Clipboard manager · alternatives
The best Maccy alternative for Mac
Maccy is free (open source). Maccy is the free, open-source, keyboard-first clipboard manager. It does one job well and deliberately skips collections, snippets, OCR, and sync. If you are looking for something that does more, costs less over time, or fixes the issues below, here is how the options stack up.
Why people switch
Why people look for a Maccy alternative
Quoted from public reviews and forums. Follow the links for full context.
“Memory usage can occasionally exceed 1GB… saved shortcuts removed… Moving on to alternatives.”
“Pretty poor visuals when copy pasting images, rich text.”
“Maccy doesn't do iCloud sync.”
Our pick
1. SnipVault
Clipboard history, screenshot OCR, and snippets in one keyboard-first Mac app.
| Feature | SnipVault | Maccy |
|---|---|---|
Clipboard history | ✓ | ✓ |
Unlimited history Maccy's UI caps at 999 items. | ✓ | Partial |
Full-text search | ✓ | ✓ |
Pinboards / collections + tags Maccy has pinning only. | ✓ | — |
Paste stack (sequential paste) | ✓ | — |
Screenshot OCR (region → text) Maccy 2.7 can copy text from an image preview; no screen capture. | ✓ | Partial |
| Price | $29.99/yr or $79 once | Free (open source) |
Top differences only. See the full feature-by-feature table.
- ✓You have outgrown a flat list and want pinboards, tags, and search filters
- ✓You want screenshot OCR and snippets in the same palette
- ✓You want copied images and GIFs handled well, not as an afterthought
Other options
Other clipboard manager to consider
Fair picks if SnipVault is not the right shape for you.
2. Paste
$29.99/yr or $89.99 once · Mac (macOS 14+), iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision
Paste is the most polished Mac and iPhone clipboard manager, with pinboards, iCloud sync, and a Liquid Glass redesign. It has no text expansion, and its 2020 switch to subscription and 2024 price doubling are the loudest complaints in the category.
Best for: You need clipboard history on your iPhone and iPad today
SnipVault vs Paste →3. Pastebot
$39 + $19/yr updates · Mac (macOS 26 only)
Pastebot 3 is Tapbots' July 2026 rewrite: rule-based Pastebins, text filters, stacks, and an MCP server. It requires macOS 26 Tahoe, has no iPhone app, and moved to a paid-updates model that reviewers call steep.
Best for: You want regex rules that file clips automatically
SnipVault vs Pastebot →4. PastePal
$14.99 once · Mac (macOS 13+), iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision
PastePal is a $14.99 one-time Mac and iOS clipboard manager with collections, a paste stack, and image OCR. It is the app Paste users most often switch to, and its iCloud sync is its weak spot.
Best for: You want the cheapest one-time price that includes an iPhone app
SnipVault vs PastePal →5. Copy 'Em
$8.99 once (Mac) · Mac (macOS 14.5+), iPhone, iPad
Copy 'Em is a dense, feature-rich one-time-purchase clipboard manager with lists, stars, 36 paste shortcuts, and text transforms. OCR and sequential paste are sold as separate apps, and iOS sync needs a subscription.
Best for: You want the cheapest Mac clipboard manager with lists and batch paste
SnipVault vs Copy 'Em →Still with them?
When Maccy is still the right call
- •You want a free, minimal, open-source history and nothing else
- •You never need to organise, tag, or OCR anything
FAQ
Maccy alternative: questions
What is the best Maccy alternative?+
SnipVault is the closest all-in-one replacement: it covers what Maccy does and adds screenshot OCR and text snippets, for $29.99 a year or $79 once.
Is there a free Maccy alternative?+
SnipVault has a 7-day free trial with no card required. Free options in this category usually skip OCR and snippets.
How do I switch from Maccy to SnipVault?+
Install SnipVault, press ⇧⌘V, and keep Maccy running alongside it during the 7-day trial. Nothing is charged until you choose a plan, and you can export your SnipVault vault at any time.
Is SnipVault keyboard-first like Maccy?+
Yes. ⇧⌘V opens the palette, type to search, ↑↓ to pick, ⏎ to paste, ⌘1–9 for recent items, ⌥⏎ to copy only.
Switch from Maccy in five minutes
Install, press ⇧⌘V, and keep both apps until you are sure. Nothing is charged during the trial.