Maccy
A lightweight clipboard manager for macOS that keeps a searchable history of what you copy.
- Stars
- 22.2k
- Forks
- 1.3k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- Swift
- Last update
- 11 days ago
- Type
- App
What it is
Maccy runs in the macOS menu bar and remembers the things you copy, so you can search and reuse earlier clipboard contents. You open it with a keyboard shortcut, type to find an item, and press Enter or Option+Enter to copy or paste it. The README describes it as lightweight, keyboard-first, and free and open source.
- Search earlier copied text by typing a few characters
- Paste plain text without formatting using Option+Shift+Enter
- Pin a commonly used snippet so it stays at the top of the list
- Stop sensitive copies from being saved by using the ignore options
Great for
- Mac users who often lose something they copied earlier
- People who prefer keyboard-driven workflows
- Users who want a free, simple clipboard history without extra features
- Anyone who wants to pin frequently used snippets to the top of the list
Not ideal for
- Windows or Linux users, since it is made only for macOS
- Users on macOS versions older than Sonoma 14, which the README says is the minimum
- People who need cross-device clipboard sync, which the README does not mention
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: macOS Sonoma 14 or higher · Homebrew (optional, for the brew install command)
Install with Homebrew
brew install maccy - 2
Run it
- Install Maccy using Homebrew or download the latest release from the GitHub releases page.
- Open Maccy and press Shift+Command+C to open the history window, or click its menu bar icon.
- Type to search your clipboard history.
- Press Enter to copy an item, or Option+Enter to paste it.
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Enable "Paste automatically" in Preferences and grant Accessibility permission so paste works from the history list.
- Add apps that copy sensitive data, or custom pasteboard types, to the ignore list in Preferences.
- Pin frequently used items with Option+P so they stay at the top.
- Use the defaults write command to adjust the clipboard check interval if needed; the README notes the default is 500 ms.
- Use Preferences (Command+,) to customize behavior and appearance, including showing the footer.
Downloads
Strengths
- Described as lightweight and fast, with a native macOS interface
- Keyboard-first design with shortcuts for selecting, pasting, pinning and deleting
- Free, MIT-licensed and open source with a public codebase
Trade-offs
- Pasting automatically may require granting Accessibility permission in System Settings, per the FAQ
- Some keyboard shortcuts can stop working in password fields, and the fix requires a separate tool such as Karabiner-Elements
- The README warns about fake websites distributing malware; only maccy.app is listed as official
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maccy (this) | 22.2k | App | beginner | 11 days ago | Mac users who often lose something they copied earlier |
| MonitorControl | 34.6k | App | beginner | 23 days ago | Mac users with an external monitor who want keyboard brightness keys to work on it |
| nylas-mail | 24.7k | App | advanced | 4 months ago | Developers curious about how an extensible Electron and React desktop app is structured |
| AeroSpace | 23.7k | App | intermediate | 5 days ago | Keyboard-centric users who want to manage windows without the mouse |
| Amethyst | 16.3k | App | beginner | 5 days ago | Mac users who often work with several windows side by side |
| hidden | 15.3k | App | beginner | 6 days ago | Mac users with a crowded menu bar who want a cleaner look |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.