Maccy vs Yoink

Maccy

• Mac users who want clipboard history and nothing else
• Keyboard-driven work: search and paste without reaching for the mouse
• People who prefer open-source apps that keep data on the device

Yoink

• Mac users who drag files between windows, spaces and full-screen apps
• People who prefer a one-time purchase under $10
• Owners of several Apple devices who pass files between them with Handoff

Maccy

• macOS only; it requires macOS Sonoma 14 or higher.
• The free download is on GitHub or Homebrew. The website's buttons lead to paid copies: $4.99 or more on Gumroad, $9.99 on the Mac App Store.
• History stays on the Mac, so the pages read describe no syncing of clips to other devices.
• It is built to do one job; the vendor says it leaves out the extra features other clipboard managers add.

Yoink

• This is the Mac app, for macOS 10.13 High Sierra or newer. Yoink for iPad and iPhone is a separate app, and Handoff with iOS devices requires it.
• There is no free version: after the 28-day trial it has to be bought.
• Continuity Camera needs macOS Mojave 10.14 or newer and an iPhone or iPad on iOS 12 or newer.

Maccy

Clipboard history popup

Shift-Command-C, or a click on the menu bar icon, opens the history. An item is selected with Enter, a click, or Command and its number.

Type-to-search

Start typing to filter the whole clipboard history and press Enter to select a result, without using the mouse.

Paste options

Option-Enter selects and pastes an item in one step, and Option-Shift-Enter pastes it without formatting. Automatic pasting needs the macOS Accessibility permission.

Pinned items

Option-P pins or unpins an item, and unpinned items can be cleared separately from pinned ones.

Privacy handling

If a password manager removes a copied password from the clipboard, Maccy removes it too. All history is stored on the Mac and does not leave it.

Shortcuts actions and preferences

The App Store listing says complex cases can be automated with Shortcuts actions and that every aspect of the app is configurable in preferences.

Yoink

Shelf at the screen edge

The shelf fades in at the edge of the screen when a drag starts. Drop files on it, move to the destination window, space or full-screen app, then drag them out again.

Files and app content

Holds files from Finder as well as content such as text from a word processor or images from a website. Several files dropped at once are condensed into a stack.

Placement and shortcut

The shelf can appear at once, only near the screen edge or at the mouse cursor, and can ignore chosen apps. Its shortcut also recalls removed files or saves the clipboard.

Clipboard history

Stores recently copied items, which can be sent to the shelf or copied again from the app or its Notification Center widget. Popular password managers are excluded by default.

Handoff and Continuity Camera

Transfers files between Macs, iPads and iPhones running Yoink, and accepts photos or documents sent from an iPhone or iPad with Continuity Camera.

macOS integration

System services, a Quick Action and a Share extension add files without dragging, and it works with the Terminal, Automator and Shortcuts. Previews use QuickLook.

Maccy

• GitHub or Homebrew$0

  The complete app, downloaded from the GitHub releases page or installed with Homebrew. Open source under the MIT license.

• Website download$4.99+

  one-time, pay what you want (Gumroad)

  The Download button on maccy.app leads to Gumroad, where buyers name a price from a $4.99 minimum.

• Mac App Store$9.99

  one-time purchase (US Mac App Store price)

  The same app sold on the App Store to support development. Family Sharing covers up to six family members.

Yoink

• Yoink for Mac (website)$8.99

  one-time purchase (also listed as 9,99 € and £8.99)

  Bought directly from the developer. The site says the website, Mac App Store and Setapp versions have the same functionality.

• Yoink for Mac (Mac App Store)$8.99

  one-time purchase (US Mac App Store)

  The same app through the Mac App Store, with optional tips as in-app purchases. Also sold in the developer's Productivity Bundle.

Maccy

No public discounts listed.

Yoink

• Other savings

  Productivity Bundle at about 20% off

  The developer's Mac App Store bundle sells Yoink together with ScreenFloat, Transloader and DeskMat at roughly 20% off.