6 Best Clipboard Manager Mac Apps 2025 – Full Roundup Review

When working on macOS, the default clipboard only remembers your last copied item. What if you want to trace back the previous clipboards instead of the last one? That’s where a clipboard manager Mac app can supercharge your workflow, letting you store, search, and reuse multiple items.

Whether you need a lightweight macOS clipboard manager, an open-source option, or an advanced Mac clipboard history app, this roundup covers the top choices — plus a look at the surprising new built-in option in macOS Tahoe 26.

1. Spotlight (macOS Tahoe 26) – Built-in Clipboard History in macOS

With the latest macOS Tahoe 26 coming right up, Apple has upgraded Spotlight to include a built-in clipboard history search. This allows Mac users to find recently copied items without any third-party software. Here’s what we know about this feature:

• Users must manually enable clipboard history in settings before it works, although some beta testers reported that the Enable toggle doesn’t always respond.
• The clipboard feature supports searching text and links, with a preview panel showing where the content was copied from. While Apple’s documentation mentions support for images, beta testers have noted that image support is inconsistent or missing in practice.
• Currently, this feature only works inside Spotlight with no shortcut, which adds an extra step compared to dedicated apps.
• Some users report copied items not showing up at all, or requiring extra interaction (like pasting once in Spotlight) before appearing in history.
• Apple hasn’t confirmed if this new clipboard history syncs across devices. Early users say it currently does not act as a universal clipboard.

Early Verdict:

Spotlight clipboard history is a welcome step for macOS users who’ve long relied on third-party clipboard managers. However, the beta version feels half-baked: image handling isn’t reliable, cross-device sync seems absent, and the enabling process is buggy. It’s too soon to draw a final verdict now, but let’s hope Apple makes it a true clipboard manager on Mac.

Tip

If you rely on Paste to keep a long clipboard history, remember that it can gradually consume disk space. To avoid your Mac slowing down, use a cleanup utility like BuhoCleaner to regularly clear unnecessary system junk and free up storage. This way, you get the convenience of Paste without sacrificing performance.

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2. Paste - Delicate Mac Clipboard Manager

Paste is a full-featured Apple clipboard manager that remembers everything you copy, from text and images to links and files, and syncs it across all your devices via iCloud, be it MacBook, iPhone, iPad, etc. You can then quickly access the clipboard history on Mac via Shift + Command + V.

Pros:

• Supports all clipboard content types (text, images, links, files, mail attachments, etc.)
• Offers a sleek, card-style interface that’s quite easy to browse and identify past clips at a glance.
• Customizable pinboards and grouping options for organizing frequently used items.
• Privacy-friendly. Paste lets you exclude certain apps or sensitive content from being saved.

Cons:

• Requires a high annual subscription of $29.99, whereas most macOS utilities of this kind are typically sold as a one-time purchase.
• Large histories can take up Mac storage and slightly impact performance over time.
• Search capabilities are good for text, but limited when it comes to other file types, such as PDFs and images.

Editor’s Review: 4.5/5

Paste stands out as a polished, visually appealing Mac clipboard manager that blends design and functionality. Its rich support in content type, cross-device sync, and intuitive overlay certainly make it ideal for creatives, writers, and heavy multitaskers who live by the clipboard. However, if you are not a heavy user, its comprehensive features are simply a waste.

3. CopyClip - Free Mac Clipboard History App

CopyClip is a lightweight and completely free Mac clipboard manager that quietly runs in your menu bar. It keeps track of your copied text snippets in a simple, scrollable list. It focuses on plain text and doesn’t overcomplicate things, presenting itself as a perfect no-frills solution.

Pros: Completely free to use with no ads or subscription fees. Extremely lightweight, minimal CPU and memory usage. Instant macOS clipboard access via a clean menu bar dropdown. Simple, straightforward operation with no learning pain.

Cons: Limited to text-based clipboard content. No other file support, such as images and Word documents. Lacks customization options and advanced features, say, clipboard filtering. It only works on macOS. No built-in sync between multiple devices.

Editor’s Review: 4.5/5

As you can tell, CopyClip has very obvious pros and cons. It’s almost the best option for Mac users who just want a basic clipboard history without spending a dime. It’s fast, stable, and unobtrusive. However, those who need cross-device syncing, image support, or advanced search will find its functionality too limited for sure.

4. Alfred (Powerpack Required) - All-in-one Versatile macOS Utility

Alfred is a productivity suite for Mac that boosts efficiency with powerful search, app launching, automation, etc. With the Powerpack upgrade, it shifts to an advanced clipboard history app. Once enabled, you can search, filter, and reuse clips quickly with custom hotkeys.

Pros:

• Clipboard history is deeply integrated with Alfred’s broader productivity tools.
• Highly customizable clipboard search filters, including time range, content type, length filter, and many more.
• Can store and expand text snippets for repeated use.
• Smooth keyboard-driven interface without needing the mouse, a thumbs-up for Trackpad users.

Cons:

• Clipboard history requires the paid Powerpack upgrade (£34, one-time).
• More complex to set up compared to dedicated clipboard apps such as CopyClip.
• Overkill if you only want clipboard functionality and none of the other features.

Editor’s Review: 4/5

For productivity enthusiasts already using Alfred, the clipboard feature is a natural, time-saving extension. Its workflow integration makes it more than just a history log but an automation hub. But if you’re looking solely for a Mac clipboard manager, the setup effort and price may not justify it.

5. PastePal – Sleek & iCloud-Synced Clipboard Manager

PastePal{href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/clipboard-manager-pastepal/id1503446680" rel=nofollow"} is a relatively new yet refined Mac clipboard manager that supports text, images, links, and even code snippets. Similar to Paste, it is designed with Apple’s ecosystem in mind, offering iCloud sync between Mac, iPhone, and iPad, so your clipboard history is always at hand across devices.

Pros:

• An affordable one-time purchase ensures no recurring subscription like Paste, making it a great value for money.
• iCloud sync across Mac, iPhone, and iPad works smoothly for most use cases.
• Side panel with full history view, which avoids floating or temporary windows that many users dislike.
• Modern, minimal interface feels native to macOS and easy to use.

Cons:

• Reliability can be inconsistent, as some users report sync lags or bugs compared with Paste’s stability.
• History depth depends on system or iCloud storage, which is not ideal for very heavy clip hoarders.
• Customization options are limited compared with power-user tools like Alfred.

Editor’s Review: 4/5

PastePal is a strong contender for those who want a clean, efficient, and Apple-native clipboard manager without recurring fees, and it does have a lot in common with Paste. While it doesn’t have the automation depth of Alfred or the visual flair of Paste, it strikes an excellent balance between usability and affordability.

6. Maccy - Free & Open-source Clipboard Manager

Maccy is a lightweight, completely free, open-source clipboard manager for macOS that stores data locally, ensuring privacy and speed. It has become a favorite among developers and writers who want a no-frills solution that just works.

Pros:

• Extremely lightweight and stable. Maccy runs quietly in the background with minimal memory usage. Plus, users report fewer crashes compared to Paste, even on newer macOS versions.
• Strong privacy. Unlike most Mac clipboard managers, Maccy keeps everything local without sending data to the cloud.
• Minimal UI that integrates neatly with macOS without distracting floating windows.

Cons:

• No cloud sync requires manual transfer if you want history across multiple Apple devices.
• Very barebones feature set. For example, Maccy lacks advanced previews, formatting, or automation found in paid apps.
• Obviously, Maccy is not as visually polished as Paste, as it’s designed more for utility than aesthetics.

Editor’s Review: 4/5

Maccy delivers where it matters: speed, privacy, and reliability. While it lacks cloud sync and advanced customization, its open-source nature and stability make it a favorite among developers and power users. If you value function over form and don’t mind the minimalist approach, Maccy is an excellent clipboard manager choice.

Final Thoughts

Whether you need a full-featured Mac clipboard history app like Paste, a lightweight option like CopyClip, or the simplicity of built-in Spotlight, this post offers more choices than ever.

Pro tip: If you copy sensitive information, choose a manager with strong privacy controls like Maccy or configure history limits to avoid storing confidential data.