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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
2Maccy logoMaccyOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 461.8
3Paste logoPastePaidNomacOS, iOS5 of 559.4
  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. Maccy logo

    2. Maccy

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

    Open sourcemacOS

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Clippy

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

    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 ×0.377
    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 Maccy a good Clippy 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)
  3. Paste logo

    3. Paste

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

    PaidmacOS, iOS

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Clippy

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

    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 ×0.369
    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 Clippy 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)

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.