Side by side
CopyQ vs PastePaw
Both stand on clipboard manager software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
CopyQ offers extensive clipboard organization and customization without sending data over the network, according to its project. The Wayland paste limitation and unencrypted script exports are important constraints to consider.
Visit CopyQ
Free plan MacWindows
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.
Visit PastePawThe facts
| CopyQ | PastePaw | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Pro (yearly): $19.99 a year |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | hluk.github.io | pastepaw.com |
| On clipboard manager software | #6 of 39 | #29 of 39 |
CopyQ: what it does well
- Stores text, HTML, images, and custom formats.
- History can be searched, filtered, tagged, and edited.
- Supports shortcuts, commands, scripting, and a CLI.
- Built-in encryption can protect stored tab data.
What to know first
- Pasting is not supported on Wayland.
- Script-exported data is not encrypted.
- Default clipboard limit is 100 MiB per MIME type.
PastePaw: 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
Alternatives to CopyQ Alternatives to PastePaw The whole list