LaunchBar vs PopClip
We give LaunchBar a 3.0 GPA and PopClip a 2.8, out of 4.0. LaunchBar grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
LaunchBar
Keyboard launcher for Mac with clipboard history and actions
PopClip
Pop-up bar of text actions when you select text on a Mac
How we grade them
| 3.0GPALaunchBarVery good | 2.8GPAPopClipGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A35 € once for a Single licence, or 59 € for up to 5 computers in one household. That's about a year of a typical paid utility here, and you keep it. Prices are in euros, and the shop gave no US dollar price when the listing was read. | A$12 once for a Standard License with 2 years of updates, on up to 5 Macs. Lifetime is $32 and includes all future versions. Both are well under a year of a typical paid utility here. Students get the Standard License at half price. |
| Free plan and trial | BAfter the 30-day trial you can carry on free for as long and as often as you like. The catch is that it occasionally invites you to take a short break, and the listing can't say how often. | CNo free version, but the trial is fully functional for 250 uses. After that the app periodically asks you to buy a license. And if you can't afford to, the developer says to email him for a free 1-year license. |
| Features | AType an abbreviation like SP for System Preferences and it finds the thing. Add clipboard history with ClipMerge, file moves and renames from the keyboard, calendar events, reminders and web searches. You can write your own actions in JavaScript, AppleScript, Ruby or Python. | AIt does one thing, actions on selected text, and does it fully. Cut, copy, paste, search, dictionary and spelling are built in, and 287 extensions add translation, notes, tasks and AI tools. You can write your own as a plain-text snippet and group actions into folders. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. Open it, type a few letters, hit Return. The ranking adapts to how you use it, so the things you open most come up first. | BNo store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. Select text and the bar is just there, right at the pointer. It needs the Accessibility permission to work, and newer versions come from the website, Setapp or Homebrew, not the Mac App Store. |
| Platforms and integrations | DMac only. Version 6.24 runs on macOS Tahoe and is compatible back to Monterey. It works with Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Apple Shortcuts, Calendar, Reminders, Keyboard Maestro and Spotify. One operating system, though. | DMac only, on macOS 13.5 or above, and the developer makes no iPhone, iPad or Windows version. Extensions do connect it to Google Translate, DeepL, Obsidian, Things 3, Todoist, Raycast and Alfred. |
| Best for | a keyboard launcher on the Mac, bought once | one-click actions on any text you select on a Mac |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: LaunchBar and PopClip. How we grade
Where they differ
- LaunchBar starts at 35 € one-time purchase (Single License). PopClip starts at $12 one-time purchase (Standard License, 2 years of updates).
- LaunchBar has a free plan. PopClip does not, though it has a free trial.
- LaunchBar also covers launcher, clipboard manager, file management and calculator.
- PopClip also covers menu bar app.
At a glance
| LaunchBar | PopClip | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | 35 € one-time purchase (Single License) | $12 one-time purchase (Standard License, 2 years of updates) |
| Free plan | Beyond the 30-day trial, LaunchBar 6 can be used for free as long and as often as you like. Without registration it occasionally invites you to take a short break. | None |
| Free trial | 30-day trial period, after which free use continues without a license | Fully functional trial for 250 uses; after that the app periodically asks you to buy a license |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | Objective Development Software GmbH | Pilotmoon Software |
| Price read from | obdev.at | popclip.app |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
LaunchBar
- Mac users who want to keep their hands on the keyboard
- People who prefer a launcher license bought once over a subscription
- Scripters who extend their launcher with AppleScript or JavaScript actions
PopClip
- Mac users who select text with the mouse and want actions right at the pointer
- Sending selected text to a notes app, task manager or translator in one click
- People who want to add their own text actions with short snippets
Worth knowing
LaunchBar
- macOS only. Version 6.24 runs on macOS Tahoe and is also compatible with Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura and Monterey.
- Without a license, LaunchBar occasionally interrupts with an invitation to take a short break.
- Prices are shown in euros; the vendor's shop gave no US dollar price when it was read.
- The Family License is limited to one household and non-commercial use, and a Single License does not cover several users on several computers.
PopClip
- macOS only. The latest release requires macOS 13.5 or above, and the developer makes no iPhone, iPad or Windows version.
- The Mac App Store edition stopped at version 2023.9; newer versions come from the website, Setapp or Homebrew.
- A Standard License covers 2 years of updates. After that you keep the last version received and need a new license for later ones.
- It does not appear when text is selected with the keyboard alone unless you use its shortcut, and it needs the Accessibility permission.
Key features
LaunchBar
- Adaptive abbreviation search
- Finds apps, documents and other items from short acronyms of their names, such as SP for System Preferences. The ranking of results adapts to your usage.
- Clipboard History and ClipMerge
- Recently copied items stay available, with a paste-as-plain-text option and an ignore list for sensitive data. Pressing Command-C twice merges successive copies into one clip.
- Send To and Instant Send
- Tab sends the selected item to an app, a folder, an email contact or a search template. Holding Command-Space sends a file or text selection from another app to LaunchBar.
- File browsing and operations
- Navigate the file system with the arrow keys, including inside packages, and move, rename, compress or tag files and create folders from the keyboard.
- Calendar, Reminders and Contacts
- Create calendar events and reminders with live feedback on what will be created, and reach contacts to start an email or look up a phone number or address.
- Scriptable actions
- Custom actions can be written in JavaScript, AppleScript, Ruby, Python, PHP and other languages with the built-in Action Editor, or installed from other users.
PopClip
- Appears on text selection
- The PopClip bar appears when you select text with the mouse or trackpad in any app. A long press or a keyboard shortcut brings it up without a selection.
- Built-in actions
- Cut, Copy, Paste, Search, Open Link, Dictionary and Spelling come with the app. Holding Shift cuts, copies or pastes as plain text, and Search can use a custom search URL.
- Extensions directory
- The directory lists 287 extensions that add actions for translation, notes, tasks, AI tools and more. Extensions installed from it can update automatically.
- Snippets and custom extensions
- An extension can be written as a plain-text snippet and installed by selecting that text, or packaged as a file. Developer docs cover both formats.
- Organizing actions
- Actions can be rearranged, renamed, restyled, duplicated with different settings and grouped into folders, and auto-appear can be turned off for chosen apps or websites.
- iCloud Sync
- Syncs installed extensions, the arrangement of the actions list and each action's settings between your Macs. Sign-ins and API keys sync through iCloud Keychain.
Plans
LaunchBar
Free use0 €
LaunchBar 6 without a license. It keeps working after the 30-day trial but occasionally asks you to take a short break.
Single License35 €
one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6
Either one user on multiple computers or multiple users on one computer, but not multiple users on multiple computers.
Family License59 €
one-time purchase, license for LaunchBar 6
Up to 5 computers at a time that belong to one household. Non-commercial use only.
PopClip
Standard License$12
one-time purchase, 2 years of free updates (US price)
Updates for 2 years, after which you keep the last version you received. Personal license for up to 5 Macs, with iCloud sync.
Lifetime License$32
one-time purchase, lifetime free updates (US price)
Never expires and includes all future versions. Personal license for up to 5 Macs, with iCloud sync.
Setapp subscription$14.99
per month + tax, for the whole Setapp catalog
PopClip is also included in Setapp, a subscription that bundles it with dozens of other apps.
Ways to pay less
LaunchBar
- Other savings
Reduced-price upgrades for existing licenses
The order page offers upgrades at a reduced price: owners enter their license key to check which upgrade options are available.
PopClip
- Education
Half-price Standard License for students
Students in full-time education can claim a half-price 2-year Standard License, which also brings a 25% discount on a later Lifetime License upgrade.
- Lifetime license
Lifetime License with all future updates
The Lifetime License is a one-time purchase that never expires and includes free updates to all future versions of PopClip.
- Other savings
Volume pricing for teams
Teams and organizations can buy a multi-user license key at a discounted rate by emailing the developer for a quote.
- Other savings
Free 1-year license on request
The developer says that people who have used up the trial and cannot afford to buy can email him for a free 1-year license.
- By country
Lower prices in listed countries
Prices are set 20% or 40% lower in a published list of countries and are applied automatically by location. Other discounts come off that lower price.
