Productivity Tools

5 Best Clipboard Managers for Mac in 2023 (Free & Paid)

By Alex · Updated Sep 22, 2023

Best for: Overall | Windows | Mac | iPhone | Android

Clipboard managers are essential tools for boosting productivity in the world of technology. They simplify copy-pasting and streamline workflows. Mac users, in particular, benefit greatly from these tools for managing multiple copy-paste operations. In this article, we'll explore the top 5 clipboard managers for Mac in 2023, their distinctive features, and why they are exceptional.

Best Clipboard Managers for Mac

1. Paste
2. CopyClip 2
3. Raycast
4. Maccy
5. ClipboardFusion

What Makes a Great Clipboard Manager

Before we delve into the specifics, it's crucial to understand what makes a great clipboard manager. Here are some key characteristics:

1. Multifaceted Clipboard: A robust clipboard manager should be equipped to handle more than just text. It should support multiple data types, such as images, HTML, and files, enhancing the versatility of copy-paste operations.
2. Storage Capacity: The ability to store a large number of copied items is a must. This ensures that you can access previously copied data, even if it was copied several days or weeks ago.
3. Search Functionality: With a vast storage capacity comes the need for efficient search functionality. A good clipboard manager should allow you to search through your copy history quickly and accurately.
4. Syncing Capability: In an era where work is often spread across multiple devices, the ability to sync your clipboard across these devices can be a game-changer.
5. Security Measures: Since clipboard managers store everything you copy, they can occasionally contain sensitive data. Therefore, a great clipboard manager should have robust security measures to protect this data.

With these key characteristics in mind, let's delve into the top 5 clipboard managers for Mac in 2023.

1. Paste

Paste is a state-of-the-art clipboard manager designed to retain, search, and organize everything you copy on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It's highly revered for its seamless syncing capabilities and its focus on doing one job impeccably - keeping your copy history readily accessible.

Key Features:

• Unlimited Clipboard History: Paste provides an unlimited history of your copied items, ensuring nothing is lost in the shuffle.
• Cross-Device Syncing: All your clipped items are synced across your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, providing a universal clipboard experience.
• Organizing Tools: Paste allows you to pin frequently used items and categorize your copied content, making it easy to find and use.

Our Take:

Paste stands out for its simplicity, efficiency, and cross-device syncing. It delivers a user-friendly interface and a host of features that genuinely enhance your productivity. The ability to organize and search through your copied items is a major plus. However, privacy-conscious users may be wary of the fact that all data is stored in the cloud.

2. CopyClip 2

As the successor to the popular CopyClip, CopyClip 2 brings enhanced features and usability to the table. It's a clipboard manager that seamlessly integrates into your Mac workflow, storing your copied items for easy access.

Key Features:

• Pinning Functionality: You can pin copied items, ensuring they appear at the top of your list for easy access.
• Formatted Text Support: Unlike its predecessor, CopyClip 2 supports formatted text, enhancing its versatility.
• Exclusion Options: You can specify apps to exclude from being recorded in your clipboard history, adding an extra layer of privacy.

Our Take:

CopyClip 2 builds upon the solid foundation of its predecessor, offering an improved user experience and added features. The ability to pin items and the support for formatted text are notable enhancements. However, the lack of multiple pasting and a clipboard item categorization feature may leave some users wanting more.

3. Raycast

Raycast is a powerful tool that goes beyond being a mere clipboard manager. It offers a unified, keyboard-first approach to productivity, integrating your tools as commands and letting you build custom tools with its API.

Key Features:

• Unified Commands: Raycast incorporates all your tools as commands, offering a streamlined, keyboard-first approach to productivity.
• Customization Options: With Raycast, you can build custom tools using its API, tailoring your experience to your specific needs.
• Multiple Actions: Raycast lets you perform multiple actions in a blink, enhancing your efficiency.

Our Take:

Raycast is a versatile tool that offers more than just clipboard management. Its unified approach to commands and the high degree of customization make it a powerful addition to any workflow. However, its complexity may be overkill for users who simply want to manage their clipboard.

4. Maccy

Maccy is a lightweight, open-source clipboard manager for Mac that focuses on keeping your copy history at hand. It's known for its speed, simplicity, and keyboard-first approach.

Key Features:

• Lightweight and Fast: Maccy works swiftly, allowing you to open and search your entire clipboard history in a fraction of a second.
• Keyboard-First: Maccy follows a keyboard-first approach, allowing you to find and paste previously copied text snippets without using your mouse.
• Privacy-Focused: Unlike many other clipboard managers, Maccy stores all your data locally, ensuring your data stays private.

Our Take:

For those who value speed, simplicity, and privacy, Maccy is an excellent choice. Its lightweight design and keyboard-first approach make it a joy to use, and its local data storage ensures your copied items stay private.

5. ClipboardFusion

ClipboardFusion is a robust clipboard manager that offers a variety of features to supercharge your clipboard. It enables you to remove clipboard text formatting, replace clipboard text, and run powerful macros on your clipboard contents.

Key Features:

• Text Scrubbing and Replacement: ClipboardFusion can remove formatting from copied text and replace clipboard text with predefined strings.
• Powerful Macros: You can create custom macros to perform complex transformations on your text, offering a high degree of customization.
• Clipboard Syncing: ClipboardFusion allows you to sync your clipboard with other computers and mobile devices, enhancing cross-device productivity.

Our Take:

ClipboardFusion is a comprehensive clipboard manager that offers a great deal of flexibility and power. Its text scrubbing and replacement features, powerful macros, and clipboard syncing make it a potent tool for any workflow. However, its complexity may be a bit overwhelming for users seeking a simple clipboard management solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Clipboard Manager?

A clipboard manager is a tool that enhances the functionality of your computer's clipboard. It allows you to store multiple copied items and access them quickly, even if you copied them several days or weeks ago. This is a significant improvement over the default clipboard functionality, which only stores the most recent copied item.

Why Do I Need a Clipboard Manager?

A clipboard manager can significantly enhance your productivity, especially if you regularly copy and paste text or other data. It allows you to access your copied items quickly, without having to go back and copy them again. This is particularly useful for individuals who frequently work with large amounts of text or code.

Are Clipboard Managers Safe?

Yes, clipboard managers are safe to use. However, since they store everything you copy, they can occasionally contain sensitive data like passwords. Therefore, it's important to choose a clipboard manager with robust security measures, such as data encryption or the ability to exclude certain apps from being recorded in your clipboard history.

Do Clipboard Managers Use a Lot of Resources?

No, most clipboard managers are designed to be lightweight and use minimal resources. This ensures that they do not slow down your computer or interfere with other applications.

Conclusion

In summary, clipboard managers are essential tools for Mac users, especially those who regularly perform copy-paste operations. They enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and make multitasking a breeze.

Whether you're a developer, a writer, or just someone who uses a computer daily, you'll find a clipboard manager a valuable addition to your digital toolkit. So, why wait? Elevate your productivity game with a clipboard manager today!

All Clipboard Managers for Mac