The shortlist, ranked
“Best free” means genuinely free to use forever, not a trial. Here's how the main options stack up for everyday Mac use in 2026.
| App | License | Strengths | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maccy our pick | Free · MIT open source | Fast keyboard recall, pins, app exclusions, actively updated | Mac-only, no sync |
| Raycast clipboard | Free tier | Capable clipboard inside a great launcher | Overkill if you only want clipboard |
| Flycut | Free · open source | Dead-simple, dev-friendly text history | Text-focused, limited, less active |
| Clipy | Free · open source | Snippet menus from the menu bar | Community-maintained, updates slowly |
| Spotlight (Tahoe) | Free with macOS 26 | Built in, nothing to install | Short retention, no pinning, strips formatting |
Why Maccy tops it
Among the free options, Maccy hits the best balance: it's focused, fast, private (local-only), open source, and kept current with macOS. You press ⇧ + ⌘ + C, type, and paste — no launcher to adopt, no subscription, no account.
If you already use Raycast as a launcher, its built-in clipboard is the pragmatic free choice — no second app needed.
Don't forget the built-in option
macOS Tahoe (26) added a clipboard history to Spotlight. It's free and fine for casual recall, but it keeps items only for a limited window, can't pin, and strips formatting on paste. For anything beyond “what did I copy a minute ago,” a dedicated free app like Maccy goes further. We cover the built-in feature in detail in the Mac clipboard section.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best free Mac clipboard manager?
For most people, Maccy — it's free, open source, fast and private. If you already use Raycast, its built-in clipboard is an equally free option.
Is there a free built-in clipboard history on Mac?
Yes, since macOS Tahoe (26), via Spotlight. It's basic — limited retention, no pinning — so many people still prefer a dedicated free app.
Are free clipboard managers safe?
Local-only, open-source tools like Maccy are a safe choice because nothing leaves your Mac and the code is public. Always exclude your password manager from any clipboard tool.