Utilities · head to head
Maccy vs Shottr
Maccy
Utilities
Free open source clipboard history manager for macOS with no account, sync fee or subscription
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Shottr
Utilities
Free Mac screenshot tool with annotation and OCR, with an optional paid tier for extra features
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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.; Shottr it lacks CleanShot X cloud link hosting and self-cleaning desktop features, so teams that share links constantly may find it thinner.
- They diverge on capability: Maccy covers Clipboard history, Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Maccy and Shottr actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Mac), 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 Shottr
- Pixel-precise annotation
- Built in OCR
- Scrolling capture
- Colour picker
- Quick resize and export
- Free core functionality
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 Shottr
- Anyone who wants clipboard history but does not want their clipboard data touching any cloud servicenot Shottr
- A user who tried Paste and does not need iPhone or iPad sync, only wants the Mac functionality for freenot Shottr
- Someone installing via Homebrew who wants a minimal, single-purpose menu bar utilitynot Shottr
Shottr
- A user who wants OCR and precise annotation without paying anything up frontnot Maccy
- Someone evaluating whether a screenshot tool is worth paying for before committing money, unlike CleanShot X which requires payment firstnot Maccy
- A user who occasionally needs a colour picker and is fine with the free tier for everything elsenot Maccy
- Anyone who wants a lighter alternative to CleanShot X without giving up scrolling capture or annotationnot 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.
Shottr
- It lacks CleanShot X cloud link hosting and self-cleaning desktop features, so teams that share links constantly may find it thinner.
- Pricing tiers and their exact contents have shifted and are inconsistently reported across sources, making it harder to know exactly what a given tier unlocks before buying.
- The free tier periodically prompts to purchase, which some users find naggy over long term daily use.
- It is Mac only, offering nothing for a Windows machine in a mixed environment.
- Video and GIF recording is more limited than a tool built specifically for that, such as Kap or CleanShot X.
Pricing, plan by plan
Maccy
Free- MaccyFree
- Free and open source under the MIT licence
- Unlimited local clipboard history
- No account or sync required
Shottr
Free- FreeFree
- Full capture and annotation for everyday use
- Built in OCR included
- Occasional prompt to consider purchasing
- Basic$8/one-time
- One-time unlock of extra features
- Removes purchase prompts
- Friends Club$25/one-time
- Higher one-time tier
- Access to experimental features and priority 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.
Choose Shottr if
- You need pixel-precise annotation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want built in ocr.
Questions people ask
- Is Maccy or Shottr better?
- Neither clearly leads. Maccy starts at Free and Shottr at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Maccy or Shottr?
- Maccy starts at Free and Shottr at Free.
- Does Maccy or Shottr run on more platforms?
- Both run on Mac, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- 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 Shottr is typically brought in for.
- What can Maccy do that Shottr cannot?
- Maccy covers Clipboard history, Keyboard navigation, Local-only storage, Password exclusion. Shottr covers Pixel-precise annotation, Built in OCR, Scrolling capture, Colour picker.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Maccy: Is Maccy free?
Yes, entirely. It is open source under the MIT licence with no paid tier.
Shottr: Is Shottr free?
Yes, the core app can be used free indefinitely, with an optional one-time paid tier for extra features and no more purchase prompts.
Maccy: Does Maccy sync across devices?
No. It stores clipboard history only on the local Mac, with no iPhone, iPad or cross-Mac sync.
Shottr: Does Shottr do OCR?
Yes, built in OCR extracts text from a captured screenshot without needing a separate app.
Maccy: Is my clipboard data sent anywhere?
No. Maccy stores everything locally and does not upload clipboard content.
Shottr: Is there a subscription?
No. Any paid tier is a one-time purchase, not a recurring subscription.
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