ClipboardlyClipy Alternative: Clipboardly vs Clipy for Mac
Clipy is a free, open-source (MIT) clipboard extension for Mac with history and saved snippets in a menu. Its 2024 release, version 1.3.0, needs macOS 13 Ventura or later. Clipboardly is a free alternative that runs on macOS 10.15 and up and adds searchable history, project boards, 12 clip types, PIN-locked clips and iCloud Sync.
- Clipy is free and open source, with clipboard history and reusable snippets.
- Clipy 1.3.0 (June 2024) was its first release in about eight years and requires macOS 13 or later.
- Clipboardly is free, runs on macOS 10.15+, and adds boards, previews and PIN-locked clips.
At a glance
| Clipboardly | Clipy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (open source, MIT) |
| Default shortcuts | ⌘⇧X Quick Paste, ⌘⇧V panel | ⇧⌘V menu, ⌃⌘V history, ⇧⌘B snippets |
| Saved snippets | Pinned clips | Yes |
| Search history | Yes | No |
| Boards / projects | Boards with an active board | Snippet folders |
| Image and link previews | Yes | No |
| Lock sensitive clips | 4-digit PIN | No |
| Minimum macOS | 10.15 Catalina | 13 Ventura |
Where Clipy is the better choice
Clipy is open source and its snippets are great for text you type again and again, such as email replies or code templates, organized into folders and opened with their own shortcut. If you like working from a menu, Clipy feels at home.
Where Clipboardly is the better choice
- Your Mac runs macOS 12 or earlier. Clipboardly works on macOS 10.15 Catalina and later.
- You want to search, not scroll. Press ⌘⇧X, type a few letters, press Return.
- Projects. Set a board active and everything you copy is filed there automatically.
- Privacy. PIN-locked clips and a one-click Pause.
- More than one Mac. iCloud Sync through your own account.
Switching from Clipy
- Download Clipboardly and move it to Applications.
- Quit Clipy. Its main menu also uses Shift-Command-V, so only one app should own that shortcut.
- Pin the snippets you use most in Clipboardly so they stay at the top.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clipy still updated?
Clipy 1.3.0 came out in June 2024, its first release in about eight years, adding Apple Silicon support. Check its GitHub page for newer releases.
Does Clipy work on older macOS?
Clipy 1.3.0 requires macOS 13 Ventura or later. Clipboardly runs on macOS 10.15 Catalina or later.
Does Clipboardly have snippets like Clipy?
Clipboardly doesn’t have text-expansion snippets. Pin the clips you reuse and they stay at the top of your history, one search away.
Sources
Checked September 2026. Prices and features of other apps can change; check each app’s site for the latest.
Written by Sheikh Saadi, founder of Growbig100. Updated .