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Entertainment · head to head

Jellyfin vs Maccy

Jellyfin logo

Jellyfin

Entertainment

The free software media system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Maccy logo

Maccy

Utilities

Free open source clipboard history manager for macOS with no account, sync fee or subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Jellyfin no commercial support or SLA available; project is volunteer-maintained; Maccy there is no iPhone or iPad app and no sync between machines, so clipboard history does not follow a user to another device.
  • They diverge on capability: Jellyfin covers Media server, Maccy covers Clipboard history.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Jellyfin and Maccy actually diverge.

Attributes where Jellyfin and Maccy differ
AttributeJellyfinMaccy
Pricing modelfreeOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, DockerMac
CategoryEntertainmentUtilities
Founded2018Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Jellyfin

  • Media server
  • Streaming
  • Library management
  • Self-hosted
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Mobile devices
  • Open source audit

Only in Maccy

  • Clipboard history
  • Keyboard navigation
  • Local-only storage
  • Password exclusion
  • Lightweight footprint

Both cover

  • Open source

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Jellyfin

  • Open-source media streamingnot Maccy
  • Self-hosted librarynot Maccy

Maccy

  • A developer or writer who copies and pastes constantly and wants fast, searchable history on one Macnot Jellyfin
  • Anyone who wants clipboard history but does not want their clipboard data touching any cloud servicenot Jellyfin
  • A user who tried Paste and does not need iPhone or iPad sync, only wants the Mac functionality for freenot Jellyfin
  • Someone installing via Homebrew who wants a minimal, single-purpose menu bar utilitynot Jellyfin

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Jellyfin

  • No commercial support or SLA available; project is volunteer-maintained
  • Self-hosted deployment required; no cloud hosting provided by project

Maccy

  • There is no iPhone or iPad app and no sync between machines, so clipboard history does not follow a user to another device.
  • It has no snippets, templates or organised boards, so a user wanting structured reusable text needs a different tool as well.
  • It is Mac only, so it offers nothing for a Windows machine in the same workflow.
  • As a volunteer-maintained open source project, there is no guaranteed support response time if something breaks.
  • Very large clipboard histories with many images can still use meaningful memory, though far less than a heavier commercial equivalent.

Pricing, plan by plan

Jellyfin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited streaming
    • Open source
    • No ads

Maccy

Free
  • MaccyFree
    • Free and open source under the MIT licence
    • Unlimited local clipboard history
    • No account or sync required

Which should you pick?

Choose Jellyfin if

  • You need media server.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker.
  • You also want streaming.
Jellyfin review

Choose Maccy if

  • You need clipboard history.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want keyboard navigation.
Maccy review

Questions people ask

Is Jellyfin or Maccy better?
Neither clearly leads. Jellyfin starts at Free and Maccy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Jellyfin or Maccy?
Jellyfin starts at Free and Maccy at Free.
Does Jellyfin or Maccy run on more platforms?
Jellyfin runs on Web, Ios, Android, Smart-tv, Desktop, Docker. Maccy runs on Mac.
Can I use Jellyfin for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Jellyfin best used for?
Jellyfin is most often used for open-source media streaming, self-hosted library. Of those, open-source media streaming and self-hosted library are not what Maccy is typically brought in for.
What can Jellyfin do that Maccy cannot?
Jellyfin covers Media server, Streaming, Library management, Self-hosted. Maccy covers Clipboard history, Keyboard navigation, Local-only storage, Password exclusion. Both handle Open source.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Jellyfin: How much does Jellyfin cost?

Jellyfin is completely free with no costs, hidden fees, or subscriptions. The Jellyfin server and official clients are free to download and use for personal, commercial, or any other purpose. There are no paid tiers or premium features.

Source
Maccy: Is Maccy free?

Yes, entirely. It is open source under the MIT licence with no paid tier.

Jellyfin: Is Jellyfin open source?

Yes, Jellyfin is free and open-source software distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Users can download, use, study, modify, and distribute it at no cost. The project is maintained by volunteers and supported through user donations.

Source
Maccy: Does Maccy sync across devices?

No. It stores clipboard history only on the local Mac, with no iPhone, iPad or cross-Mac sync.

Maccy: Is my clipboard data sent anywhere?

No. Maccy stores everything locally and does not upload clipboard content.

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