The Best Free Paste Alternative for Mac in 2026
Paste is a lovely clipboard manager — but it's $29.99 a year. Here's how to get searchable clipboard history for free, and keep it fully local.
Why look for a Paste alternative?
Paste is a beautiful clipboard manager with iCloud sync, pinboards, and Apple Intelligence search — but it's a $29.99/year subscription. Plenty of people want clipboard history without a recurring bill, and ideally fully local.
All-in-one free pick: FlowShelf
FlowShelf automatically captures everything you copy — text, links, images, files — and keeps it searchable on a shelf. By default items auto-expire after 24 hours so it never piles up; switch to Permanent in Settings for a full, lasting clipboard history. Pin anything to keep it. It's free, local, and password managers are excluded from capture by default.
Get FlowShelf free
One private menu-bar app — shelf, window tools, screenshots, snippets & on-device AI. macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon & Intel.
Download FlowShelf — FreeThe dedicated free pick: Maccy
If you want nothing but a fast, no-frills clipboard manager, Maccy is the best free choice — open-source, tiny, keyboard-driven, and entirely local. Choose Maccy for a pure clipboard tool; choose FlowShelf if you want clipboard history bundled with a shelf, screenshots, and AI.
Quick comparison
| App | Cost | History | Sync | Also does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlowShelf | Free | 24h or permanent | Local only | Shelf, screenshots, AI |
| Maccy | Free | Yes | Local only | Clipboard only |
| Paste | $29.99/yr | Yes | iCloud | Clipboard only |
Verified June 2026. Check each developer's site for current pricing.
Bottom line
For a free, dedicated clipboard manager, Maccy is the classic pick. If you want clipboard history plus a shelf, screenshots, and on-device AI in one private app, FlowShelf is the free all-in-one.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Paste?
Yes — Maccy is a free, open-source clipboard manager, and FlowShelf adds clipboard history (24h or permanent) alongside a shelf and screenshots, free.
Does FlowShelf keep clipboard history forever?
By default items clear after 24 hours so the shelf stays tidy, but you can switch to Permanent retention in Settings for a lasting history.
Is my clipboard private?
Yes — FlowShelf is local-only, stores history with owner-only permissions, excludes password managers by default, and has a Private Mode to pause capture.