ClipTen Best clipboard manager for Mac

Best clipboard manager for Mac: six compared

Q: Does the Mac have a clipboard manager built in?

Only on macOS Tahoe 26 and later, inside Spotlight: ⌘ + Space, then ⌘ + 4. Older Macs keep one copy at a time. More on Mac clipboard history.

Q: How do I copy multiple things on a Mac?

With ClipTen, copy each one onto its own number: ⌘ + C + 1, ⌘ + C + 2, and so on. Paste any of them with ⌘ + V and the number.

One question decides it. Do you search for things you copied earlier, or paste the same few things all day? Answer that, and the right one is easy to spot.

Quick answer

Checked October 2026 by the founder

For pasting the same things all day, ClipTen is the fastest: each copy sits on a number key, and one shortcut pastes it. For searching old copies, Maccy is free and Spotlight is built into macOS Tahoe.

Save⌘+C+2Your copy now lives on key 2.
Paste⌘+V+2Pasted, in any app, as often as you like.

ClipTen runs on macOS 10.15 and later, and on Windows. Slots 1 to 5 are free for good.

We make ClipTen, so it comes first here. Every other app is described from its own website, checked in October 2026, with what it does best.

1. ClipTen: paste by number

ClipTen gives you ten clipboards, one on each number key. Hold ⌘, press C, then a number: ⌘+C+1 saves. ⌘+V+1 pastes it, in any app. Plain ⌘+C and ⌘+V work exactly as before.

Nothing to open, nothing to scroll. Your keys stay where you put them, even after a restart, and a small History keeps what you copied lately. Runs on macOS 10.15 and later, so older Macs are welcome. Slots 1 to 5 are free; all ten are $15, once.

Best for: anyone who pastes the same email, address, link or reply again and again.

2. Spotlight clipboard (built in)

On macOS Tahoe 26 and later, Spotlight keeps what you copy. Press ⌘+Space, then ⌘+4. Switch on Results from Clipboard first. Items expire after 8 hours by default.

Best for: finding something you copied this morning, at no cost.

3. Maccy

Free and open source. Press ⇧+⌘+C to open a list of everything you copied, type to search, press Enter. You can pin items to the top. Needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later.

Best for: a light, free history you search with the keyboard.

4. Paste

A visual clipboard library for Mac, iPhone and iPad, synced with iCloud, with pinboards for things you keep. Subscription or a one-time lifetime price, with a 7-day trial.

Best for: people who live across Apple devices and like to browse their copies.

5. Raycast

A launcher with clipboard history inside it, next to snippets, window tools and extensions. Free to start.

Best for: people who already use Raycast for everything.

6. Alfred

Another launcher. Clipboard history comes with its paid Powerpack.

Best for: long-time Alfred users.

Side by side

	To paste	Price	Also on Windows
ClipTen	`⌘`+`V`+`1`	Slots 1–5 free, all 10 $15 once	Yes
Spotlight	`⌘`+`Space`, `⌘`+`4`, pick	Free, built in	No
Maccy	`⇧`+`⌘`+`C`, search, Enter	Free	No
Paste	Open the strip, pick	Subscription or lifetime	No
Raycast	Open Raycast, search, pick	Free to start	Yes
Alfred	Open Alfred, search, pick	Paid Powerpack	No

How to choose

You paste the same things every day: ClipTen.
You want free history and you are on Tahoe: Spotlight.
You want free history on an older Mac: Maccy (macOS 14+), or ClipTen’s free slots on 10.15+.
You use an iPhone and iPad too: Paste.

They also work together. Many people keep a history app for looking back and ClipTen for the handful of things in front of them.

On Windows instead? See the best clipboard manager for Windows.

Last checked October 2026.

Questions

What is the best free clipboard manager for Mac?

ClipTen’s slots 1 to 5 are free for good, for pasting by number. For a free history, Maccy (macOS 14+) or Spotlight’s clipboard on macOS Tahoe 26.

Does the Mac have a clipboard manager built in?

Only on macOS Tahoe 26 and later, inside Spotlight: ⌘+Space, then ⌘+4. Older Macs keep one copy at a time. More on Mac clipboard history.

Is there a clipboard manager for both Mac and Windows?

Yes. ClipTen works the same on both: ⌘ on a Mac, Ctrl on Windows, with the same number keys.

How do I copy multiple things on a Mac?

With ClipTen, copy each one onto its own number: ⌘+C+1, ⌘+C+2, and so on. Paste any of them with ⌘+V and the number.

Download forMac Get it fromMicrosoft

Slots 1 to 5 free, no daily limit
No card, no subscription
All 10 slots for $15, once

On a Mac, it installs in about a minute with one line in Terminal.