Most clipboard managers cover the basics; the differences are in price, privacy, and extras. This side-by-side helps you match a tool to your needs. For a full verdict with recommendations, see our best clipboard manager for Mac (2026) guide.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Maccy | Paste | Raycast | Alfred | Pastebot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Subscription | Free / paid | Paid | One-time |
| Open source | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Searchable history | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Plain-text paste | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pinning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Local-only storage | Yes | Optional | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud sync | No | Yes | Limited | No | No |
| Best for | Most users | Cross-device | Launcher fans | Power users | Paste filters |
How to read this
The core columns — history, search, plain-text paste, pinning — are similar across all five. The real decisions are about price, privacy, and one or two extras.
The free, private default
maccy covers every core feature, costs nothing, stores history locally, and is open source. For most people it's the obvious starting point. See see your clipboard history on mac to try it.
Maccy — a free, open-source clipboard manager
Our pick for most Mac users: it keeps a searchable history of everything you copy, stays entirely on your Mac, and costs nothing. Open it with ⌘⇧C.
When to pay
- Cross-device pinboards: Paste syncs across your Apple devices (maccy vs paste for the head-to-head).
- Everything in a launcher: Raycast or Alfred if you already live there.
- Scripted paste transformations: Pastebot for filters and sequences.
Verdict
Start free with Maccy; upgrade only if you need a specific extra. For the deeper writeups, see the best clipboard manager for mac guide and the top 10 clipboard managers for mac roundup. New to clipboard managers? Begin with what is a clipboard manager.