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Utilities · head to head

Maccy vs Rufus

Maccy logo

Maccy

Utilities

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rufus logo

Rufus

Utilities

Create bootable USB drives on Windows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Maccy there is no iPhone or iPad app and no sync between machines, so clipboard history does not follow a user to another device.; Rufus windows only, with no macOS or Linux build
  • They diverge on capability: Maccy covers Clipboard history, Rufus covers Bootable USB creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Maccy and Rufus actually diverge.

Attributes where Maccy and Rufus differ
AttributeMaccyRufus
PlatformsMacWindows

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

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 Maccy

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

Only in Rufus

  • Bootable USB creation
  • No installation
  • Partition scheme control
  • Windows install customisation

What people use each for

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

Maccy

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

Rufus

  • Writing a Linux or Windows installer to a USB sticknot Maccy
  • Creating live USB media with a persistent partitionnot Maccy
  • Recovering a machine that will not boot from its internal drivenot Maccy

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Rufus

  • Windows only, with no macOS or Linux build
  • Single-purpose: it writes drives and does nothing else
  • Some of its Windows setup bypass options work around vendor requirements and may not survive future releases

Pricing, plan by plan

Maccy

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

Rufus

Free
  • RufusFree
    • Full functionality
    • No usage limits
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Maccy if

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

Choose Rufus if

  • You need bootable usb creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want no installation.
Rufus review

Questions people ask

Is Maccy or Rufus better?
Neither clearly leads. Maccy starts at Free and Rufus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Maccy or Rufus?
Maccy starts at Free and Rufus at Free.
Does Maccy or Rufus run on more platforms?
Maccy runs on Mac. Rufus runs on Windows.
Can I use Maccy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Maccy best used for?
Maccy is most often used for a developer or writer who copies and pastes constantly and wants fast, searchable history on one mac, anyone who wants clipboard history but does not want their clipboard data touching any cloud service, a user who tried paste and does not need iphone or ipad sync, only wants the mac functionality for free, someone installing via homebrew who wants a minimal, single-purpose menu bar utility. Of those, a developer or writer who copies and pastes constantly and wants fast, searchable history on one mac and anyone who wants clipboard history but does not want their clipboard data touching any cloud service are not what Rufus is typically brought in for.
What can Maccy do that Rufus cannot?
Maccy covers Clipboard history, Keyboard navigation, Local-only storage, Password exclusion. Rufus covers Bootable USB creation, No installation, Partition scheme control, Windows install customisation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Maccy: Is Maccy free?

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

Rufus: Is Rufus free?

Yes, open source under the GPL.

Maccy: Does Maccy sync across devices?

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

Rufus: Does Rufus run on macOS or Linux?

No, it is Windows only. balenaEtcher is the usual cross-platform equivalent.

Maccy: Is my clipboard data sent anywhere?

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

Rufus: Why choose Rufus over the built-in tools?

It is faster than most alternatives and gives explicit control over partition scheme and target system, which matters when a machine will not boot from default media.

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