The CopyQ Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about CopyQ in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
CopyQ
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source clipboard manager with tabs, commands and scripting
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from CopyQ’s own pages.
Made by Lukas Holecek · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from CopyQ’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on CopyQ’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade
CopyQ is a free, open-source clipboard manager for Windows, macOS and Linux. It watches the system clipboard and saves text, HTML, images and other formats as items in tabs, where they can be filtered, edited, tagged and pasted back into any application. Custom commands, a command-line tool and a scripting API control what happens to copied content, and the documentation says the app sends nothing over the network.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about CopyQ, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Browsing history itself is plain enough.
- 1
Best for a scriptable clipboard manager on any desktop
Clips don't move between devices, only mirror to a folder on disk.
- 2
It is free
CopyQ has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license, with installers and packages linked from the GitHub repository. The site links a Liberapay page for optional donations.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Clipboard history in tabs
Saves copied text, HTML, images and custom formats as items in tabs. Items can be sorted, edited, removed and moved by drag and drop, and they are restored the next time the app starts.
- 5
Filter and paste
The history can be browsed and filtered, and Enter pastes the selected item into the previously active window once that option is on. Items can also be pasted from the tray menu.
- 6
Custom commands and global shortcuts
The Command dialog (F6) adds predefined or custom actions that run from the menu, on a system-wide shortcut or automatically whenever the clipboard changes.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 57 of 94
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
CopyQ is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
CopyQ at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Lukas Holecek
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a scriptable clipboard manager on any desktop
CopyQ is a free, open-source clipboard manager for Windows, macOS and Linux that saves text, HTML and images into tabs you can filter, edit and tag, with commands and a scripting API on top. Clips don't move between devices, only mirror to a folder on disk. The Mac build is unsigned and needs permission again after each update, Wayland can need workarounds, and tabs are stored unencrypted by default.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | It costs nothing, and it's a download you install and run. The whole app is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. There's a Liberapay page if you'd like to donate, and that's the only place money comes into it. |
| Free plan and trial | A | You get the complete clipboard manager on all three systems, and there's no paid tier. Nothing is held back, so there's no limit to hit. |
| Features | C | For one machine it covers the job: tabs of text, HTML and images, filtering, notes, tags, pinned items, commands that fire when the clipboard changes, and password-protected tabs. The listing names the gaps, though. Clips don't travel between devices, only mirror to a folder on disk. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating is on record, and the rough edges are in the listing: the macOS build is unsigned, so Accessibility access has to be granted again after every install or update, and under Wayland on Linux pasting and global shortcuts can need workarounds. Browsing history itself is plain enough. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A program for computers and nothing else: Windows, macOS and Linux, no web version, no phone apps, and clips don't travel between devices. It does bring a command-line tool and a scripting API, and it works with GnuPG, GNOME Keyring, KWallet and the macOS Keychain. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who CopyQ is for
- Fits if you want the same clipboard manager on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Works for people who script what happens to copied content and want history kept on their own device
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want clips to move between your devices, as a tab can only be mirrored to a folder on disk
- Not for you if you're on a Mac and dislike re-granting permissions, since the unsigned build needs Accessibility again after updates
- Tight if you're on Wayland, because pasting, global shortcuts and clipboard monitoring can need workarounds
- Watch out: tab data is stored unencrypted unless you turn encryption on, and the Mac build needs macOS 13 or later
- Not for you if you want it on a phone or in a browser, since it's desktop only
Good to know
Good for
- People who want the same clipboard manager on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Users who script or automate what happens to copied content
- Keeping clipboard history on the device, with nothing sent over the network
Worth knowing
- Under Wayland on Linux, pasting from CopyQ, global shortcuts and clipboard monitoring depend on the desktop environment and can need workarounds.
- The macOS build is unsigned: the docs say Accessibility access must be granted again after each install or update. macOS 13 or later is required.
- Tab data is stored unencrypted in the configuration directory unless encryption is turned on.
- Clips do not travel between devices on their own; a tab can only be mirrored to files in a folder on disk, such as a Dropbox folder.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
CopyQ is free to use.
It costs nothing, and it's a download you install and run.
CopyQ
$0
The complete clipboard manager as a Windows installer or portable zip, a Homebrew cask for macOS, and Linux packages, AppImage or Flatpak.
The free plan
The whole app is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license, with installers and packages linked from the GitHub repository. The site links a Liberapay page for optional donations.
Read from github.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Open-source clipboard manager with tabs, commands and scripting. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, clipboard manager.
Clips don't travel between devices, only mirror to a folder on disk.
- Clipboard history in tabs
- Saves copied text, HTML, images and custom formats as items in tabs. Items can be sorted, edited, removed and moved by drag and drop, and they are restored the next time the app starts.
- Filter and paste
- The history can be browsed and filtered, and Enter pastes the selected item into the previously active window once that option is on. Items can also be pasted from the tray menu.
- Custom commands and global shortcuts
- The Command dialog (F6) adds predefined or custom actions that run from the menu, on a system-wide shortcut or automatically whenever the clipboard changes.
- Command line and scripting
- A copyq command-line tool and a scripting API can add, read and write items and clipboard content. The main application has to be running for commands to work.
- Tags, notes and pinned items
- Items can carry notes and tags. Pinned items keep their row and are not removed when a tab reaches its item limit. On Windows, tags and pinning come from plugins.
- Encryption and secret handling
- Built-in encryption, available since version 14.0.0, protects all stored tabs with a password. Clipboard content that password managers mark as secret is ignored by default.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- GnuPG
- GNOME Keyring
- KWallet
- macOS Keychain
CopyQ is made by Lukas Holecek.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/94
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
CopyQ's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 49 of 94) and worst on features (C, above 1).
CopyQ has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 95 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. CopyQ’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
- AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 94
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 65 of 94
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 55 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. CopyQ is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
CopyQ is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could not
- A clipboard history running in the background of your computer.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. CopyQ’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Ditto, Maccy, ClipClip, CopyClip and Pastebot
The 5 tools CopyQ is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Ditto
Free
Free, open-source clipboard manager for Windows.
- Only CopyQ lists macOS and Linux apps.
- 2.8GPA
Maccy
Free plan · from $4.99
Lightweight, open-source clipboard manager for macOS.
- Only CopyQ lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Maccy also covers menu bar app.
- 2.8GPA
ClipClip
Free plan · from $49 one-time
Windows clipboard manager with editors and screen capture.
- Only CopyQ lists macOS and Linux apps.
- CopyQ is open source, according to its own site.
- ClipClip can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
CopyClip
Free plan · from $7.99 one-time
Text-only clipboard manager for the Mac menu bar.
- Only CopyQ lists Windows and Linux apps.
- CopyQ is open source, according to its own site.
- CopyClip can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
Pastebot
Free trial · from $2.99/mo
Mac clipboard manager with pastebins, filters and stacks.
- CopyQ has a free plan. Pastebot does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only CopyQ lists Windows and Linux apps.
- CopyQ is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is CopyQ free?
Yes. CopyQ is free to use.
How much does CopyQ cost?
CopyQ lists one plan. CopyQ: $0.
What platforms does CopyQ work on?
CopyQ is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does CopyQ have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. CopyQ is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does CopyQ have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. CopyQ is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is CopyQ open source?
Yes. CopyQ is open source, according to its own site.
Does CopyQ work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does CopyQ integrate with?
CopyQ's listing names GnuPG, GNOME Keyring, KWallet and macOS Keychain.
Who makes CopyQ?
CopyQ is made by Lukas Holecek.
What are the alternatives to CopyQ?
The closest alternatives to CopyQ in our directory are Ditto, Maccy, ClipClip, CopyClip and Pastebot.
How does CopyQ compare with other desktop utilities?
CopyQ's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.
Is CopyQ good value for money?
ToolGPA grades CopyQ A for value for money. CopyQ has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of CopyQ?
CopyQ is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: A clipboard history running in the background of your computer.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from CopyQ’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from CopyQ's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-03.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Lukas Holecek. Prices change, so check hluk.github.io before you buy.
- hluk.github.io/CopyQ/
- github.com/hluk/CopyQ
- copyq.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation.html
- copyq.readthedocs.io/en/latest/faq.html
- copyq.readthedocs.io/en/latest/security.html
- copyq.readthedocs.io/en/latest/password-protection.html
- copyq.readthedocs.io/en/latest/pin-items.html
- copyq.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tags.html
- copyq.readthedocs.io/en/latest/synchronize.html
- copyq.readthedocs.io/en/latest/known-issues.html
- liberapay.com/CopyQ/
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- CopyQ, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/copyq
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "CopyQ: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/copyq
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/copyq/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after CopyQ, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 95 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- 7-Zip Insider's GuideFree, open-source file archiver with the 7z format3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what CopyQ’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. CopyQ is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Lukas Holecek. Prices and plans change: check hluk.github.io before you buy.