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CleanClip alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 29, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave CleanClip: free version is capped at a set number of uses per day, and mac only on desktop; no Windows or Linux version. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces CleanClip, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Maccy currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Maccy logoMaccyOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 468.8
2Paste logoPastePaidNomacOS, iOS5 of 564.8
3CopyQ logoCopyQOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 461.8
  1. Maccy logo

    1. MaccyTop pick

    Best for: Mac users who want fast, private clipboard history without extras

    Open sourcemacOS

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from CleanClip

    Free and open source, with a lighter feature set focused on fast search through clipboard history.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Very fast keyboard search and paste
    • History stays on your Mac
    • Respects password managers clearing secrets

    Cons

    • No sync to iPhone or other Macs
    • Minimal features by design
    • Recent versions need macOS 14 or later
    Visit Maccy Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Maccy a good CleanClip alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 29, 2026maccy.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    macOS Sonoma 14 or later
    Checked Oct 29, 2026maccy.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Data storage
    Local only
    Checked Oct 29, 2026maccy.app(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Paste logo

    2. Paste

    Best for: Apple users who want clipboard history synced across Mac, iPhone and iPad

    PaidmacOS, iOS

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from CleanClip

    Visual clipboard history with iCloud sync across Mac and iPhone, sold as a subscription.

    Pros

    • Unlimited, searchable visual history
    • Pinboards for reusable snippets
    • Syncs via private iCloud across Apple devices
    • Lifetime purchase option

    Cons

    • No free tier beyond the trial
    • Apple platforms only
    • Visual card layout uses more screen space than a simple list
    Visit Paste Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Paste a good CleanClip alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Starting price
    $2.49/month or $29.99/year
    Checked Oct 29, 2026pasteapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 29, 2026pasteapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Mac, iPhone and iPad
    Checked Oct 29, 2026pasteapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Family plan
    Up to six people
    Checked Oct 29, 2026pasteapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Data storage
    Device and private iCloud
    Checked Oct 29, 2026pasteapp.io(opens source in a new tab)
  3. CopyQ logo

    3. CopyQ

    Best for: Power users who want a scriptable clipboard manager on any desktop OS

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from CleanClip

    Free, open source and cross-platform, with tabs, scripting and editing of saved items.

    Pros

    • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • Tabs, tags and notes for organising clips
    • Command-line and scripting for automation
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Dated, busy interface
    • No built-in sync between computers
    • Scripting takes effort to learn
    Visit CopyQ Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is CopyQ a good CleanClip alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, Windows, macOS 10.15+
    Checked Oct 29, 2026hluk.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Formats
    Text, HTML, images and custom
    Checked Oct 29, 2026hluk.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Scripting
    CLI and scripting API
    Checked Oct 29, 2026hluk.github.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best CleanClip alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Maccy logo

Best CleanClip alternative for most people

Maccy

Free and open source, with a lighter feature set focused on fast search through clipboard history.

CopyQ logo

Best CleanClip alternative for a free option

CopyQ

Free, open source and cross-platform, with tabs, scripting and editing of saved items.

Maccy logo

Best CleanClip alternative for open source

Maccy

Free and open source, with a lighter feature set focused on fast search through clipboard history.

Paste logo

Best CleanClip alternative for Mac

Paste

Visual clipboard history with iCloud sync across Mac and iPhone, sold as a subscription.

CopyQ logo

Best CleanClip alternative for Windows

CopyQ

Free, open source and cross-platform, with tabs, scripting and editing of saved items.

CopyQ logo

Best CleanClip alternative for Linux

CopyQ

Free, open source and cross-platform, with tabs, scripting and editing of saved items.

CleanClip alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to CleanClip?

Maccy ranks first right now. Free and open source, with a lighter feature set focused on fast search through clipboard history. Paste and CopyQ follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to CleanClip?

Yes. Maccy (open source) and CopyQ (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to CleanClip?

Yes: Maccy and CopyQ.

Which CleanClip alternatives work on Linux?

CopyQ runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from CleanClip?

The complaints we hear most: free version is capped at a set number of uses per day; mac only on desktop; no Windows or Linux version; closed source, unlike free options such as Maccy or CopyQ.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces CleanClip, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.