On macOS Tahoe 26 or later, try Spotlight's built-in clipboard history first. For a free, focused app, Maccy or the original CopyClip. If you already use a launcher, Raycast includes clipboard history and Alfred adds it with the Powerpack. For syncing with iPhone and iPad, Paste. FileShelf suits people who also want file search and a Shelf.
At a glance
Prices are in the currency each vendor shows, as listed on Oct 17, 2026. Privacy notes are only what the vendor states.
| App | Best for | Price | Privacy, per the vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotlight (macOS) | Nothing to install | Included in macOS Tahoe 26+ | Apple warns sensitive info may appear |
| Maccy | Free, keyboard-first history | Free, open source | Stored on your computer |
| CopyClip | Free, simple menu bar history | Free on the Mac App Store; CopyClip 2 is paid | CopyClip 2 skips concealed fields |
| Raycast | Launcher users | Free plan: 3 months of history; Pro: unlimited | Local, encrypted; ignores password managers |
| Alfred | Launcher users who like workflows | Needs the Powerpack (£34 single license) | Off by default; ignores common password apps |
| Paste | Mac, iPhone and iPad together | $2.49/month, $29.99/year, or lifetime | Device and your private iCloud |
| FileShelf | Clipboard plus file search and a Shelf | 7-day trial, then one-time from $9 | On your Mac; skips password managers |
If you want nothing extra to install
Spotlight clipboard history
Apple's guides for macOS Tahoe 26 and later describe a clipboard view inside Spotlight. Press ⌘ Space, then ⌘ 4 or click the Clipboard button. The first time, you may be asked to allow results from the clipboard. You can search past items, copy one back, or clear the history from the More button.
Privacy: Apple notes that sensitive information may appear on the clipboard. Apple's page doesn't say how long items are kept.
Suits you if you're on a recent macOS and only need the occasional look back. Apple documents it for macOS Tahoe 26 and later. See our guide on how to see clipboard history on Mac for the steps.
If you want a free, focused app
Maccy
Maccy is a clipboard manager that does one job: keep your copy history close. It's keyboard-first. Open it, type to filter, press Return. The developer says it is and will always be free, and it's open source under the MIT license. It's offered as a download and on the Mac App Store.
Privacy: the site says everything is stored on your computer. If a password manager clears a copied password, Maccy removes it too.
macOS: requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later. The site also warns about fake sites and says maccy.app is the only official one.
Suits you if you want a light, free tool and like the keyboard.
CopyClip
FIPLAB makes two versions. The original, “CopyClip - Clipboard History”, is free on the Mac App Store, needs macOS 10.13 or later, and was at version 1.9.86 when we checked. CopyClip 2 is a paid app with search, pinned clips and a paste shortcut. It needs macOS 12 or later, and a free trial is offered. Its price wasn't shown on the vendor's page, so we've left it out.
Privacy: CopyClip 2 has a Private Mode that pauses recording, and it skips concealed and sensitive fields such as passwords.
Suits you if you want something simple, or you're on an older version of macOS.
If you already use a launcher
Raycast
Raycast is a launcher with clipboard history built in. It keeps text, images, colors and links, and you can pin items you use often. Clipboard History is part of the free plan, which keeps up to 3 months of history. Raycast Pro, at $10 a month or $96 a year, removes that limit.
Privacy: Raycast says copied content never leaves your computer and is encrypted on your drive. Passwords from password managers and other short-lived data are ignored by default.
Suits you if you'd like one app for launching, snippets, windows and clipboard.
Alfred
Alfred's core app is free. Clipboard History is part of the paid Powerpack. It keeps text, images and file links, and you choose how long: 24 hours, 7 days, 1 month or 3 months. You set your own hotkey and keyword to open it.
Price: the Powerpack is £34 for a single v5 license, or £59 for the Mega Supporter license with free lifetime upgrades. At the time of checking, Alfred said new purchases include a free upgrade to Alfred 6.
Privacy: clipboard history is off by default. Alfred ignores popular password apps such as Keychain Access and 1Password, and you can add others. Concealed data is ignored unless you choose to keep it.
macOS: Alfred 5.8.1 runs on macOS 10.14 or later, on Intel and Apple silicon.
Suits you if you like building workflows and want fine control over retention.
If you want history on every Apple device
Paste
Paste is one app for Mac, iPhone and iPad, and every plan includes all three. Paid features include unlimited history, pinboards, search and sync between your devices. The iPhone and iPad apps come from the App Store.
Price: $2.49 a month or $29.99 a year, plus a lifetime plan whose price wasn't shown on the page we read. There's a 7-day trial with every feature. Downloads from Paste's site don't need a card for the trial.
Privacy: Paste says your clipboard stays on your device and in your private iCloud, and never touches its servers. You can set rules so it ignores passwords and sensitive apps.
Suits you if you copy on one device and paste on another.
If you also want help with files
FileShelf Clipboard History
FileShelf is our app, so weigh this with that in mind. Its clipboard is one part of a larger Mac file library. Press ⌃⌥V in any app, type a word, click, paste. It tells a link from a color from a one-time code, and remembers which app each copy came from.
Privacy: it's off until you turn it on and stays on your Mac. It never records password managers, you can tell it to ignore any app, and one-time codes delete themselves.
Price: 7 days free, then a one-time license: $9, $19 or $29 for 1, 3 or 5 Macs for the first 200 customers, then $29, $49 or $69. No subscription. After the trial, Clipboard History needs a license; browsing and search stay free. Needs macOS 14 or later.
Suits you if you also lose files, want plain-language search, or move files between apps. If you only want a clipboard, a dedicated app above may be a simpler fit. It doesn't sync to iPhone or iPad.
How we checked
On Oct 17, 2026 we read each vendor's own product, pricing and help pages, plus the Mac App Store listing for CopyClip. We left out anything we couldn't confirm there, such as ratings, download counts and unlisted prices. Plans change, so confirm before you buy.
7 days free, then pay once.
- Apple Support: Search your Clipboard history in Spotlight on Mac (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Maccy: official site (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Mac App Store: CopyClip - Clipboard History (FIPLAB) (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- FIPLAB: CopyClip 2 for Mac (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Raycast: Clipboard History (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Raycast: pricing (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Alfred: official site (free core, version 5.8.1) (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Alfred: Clipboard History help (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Alfred: buy the Powerpack (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Paste: official site (privacy) (checked Oct 17, 2026)
- Paste: pricing (checked Oct 17, 2026)