Is CopyQ better than Clipy?

CopyQ ranks higher in our list of clipboard managers (#4 against #5, score 85.5 against 84.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Clipy is best for: Mac users who want free history and snippets. CopyQ is best for: cross-platform users who want scripted clipboard history.

Which is cheaper, Clipy or CopyQ?

Clipy: Free MIT-licensed app for macOS 13 and later. CopyQ: Free and open source under GPL-3.0.

Do Clipy and CopyQ run on the same platforms?

Clipy supports macOS. CopyQ supports Linux, Windows, macOS.

Comparison · Clipboard managers

Clipy vs CopyQ: which is better in 2026?

Clipy84.0#5 in best clipboard managers

CopyQ85.5#4 in best clipboard managers

CopyQ ranks higher in our list of clipboard managers (#4 against #5, score 85.5 against 84.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.

How we rank Share

84.0
Editorial score
85.5
1
Platforms
3
Yes
Free to use
Yes
Yes
Open source
Yes

Which should you choose?

Choose Clipy if you want

Mac users who want free history and snippets.

Free, MIT-licensed clipboard history for macOS 13 and later, with plain text and image support and reusable snippets. It runs on the Mac only, where Maccy covers the same job for free.

Choose CopyQ if you want

Cross-platform users who want scripted clipboard history.

The best cross-platform open-source clipboard manager here, running on Linux, Windows and macOS with scripting support. Its advanced features take time to learn, and install steps vary by platform.

The main differences

Only CopyQ runs on Linux.
Only CopyQ runs on Windows.

Side by side

	Clipy	CopyQ
Score	84.0	85.5
Rank in list	#5 of 10	#4 of 10
Price	Free and open sourceFree MIT-licensed app for macOS 13 and later	Free and open sourceFree and open source under GPL-3.0
Free to use	Yes	Yes
Open source	Yes	Yes
Platforms	macOSmacOS	LinuxWindowsmacOSLinux, Windows, macOS
Made by	Not stated	Not stated
Best for	Mac users who want free history and snippets	Cross-platform users who want scripted clipboard history
Strengths	MIT licensed, with source on GitHub Clipboard history plus reusable snippets	Free, GPL-3.0 licensed and cross-platform Scripting and rules for ignoring copied content
Limits	Runs on Macs only, not Windows or Linux Supports macOS 13 and later only	Advanced scripting takes time to learn Install steps vary by platform
Links	Visit site	Visit site

Questions about Clipy vs CopyQ

Is CopyQ better than Clipy?: CopyQ ranks higher in our list of clipboard managers (#4 against #5, score 85.5 against 84.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. Clipy is best for: Mac users who want free history and snippets. CopyQ is best for: cross-platform users who want scripted clipboard history.
Which is cheaper, Clipy or CopyQ?: Clipy: Free MIT-licensed app for macOS 13 and later. CopyQ: Free and open source under GPL-3.0.
Do Clipy and CopyQ run on the same platforms?: Clipy supports macOS. CopyQ supports Linux, Windows, macOS.