tahoe (26). Turn on clipboard results in System Settings › Spotlight, then press ⌘Space and ⌘4. It's off by default, items expire after a set time, and there are no pins, filters or file previews. Earlier versions of macOS have no clipboard history, so you need an app such as ClipHat or Maccy.
What is the best free, open-source clipboard manager for Mac?
ClipHat and Maccy are both free and MIT-licensed. Maccy is the long-established, minimal choice for text on Mac only. ClipHat adds content filters, image and document previews, file drag-out and a matching Windows app. CopyQ (GPL) is the most scriptable and also runs on Linux.
Which clipboard manager works on both Mac and Windows?
ClipHat and CopyQ are free and run on both. ClipHat uses the same idea on both systems: ⌘⇧V on Mac, Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows. Windows also has a basic built-in history under Win+V.
Are clipboard managers safe for passwords?
Choose one that skips items password managers mark as sensitive and lets you exclude apps. ClipHat and Maccy both do this, and ClipHat stores history only in a local database with no network code. macOS Tahoe's Spotlight clipboard can record anything you copy, so review its settings if you copy passwords.