Softwr

Utilities · head to head

Maccy vs Paste

Maccy logo

Maccy

Utilities

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paste logo

Paste

Utilities

Subscription clipboard manager for Mac, iPhone and iPad with iCloud sync between devices

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Maccy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Paste it is an ongoing subscription, unlike the free, one-time-cost alternatives Maccy and the built in macOS clipboard, so the cost compounds every year it is used.
  • They diverge on capability: Maccy covers Keyboard navigation, Paste covers iCloud sync.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Maccy and Paste actually diverge.

Attributes where Maccy and Paste differ
AttributeMaccyPaste
Starting priceFree$29.99/year
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacMac, iOS

Identical on both: 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

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

Only in Paste

  • iCloud sync
  • Pinboards
  • Rich content support
  • Search and filter
  • Setapp availability

Both cover

  • Clipboard history

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

Paste

  • Someone who regularly copies something on their iPhone, such as an address or code, and needs it moments later on their Macnot Maccy
  • A user organising reusable snippets like email signatures or boilerplate text into named pinboardsnot Maccy
  • A team member already paying for Setapp who wants Paste included rather than purchased separatelynot Maccy
  • Anyone who has outgrown a local-only clipboard manager because they now work across multiple Apple devicesnot 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.

Paste

  • It is an ongoing subscription, unlike the free, one-time-cost alternatives Maccy and the built in macOS clipboard, so the cost compounds every year it is used.
  • Sync depends on iCloud, so a user without a reliable iCloud connection or who disables iCloud for privacy reasons loses the entire reason to pay for it over Maccy.
  • It has no Windows or Android app, so sync only works within the Apple ecosystem.
  • Because it preserves rich content and images, the synced history can grow large enough to be noticeable in iCloud storage use over time.
  • A user who only ever uses one Mac gets no benefit from the subscription cost over a free local-only tool like Maccy.

Pricing, plan by plan

Maccy

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

Paste

$29.99/year
  • Paste$2.49/month
    • Billed annually at roughly 29.99 USD per year
    • Covers Mac, iPhone and iPad apps under one subscription
    • iCloud sync between all devices

Which should you pick?

Choose Maccy if

  • You need keyboard navigation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want local-only storage.
Maccy review

Choose Paste if

  • You need icloud sync.
  • You work on Mac, iOS.
  • You also want pinboards.
Paste review

Questions people ask

Is Maccy or Paste better?
Neither clearly leads. Maccy starts at Free and Paste at $29.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Maccy or Paste?
Maccy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Maccy and $29.99/year for Paste.
Does Maccy or Paste run on more platforms?
Maccy runs on Mac. Paste runs on Mac, iOS.
Can I use Maccy for free?
Yes. Maccy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paste starts at $29.99/year.
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 Paste is typically brought in for.
What can Maccy do that Paste cannot?
Maccy covers Keyboard navigation, Local-only storage, Password exclusion, Lightweight footprint. Paste covers iCloud sync, Pinboards, Rich content support, Search and filter. Both handle Clipboard history.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Maccy: Is Maccy free?

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

Paste: Is Paste free?

No. It is a subscription, priced around 2.49 to 3.99 US dollars a month or roughly 30 dollars a year, though it is also available through the Setapp bundle.

Maccy: Does Maccy sync across devices?

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

Paste: Does Paste sync between my Mac and iPhone?

Yes, that is its main differentiator, using iCloud to sync clipboard history across Mac, iPhone and iPad.

Maccy: Is my clipboard data sent anywhere?

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

Paste: Is there a free alternative that does not sync?

Yes, Maccy is free, open source and Mac-only with no sync, for users who do not need cross-device history.

Share

Related pages

More on Maccy

More on Paste

Keep looking

Other head to heads