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Clippy alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 29, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Clippy: sync only works through Google Drive, and small one-maintainer project with no mobile app. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Clippy, 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 464.8
  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 Clippy

    Mature open-source cross-platform manager with scripting and tabs, if you don't need sync.

    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 Clippy 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

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Clippy

    Long-running free Windows clipboard manager with network 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 ×0.387
    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 Ditto a good Clippy 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 Clippy alternative for…

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

CopyQ logo

Best Clippy alternative for most people

CopyQ

Mature open-source cross-platform manager with scripting and tabs, if you don't need sync.

Ditto logo

Best Clippy alternative for a free option

Ditto

Long-running free Windows clipboard manager with network sync between PCs.

Maccy logo

Best Clippy alternative for open source

Maccy

Lightweight, keyboard-first open-source clipboard history for Mac users.

Paste logo

Best Clippy alternative for Mac

Paste

Polished paid Mac and iOS app with iCloud sync across Apple devices.

CopyQ logo

Best Clippy alternative for Windows

CopyQ

Mature open-source cross-platform manager with scripting and tabs, if you don't need sync.

CopyQ logo

Best Clippy alternative for Linux

CopyQ

Mature open-source cross-platform manager with scripting and tabs, if you don't need sync.

Clippy alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Clippy?

CopyQ ranks first right now. Mature open-source cross-platform manager with scripting and tabs, if you don't need sync. Ditto and Maccy follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Clippy?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Clippy?

Yes: CopyQ, Ditto and Maccy.

Which Clippy alternatives work on Linux?

CopyQ runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Clippy?

The complaints we hear most: sync only works through Google Drive; small one-maintainer project with no mobile app; fewer integrations and less polish than Paste.

How is this list ranked?

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