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Clipboard (CB) alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 29, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Clipboard (CB): command-line only, with no graphical history window, and takes some learning of commands and flags. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Clipboard (CB), then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. CopyQ currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1CopyQ logoCopyQOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 468.8
2Ditto logoDittoOpen sourceYesWindows4 of 461.8
  1. CopyQ logo

    1. CopyQTop pick

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Clipboard (CB)

    Open-source GUI clipboard manager with history, tabs and its own scripting, on all desktops.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 CopyQ a good Clipboard (CB) 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)
  2. Ditto logo

    2. Ditto

    Best for: Windows users who want a much bigger, searchable clipboard history for free

    Open sourceWindows

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Clipboard (CB)

    Free Windows clipboard history with search and sync between PCs.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Searchable history stored locally in SQLite
    • Encrypted clipboard sync between networked PCs

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • Interface looks dated
    • Network sync takes manual setup
    Visit Ditto 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 Ditto a good Clipboard (CB) alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Clipboard sync
    Between networked computers
    Checked Oct 29, 2026ditto-cp.sourceforge.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    In transit over the network
    Checked Oct 29, 2026ditto-cp.sourceforge.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    SQLite database
    Checked Oct 29, 2026ditto-cp.sourceforge.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Clipboard (CB) alternative for…

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

CopyQ logo

Best Clipboard (CB) alternative for most people

CopyQ

Open-source GUI clipboard manager with history, tabs and its own scripting, on all desktops.

Maccy logo

Best Clipboard (CB) alternative for a free option

Maccy

Lightweight open-source clipboard history for Mac, opened with a keyboard shortcut.

Ditto logo

Best Clipboard (CB) alternative for open source

Ditto

Free Windows clipboard history with search and sync between PCs.

Paste logo

Best Clipboard (CB) alternative for Mac

Paste

Polished paid clipboard history for Mac and iPhone with pinboards and iCloud sync.

CopyQ logo

Best Clipboard (CB) alternative for Windows

CopyQ

Open-source GUI clipboard manager with history, tabs and its own scripting, on all desktops.

CopyQ logo

Best Clipboard (CB) alternative for Linux

CopyQ

Open-source GUI clipboard manager with history, tabs and its own scripting, on all desktops.

Clipboard (CB) alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Clipboard (CB)?

CopyQ ranks first right now. Open-source GUI clipboard manager with history, tabs and its own scripting, on all desktops. Maccy and Ditto follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Clipboard (CB)?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Clipboard (CB)?

Yes: CopyQ, Maccy and Ditto.

Which Clipboard (CB) alternatives work on Linux?

CopyQ runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Clipboard (CB)?

The complaints we hear most: command-line only, with no graphical history window; takes some learning of commands and flags; development has slowed compared with its early releases.

How is this list ranked?

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