Freedom251 › Clipboard Managers
PastePaw
What PastePaw is
PastePaw is a clipboard history app for macOS with a local MCP server that lets compatible agents search, read, and write clips. Search checks the first 300 characters of a clip and any note attached to it. The app includes 18 clip tools, including JSON, Base64, URL, YAML, XML, Markdown, HTML, JWT, QR, and OCR tools. Its macOS interface offers horizontal and vertical layouts, 20 themes, and 29 looks, with light and dark modes. Clipboard history is stored in a local SQLite database and is not uploaded, though anonymous usage statistics are sent by default and can be disabled in Settings. The main history database is not encrypted; secure collections are encrypted at rest, unlocked with Touch ID or a Mac password, and unavailable to MCP clients. Triggered AI actions send selected clipboard content to the chosen provider and require the user's own API key. The macOS app requires macOS 14 or later. A separate free Windows app requires Windows 10 version 1709 or later and lacks the macOS app's MCP server, themes, and encrypted collections. Pro monthly costs $2.99 a month; yearly costs $19.99 a year; lifetime costs $29.99, paid once.
Who it suits
It suits Mac users who want searchable clipboard history and clip tools, including people who use compatible MCP clients. A separate free Windows app is available with a reduced feature set.
What it does well
- Unlimited history on the free macOS plan
- Includes 18 clip tools
- History stays in a local database
- Secure collections are encrypted at rest
- Supports Intel and Apple Silicon Macs
What to know first
- Main history database is not encrypted
- Anonymous usage statistics are on by default
- macOS app requires macOS 14 or later
- Windows version lacks MCP server and encrypted collections
Limits
The Free (macOS) plan includes unlimited history, search, and all 18 clip tools; Pro features include smart and secure collections, the local MCP server, AI actions, and all 29 theme looks. The separate Windows app is free and open source, but lacks the macOS app’s MCP server, themes, and encrypted collections. AI actions require your own API key, and the main history database is not encrypted.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free (macOS) | Unlimited history · Search · All 18 clip tools · No account · No expiring trial | Free |
| Pro (yearly) | $19.99 / year Save 44% · Pro features · Use on every Mac signed in to the same Apple Account | $19.99 a year |
| Pro (monthly) | $2.99/ month · Smart collections · Secure collections · Local MCP server · AI actions · All 29 theme looks | $2.99 a month |
| Pro (lifetime) | $29.99 one-time lifetime · Pro features · Use on every Mac signed in to the same Apple Account | $29.99, paid once |
As pastepaw.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the PastePaw website.
- Choose the macOS app or the separate Windows app.
- For macOS, use a Mac running macOS 14 or later; for Windows, use Windows 10 version 1709 or later.
- Start with the Free (macOS) plan, or choose a listed Pro plan for its additional features.
- For AI actions, connect a compatible MCP client and provide your own API key.
- If you store sensitive clips, use Secure Collections; disable anonymous usage statistics in Settings if desired.
Verdict
PastePaw combines clipboard search and clip tools with an MCP server on macOS, while offering a separate free Windows app with fewer features. The main history database is not encrypted, so sensitive clips can be kept in Secure Collections.
Questions
How much does PastePaw Pro cost?
Pro is listed at $2.99 a month, $19.99 a year, or $29.99, paid once for lifetime access.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. Free (macOS) costs nothing and includes unlimited history, search, and all 18 clip tools. A separate Windows app is also free and open source.
Which platforms does PastePaw support?
It has a macOS app requiring macOS 14 or later, with native support for Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. A separate Windows app requires Windows 10 version 1709 or later.
Does PastePaw sync clipboard history across devices?
No. Cross-device sync is listed as unavailable.
Is clipboard history encrypted?
The main history database is not encrypted. Secure collections are encrypted at rest and are not accessible to MCP clients.
Which AI clients and providers can I use?
The maker lists Claude Code, the ChatGPT desktop app, Gemini CLI, and Codex CLI as MCP clients. AI actions require your own API key, and triggered actions send selected clipboard content to the chosen AI provider.
Facts from PastePaw's own pages
- AI data handling
- When a user explicitly triggers an AI feature, the selected clipboard content is sent to their chosen AI provider for processing. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- AI integrations
- The maker lists Claude Code, the ChatGPT desktop app, Gemini CLI, and Codex CLI as MCP clients, and AI actions require the user's own API key. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Clip tools
- It offers 18 clip tools, including JSON, Base64, URL, YAML, XML, Markdown, HTML, JWT, QR, and OCR tools. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Company details
- The site footer says © 2024–2026 PastePaw and “Made for macOS”; it does not state a headquarters or founding date. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Layouts and themes
- The macOS app has horizontal and vertical layouts, 20 themes, and 29 looks, with light and dark modes. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- macOS requirements
- The macOS app requires macOS 14 or later and runs natively on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Clipboard history is stored in a local SQLite database and is not uploaded; anonymous usage statistics are sent by default and can be turned off in Settings. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- PastePaw is a native macOS clipboard history app with a local MCP server that lets agents search, read, and write clipboard clips. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Search
- Search matches the first 300 characters of each clip and any note added to it. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- Secure collections are encrypted at rest, unlock with Touch ID or the Mac password, and are not accessible to MCP clients. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Security limitation
- The support page says the main history database is not encrypted, and recommends Secure Collections for sensitive clips. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Sensitive apps
- Users can exclude apps from clipboard monitoring, and content copied from an ignored app is not recorded. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker says questions, bugs, and ideas are handled by the person who builds PastePaw, with email support and bug reports. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Windows version
- The separate Windows app is free and open source, requires Windows 10 version 1709 or later, and does not include the macOS app's MCP server, themes, or encrypted collections. · pastepaw.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where PastePaw stands on Freedom251
- Clipboard Managers#12 of 40
- Clipboard Manager Software#29 of 39