# CopyQ Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Clipboard manager with advanced features Category: System Utilities · Free · Open source · Replaces Paste ($2/month) · [Official website](https://hluk.github.io/CopyQ) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask copyq` ## Quick take Install CopyQ when paste is part of how you automate work, not just how you move text. Version 16 tightens memory handling with per-MIME caps. Tahoe gives casual users a free system history; anyone who needs tabs, regex, and on-copy scripts will keep CopyQ. Pick Paste when you want polish and iCloud sync more than a programmable clipboard. Best for: Developers, Support teams with canned replies, Cross-platform clipboard power users ## What is CopyQ? CopyQ is an open source clipboard manager that keeps everything you copy. Text, HTML, images, and custom MIME types land in a searchable history you can edit, organize, and script. It runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows, which makes it the pick when a simple history popup is not enough. As of August 2026 CopyQ is still actively maintained. GitHub tags v16.0.0 from 30 May 2026 as the latest stable release. That release adds per-MIME clipboard size limits with OOM protection, AppImage packaging, and fixes for macOS and Wayland. Docs now target macOS 13 and newer because of Qt 6. Homebrew cask remains the usual Mac install. Apple Silicon builds have been around for years. Intel packaging is still discussed as older hardware ages out. The picture on macOS Tahoe 26.x has shifted. Apple added a basic Spotlight clipboard history you open with Command Space then Command 4. It is free but short lived and Mac only, and it keeps just a small window of items. Paste keeps pushing polished Mac UX with MCP hooks for AI tools that landed mid 2026. Maccy stays the light free native option. CopyQ still wins on scripting. JavaScript commands, tabs, regex search, encryption, and CLI automation give it depth the prettier Mac apps rarely match. Tradeoffs are plain. The Qt interface does not look like AppKit. You spend a few minutes enabling Accessibility and setting launch at login. If you want native polish, choose Paste or Maccy. If you want a free cross platform clipboard you can script, CopyQ remains the reference. For Macs in August 2026, install from the vendor site or Homebrew, allow the Accessibility prompt, and recheck release notes after a major macOS update like Tahoe 26.x. Apple Silicon is the normal path. Only verify Intel details if you still use that hardware. Keep a backup of settings before a big jump and pick one install channel for every machine so you do not mix cask and manual DMGs. Power users usually set this up once and forget the UI. A hotkey opens history, regex filters ticket IDs, and a small command strips UTM parameters on every URL copy. That pipeline is why developers keep CopyQ even after trying Tahoe's built-in history or a prettier Mac app. Version 16's MIME size caps matter if you copy large HTML from browsers; without them a single paste can spike memory. ## Features - **Persistent multi-format history.** Saves text, HTML, images, and arbitrary formats across reboots. Version 16 adds per-MIME size caps, so you can drop HTML or limit large payloads and avoid memory spikes from a huge browser copy. - **Tabs and pinned organization.** Group copies into tabs for code, URLs, or research. Pin the snippets you reuse, and use rules or hotkeys to move items where they belong. The right item stays findable when the history grows. - **Scripting engine & commands.** Run JavaScript or CopyQ commands that transform the clipboard on copy or on demand. Strip tracking params from URLs, fix whitespace, or pretty print JSON without opening another app. - **Global shortcuts.** Open the history, paste item N, switch tabs, or fire a custom command from any app with a hotkey. The clipboard stays a keystroke away. - **Regex search & filters.** Filter as you type and use regular expressions to hunt for emails, ticket IDs, URLs, or any pattern across thousands of entries. - **Encryption & app exclusion.** Keep password managers out of history and encrypt sensitive entries so the clipboard does not become a plaintext vault. - **CLI automation.** Drive everything from the copyq binary. That makes shell scripts, Raycast, Hammerspoon, and small CI helpers simple to wire up. ## How to Install CopyQ on Mac Homebrew is the simplest route on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs on macOS 13 and newer. Launch once to clear Gatekeeper, then add it to login items only if you want history from first boot. 1. **Install via Homebrew.** Run `brew install --cask copyq` to place CopyQ in Applications. 2. **Grant Accessibility.** System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → enable CopyQ for global hotkeys and monitoring. 3. **Set the history hotkey.** Preferences → Shortcuts: choose something memorable (for example ⌘⇧V) that does not collide with Paste or system shortcuts. 4. **Launch at login.** Enable login launch so history is never missing after reboot. ## Pros - Completely free with no feature paywall - Best-in-class scripting for clipboard automation - Cross-platform history workflows for multi-OS developers - Tabs + regex search scale to heavy daily copy volume - v16 memory guards reduce OOM risk from huge clipboard payloads - CLI integrates with shell and automation tools ## Cons - Qt UI is not native macOS visual design - Steeper setup than Maccy or Paste - macOS 13+ required on current Qt builds - No first-party iCloud sync like Paste - Tahoe's built-in clipboard covers light users, shrinking the casual audience ## Analysis: Why power users still install CopyQ Clipboard tools fall into three groups. The system gives basics. Polished Mac apps add native sync and design. CopyQ owns the programmable bucket. Under the hood it watches the system clipboard, keeps items in tabs, and exposes both GUI and CLI. That turns the clipboard into a pipeline you can filter and rewrite. The May 2026 16.0 maintenance focuses on correctness such as size limits and remote desktop visibility, not a redesign, because its audience cares more about reliability than chrome. On a Mac day you typically open history with a global hotkey, type a few characters or a regex, then paste item 0 or a pinned tab entry. Developers often add a command that strips tracking parameters or forces plain text so web formatting never lands in an IDE. Support teams pin replies and diagnostic one-liners so a ticket answer is one shortcut away. Those workflows barely overlap with Tahoe's short Spotlight history. Cross-platform teams benefit because the same scripting model works on Linux and Windows. That is rare among Mac-first clipboard apps. The cost is Qt chrome and a longer first-run setup: Accessibility, hotkeys, login items, and a few commands. Once that is done, most people stop thinking about the UI. Install choices on Mac are simple: Homebrew cask is the path most developers use, and GitHub releases ship the DMG for people who avoid package managers. After first launch you enable Accessibility, set a history hotkey that does not fight Paste or system shortcuts, and decide whether login launch is worth another background process. Version 16.0.0's OOM-minded MIME limits are worth configuring the same day you install if you copy rich web content. Teams that already automate with Raycast or Hammerspoon get extra value because the copyq CLI can paste item N or run a command without opening the main window. ## FAQ ### Is CopyQ free in 2026? Yes. GPLv3 with no paid tier and no ads. Donations are optional. Check the repo if you read this later in case packaging shifts. ### What is the latest version? Version 16.0.0 landed 30 May 2026 with MIME limits, AppImage, and assorted fixes. Look at GitHub releases for any newer tag. ### Does it work on Apple Silicon and macOS Tahoe? Yes on Apple Silicon with modern builds for macOS 13 and above. Tahoe has its own short-lived history that can run alongside CopyQ, but CopyQ stays ahead for scripting and multi-format work. ### CopyQ vs Paste? Paste feels more Mac native and syncs across Apple devices. CopyQ costs nothing and gives you scripting, tabs, and cross-platform parity. Choose by workflow, not by icon. ### Is it safe with passwords? Exclude password tools and turn on encryption for anything sensitive. Treat any manager that logs every copy as risky if you let it capture secrets. ### Can I script it from the terminal? Yes. The copyq binary reads and writes history and runs commands from shell scripts and tools like Raycast. ### Should I keep CopyQ after installing macOS Tahoe? If Tahoe's Spotlight clipboard history covers your day, you can try living without a third-party manager. Keep CopyQ when you need tabs, regex search, encryption, multi-format history, or scripts that transform copies on the fly. Many power users run both briefly, then disable the one they stop opening. ### How do I avoid clipboard bloat? Raise only the history size you actually search. Cap MIME sizes in v16, exclude password managers and bank apps, and pin durable snippets in a separate tab so the main history can rotate. Memory problems almost always come from huge HTML copies or unbounded retention, not from the Qt process itself. ## Sources - [CopyQ v16.0.0 release](https://github.com/hluk/CopyQ/releases/tag/v16.0.0) - [hluk/CopyQ GitHub repository](https://github.com/hluk/CopyQ) - [CopyQ official site](https://hluk.github.io/CopyQ/) - [CopyQ documentation](https://copyq.readthedocs.io) - [Best clipboard managers for Mac 2026 (Paste blog)](https://pasteapp.io/blog/best-clipboard-manager-for-mac) - [Best clipboard managers 2026 comparison](https://dev.to/abhijith_p_subash/best-clipboard-managers-in-2026-mac-windows-linux-compared-i-tested-them-all-8a3) ## Related - [Maccy](https://bundl.run/apps/maccy) - [Stats](https://bundl.run/apps/stats) - [SuperWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/superwhisper) - [MacWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/macwhisper) - [HyperWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/hyperwhisper) - [Aqua Voice](https://bundl.run/apps/aqua-voice) - [CopyQ vs Maccy](https://bundl.run/compare/copyq-vs-maccy) - [CopyQ vs Paste](https://bundl.run/compare/paste-vs-copyq) - [Free alternative to Paste](https://bundl.run/https:/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. Install all your essential Mac apps with one terminal command.", "sameAs": [ "https://github.com/abhiofficial/bundl-mac-setup", "https://x.com/bundlrun", "https://www.producthunt.com/products/bundl-run" ], "foundingDate": "2024", "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer support", "url": "https://bundl.run/faq" } }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "description": "The Ninite for Mac. Install all your essential Mac apps with one terminal command.", "publisher": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/jordan-kim#person", "name": "Jordan Kim", "jobTitle": "Productivity & Workflow Analyst", "url": "https://bundl.run/authors/jordan-kim", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "description": "Jordan Kim focuses on productivity software, system utilities, and workflow optimization tools. With a background in operations management and process improvement, Jordan evaluates how well applications integrate into daily workflows and enhance overall productivity. Jordan tests each tool across multiple use cases—from solo work to team collaboration—documenting setup complexity, learning curves, and long-term value. A certified project management professional with experience at Fortune 500 companies, Jordan brings rigorous methodology to software evaluation.", "knowsAbout": [ "Productivity Applications", "Note-Taking & Knowledge Management", "Task & Project Management", "Communication Tools", "System Utilities", "Workflow Automation" ], "image": "https://bundl.run/authors/jordan-kim.svg" }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://bundl.run" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Apps", "item": "https://bundl.run/apps" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "CopyQ", "item": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq" } ] }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq", "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq", "name": "CopyQ for Mac", "description": "Clipboard manager with advanced features", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "datePublished": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z", "dateModified": "2026-08-10T13:34:04.000Z", "author": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/jordan-kim#person" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq#software" }, "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq#software", "name": "CopyQ", "description": "Clipboard manager with advanced features", "applicationCategory": "UtilitiesApplication", "operatingSystem": "macOS", "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://img.logo.dev/hluk.github.io", "caption": "CopyQ app icon for Mac" }, "sameAs": [ "https://hluk.github.io/CopyQ", "https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/copyq" ], "review": { "@type": "Review", "author": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/jordan-kim#person" }, "reviewBody": "Install CopyQ when paste is part of how you automate work, not just how you move text. Version 16 tightens memory handling with per-MIME caps. Tahoe gives casual users a free system history; anyone who needs tabs, regex, and on-copy scripts will keep CopyQ. Pick Paste when you want polish and iCloud sync more than a programmable clipboard." }, "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "CopyQ", "description": "Clipboard manager with advanced features" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#website" } }, { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq#article", "headline": "CopyQ for Mac — Full Review & Installation Guide 2026", "description": "Install CopyQ when paste is part of how you automate work, not just how you move text. Version 16 tightens memory handling with per-MIME caps. Tahoe gives casual users a free system history; anyone who needs tabs, regex, and on-copy scripts will keep CopyQ. Pick Paste when you want polish and iCloud sync more than a programmable clipboard.", "image": "https://img.logo.dev/hluk.github.io", "author": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/authors/jordan-kim#person" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization" }, "datePublished": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z", "dateModified": "2026-08-10T13:34:04.000Z", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq" }, "articleSection": "UtilitiesApplication", "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "h1", ".key-facts" ] }, "about": { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "name": "CopyQ", "url": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq" }, "mentions": [ { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "name": "Paste" } ] }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is CopyQ free in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. GPLv3 with no paid tier and no ads. Donations are optional. Check the repo if you read this later in case packaging shifts." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the latest version?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Version 16.0.0 landed 30 May 2026 with MIME limits, AppImage, and assorted fixes. Look at GitHub releases for any newer tag." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does it work on Apple Silicon and macOS Tahoe?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes on Apple Silicon with modern builds for macOS 13 and above. Tahoe has its own short-lived history that can run alongside CopyQ, but CopyQ stays ahead for scripting and multi-format work." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "CopyQ vs Paste?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Paste feels more Mac native and syncs across Apple devices. CopyQ costs nothing and gives you scripting, tabs, and cross-platform parity. Choose by workflow, not by icon." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is it safe with passwords?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Exclude password tools and turn on encryption for anything sensitive. Treat any manager that logs every copy as risky if you let it capture secrets." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I script it from the terminal?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. The copyq binary reads and writes history and runs commands from shell scripts and tools like Raycast." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Should I keep CopyQ after installing macOS Tahoe?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "If Tahoe's Spotlight clipboard history covers your day, you can try living without a third-party manager. Keep CopyQ when you need tabs, regex search, encryption, multi-format history, or scripts that transform copies on the fly. Many power users run both briefly, then disable the one they stop opening." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I avoid clipboard bloat?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Raise only the history size you actually search. Cap MIME sizes in v16, exclude password managers and bank apps, and pin durable snippets in a separate tab so the main history can rotate. Memory problems almost always come from huge HTML copies or unbounded retention, not from the Qt process itself." } } ], "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://bundl.run/apps/copyq" } }, { "@type": "ItemList", "name": "CopyQ Video Tutorials", "description": "Tutorial videos for learning CopyQ on Mac", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "CopyQ: A Clipboard Manager That Does Everything??", "description": "I've tried out a bunch of different Linux clipboard managers and all of them seem to have some incredibly important missing feature whether that be image support, or anything else you may want in a cl", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DhfwWH5N3IA/mqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2020-10-21T17:30:00Z", "duration": "PT12M58S", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/DhfwWH5N3IA", "interactionStatistic": { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/WatchAction", "userInteractionCount": 47530 } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "Install CopyQ (Clipboard Manager) on Omarchy Linux in Minutes!", "description": "Boost your productivity with CopyQ—the powerful clipboard manager for Linux! In this video, I’ll show you how to install and set up CopyQ on your Omarchy quickly and easily. Learn how to organize, sea", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WcK6SGAVWjo/mqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2025-08-16T17:08:31Z", "duration": "PT3M30S", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/WcK6SGAVWjo", "interactionStatistic": { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/WatchAction", "userInteractionCount": 2062 } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "5 Ways to Use a Mac Clipboard App", "description": "Discover the power of Clipboard Managers in enhancing your productivity on macOS! This video covers five compelling reasons to utilize these apps and highlights two top choices: Pastebot and Paste. 💻", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tcmEgq5eM1Y/mqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2023-07-03T22:12:50Z", "duration": "PT7M1S", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/tcmEgq5eM1Y", "interactionStatistic": { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/WatchAction", "userInteractionCount": 65661 } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "Apple just copied @mkbhd’s fav app Raycast on Mac’s Spotlight – WWDC 25🤯", "description": "Discover why @Raycast remains the ultimate Mac OS productivity tool—even after @Apple “sherlocked” it at WWDC 25. In this clip, Marques aka @mkbhd breaks down how Raycast’s clipboard history, AI integ", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kwhxUZ1SrXo/mqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2025-06-16T20:15:43Z", "duration": "PT1M2S", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/kwhxUZ1SrXo", "interactionStatistic": { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/WatchAction", "userInteractionCount": 146844 } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "You have been Copy Pasting Wrong", "description": "Stop wasting your time copy pasting one line at a time. This PC shortcut will let you view your entire clipboard history!", "thumbnailUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nPZQhF6rMfI/mqdefault.jpg", "uploadDate": "2022-03-11T13:53:42Z", "duration": "PT27S", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/nPZQhF6rMfI", "interactionStatistic": { "@type": "InteractionCounter", "interactionType": "https://schema.org/WatchAction", "userInteractionCount": 5525527 } } } ], "numberOfItems": 5 } ] } ```