# CopyQ vs Maccy Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Maccy is the top pick for most Mac users looking at clipboard managers. It is free and open-source and installs in one Homebrew command. CopyQ is the stronger choice if you are moving off Paste. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask copyq and brew install --cask maccy. For most Mac users in 2026, Maccy is the better choice for clipboard managers because it ranks higher in Homebrew install popularity (#25). Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose CopyQ instead if you are moving off Paste. ## Head to head | Factor | CopyQ | Maccy | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free | | Open Source | Yes | Yes | | Replaces | Paste ($2/month) | Paste ($30) | | Best for | clipboard, productivity, history | clipboard, productivity, menu bar | | Install | brew install --cask copyq | brew install --cask maccy | | Category | System Utilities | System Utilities | ## CopyQ Clipboard manager with advanced features Install: `brew install --cask copyq` [CopyQ on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/copyq) ## Maccy Lightweight clipboard manager for macOS Install: `brew install --cask maccy` [Maccy on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/maccy) ## Features - **Simplicity and Ease of Use.** Maccy's simplicity is its greatest strength. CopyQ's power comes at the cost of approachability. - **Scripting and Automation.** CopyQ's scripting is a killer feature for power users and developers who automate text processing. - **macOS Native Feel.** Maccy feels like part of macOS. CopyQ feels like a Linux app running on Mac. - **Search and Retrieval.** Maccy's popup fuzzy search is faster and more convenient than CopyQ's windowed search. - **Content Editing.** CopyQ's content editing transforms it from a clipboard history into a snippet manager. - **Organization (Tabs, Tags).** CopyQ's organizational features are comprehensive. Maccy keeps things flat and simple. - **Resource Usage.** Maccy uses a fraction of CopyQ's resources while providing a faster user experience. - **Cross-Platform Support.** CopyQ is the only option for users who need cross-platform consistency. ## FAQ ### CopyQ or Maccy: which should I install on a Mac? Install Maccy if you want fast native clipboard history with almost no setup. Install CopyQ if you need JavaScript commands, tabs, in-place editing, or the same tool on Windows and Linux. Most Mac-only users should start with Maccy. ### CopyQ vs Maccy vs Paste: who wins? Maccy wins free native Mac simplicity. CopyQ wins scripting and cross-platform power. Paste wins paid iCloud sync across Mac, iPhone, and iPad with polished previews. Pick the constraint you refuse to drop: zero cost and open source (Maccy/CopyQ), automation (CopyQ), or Apple-device sync (Paste). ### Is Maccy better than CopyQ for Mac? For most Mac users, yes. Maccy is simpler, faster, lighter, and feels native. CopyQ is better only if you need scripting, content editing, or cross-platform support. ### Can CopyQ automate clipboard actions? Yes. CopyQ's scripting engine can automatically process clipboard content, transform text, filter items, trigger actions, and integrate with external tools. That is its main power-user reason to exist. ### Is Maccy free? Yes, Maccy is free and open source (MIT license) on GitHub. It is also available on the Mac App Store for a paid purchase that supports the developer. ### Does CopyQ look native on Mac? No. CopyQ uses the Qt framework and looks like a cross-platform application. Its interface does not follow macOS design conventions as closely as Maccy. ### Can I sync clipboard history across devices? Neither CopyQ nor Maccy includes first-party cloud sync. Paste sells iCloud sync across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Apple Universal Clipboard covers short-lived handoff between signed-in Apple devices without a full history product. ### Which uses less memory? Maccy commonly lands around 10-20MB; CopyQ around 40-80MB with Qt. Measure on your Mac if you keep huge image histories. ### Does CopyQ work on Linux? Yes. CopyQ works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it the clipboard manager of choice for cross-platform users. ### Can Maccy store images? Yes. Maccy stores text, images, links, and file references. 2.7.x improved image/text preview with a slideout panel and OCR copy from images. ### How do I search clipboard history? In Maccy: press Shift+Cmd+C (default) and start typing to fuzzy-search. In CopyQ: use the search bar in the main window or bind a global shortcut. ### Can I exclude password managers from clipboard history? Yes, both apps support ignoring specific applications. In Maccy, add apps to the ignore list in Preferences. In CopyQ, use automatic commands to filter by source application. ### Do CopyQ and Maccy support macOS Tahoe 26? Both projects shipped 2026 releases and target modern macOS. Maccy requires Sonoma 14 or later and shipped Tahoe-oriented fixes through 2.6.x and 2.7.x; CopyQ 16.x continues cross-platform releases. Keep either app updated via Homebrew or GitHub. ### What are the dealbreakers? Maccy dealbreakers: you need tabs, scripted transforms, or Windows/Linux parity. CopyQ dealbreakers: you refuse Qt aesthetics or want a five-second learning curve. Paste dealbreakers: you will not pay for sync, or you need open-source auditability. ### How much migration effort should I plan? Maccy to CopyQ is mainly learning tabs and commands; export any pinned snippets first. CopyQ to Maccy means losing scripts and tabs, so paste critical snippets into a notes file before you quit CopyQ. Do not run both clipboard managers at once. ## Sources - [Maccy GitHub Repository](https://github.com/p0deje/Maccy) - [CopyQ GitHub Repository](https://github.com/hluk/CopyQ) - [Maccy Official Site](https://maccy.app) - [CopyQ Documentation](https://copyq.readthedocs.io/) - [CopyQ Releases](https://github.com/hluk/CopyQ/releases) - [Qt Framework](https://www.qt.io/) - [Maccy Releases](https://github.com/p0deje/Maccy/releases) - [Paste pricing](https://pasteapp.io/pricing) ## Related - [Paste vs CopyQ](https://bundl.run/compare/paste-vs-copyq) - [Maccy vs Paste](https://bundl.run/compare/maccy-vs-paste) ```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. 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