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Paste alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Paste: no free tier beyond the trial, and apple platforms only. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Paste, 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
1CopyQ logoCopyQOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 457.2
  1. CopyQ logo

    1. CopyQTop pick

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

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Paste

    Free and cross-platform, useful if you also work on Windows or Linux.

    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 ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is CopyQ a good Paste 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 25, 2026hluk.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Formats
    Text, HTML, images and custom
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hluk.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Scripting
    CLI and scripting API
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hluk.github.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Paste alternative for…

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

Maccy logo

Best Paste alternative for most people

Maccy

Free, open-source and minimal if you do not need sync or pinboards.

CopyQ logo

Best Paste alternative for a free option

CopyQ

Free and cross-platform, useful if you also work on Windows or Linux.

Raycast logo

Best Paste alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Raycast

Free clipboard history inside a launcher, with snippets alongside.

Maccy logo

Best Paste alternative for open source

Maccy

Free, open-source and minimal if you do not need sync or pinboards.

Alfred logo

Best Paste alternative for Mac

Alfred

One-off Powerpack licence covering clipboard history and snippets.

CopyQ logo

Best Paste alternative for Windows

CopyQ

Free and cross-platform, useful if you also work on Windows or Linux.

CopyQ logo

Best Paste alternative for Linux

CopyQ

Free and cross-platform, useful if you also work on Windows or Linux.

Paste alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Paste?

Maccy ranks first right now. Free, open-source and minimal if you do not need sync or pinboards. CopyQ and Raycast follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Paste?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Paste?

Yes: Maccy and CopyQ.

Which Paste alternatives work on Linux?

CopyQ runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Paste?

The complaints we hear most: no free tier beyond the trial; apple platforms only; visual card layout uses more screen space than a simple list.

How is this list ranked?

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