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The Ditto Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Ditto 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.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

Ditto

The Insider’s Guide

Free, open-source clipboard manager for Windows

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Ditto’s own pages.

Made by Scott Brogden · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.8GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Ditto’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Ditto’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 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

Ditto is a free, open-source clipboard manager for Windows. It saves each item placed on the clipboard, including text, images, HTML and custom formats, so earlier items can be searched and pasted again from a tray icon or a global hot key. Clips are kept in a local SQLite database with no login, no cloud service and no telemetry, and they can be sent to other computers on the local network that the user defines.

To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Ditto, taken from its own pages and our grades.

It's Windows only, and scripts can handle ASCII text alone.
From our report card of Ditto
  1. 1

    Best for a free clipboard history on Windows

    There's no login, cloud or telemetry, but also no cloud sync: clips reach other PCs only over your local network, through a port it opens.

  2. 2

    It is free

    Ditto has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license, and its Microsoft Store listing is priced at 0. The site links a PayPal page for optional donations.

  3. 3

    It runs on Windows

    Windows.

  4. 4

    Clipboard history

    Saves every item placed on the clipboard, whether text, images, HTML or custom formats, in a local SQLite database so it can be retrieved later.

  5. 5

    Hot key and tray access

    Opens from its system tray icon or a global hot key, Ctrl + ` by default. Double-clicking an item or pressing Enter pastes it into the previous window.

  6. 6

    Search and plain-text paste

    Earlier entries can be searched and pasted again, and Shift-Enter pastes the selected clip as plain text with no formatting. Copied images show as thumbnails in the list.

  7. 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. 8

    Keep it

    Ditto is free, so making your own would save you nothing.

Ditto at a glance

Pricing
Free
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
None stated
Runs on
Windows
Made by
Scott Brogden, since 2003
Category
Desktop Utilities
Our grade
2.8 GPA, good

The report card

Best for a free clipboard history on Windows

Ditto is a free, open-source clipboard manager for Windows that saves what you copy, including text, images and HTML, in a local database you can search and paste from. There's no login, cloud or telemetry, but also no cloud sync: clips reach other PCs only over your local network, through a port it opens. It's Windows only, and scripts can handle ASCII text alone.

ToolGPA report cardDittoGraded Oct 10, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyAFree and open source under the GPL-3.0 licence, a plain download, and priced at 0 on the Microsoft Store. There's a PayPal page if you feel like donating, and nothing changes if you don't.
Free plan and trialAThe whole app is free, not a cut-down version. There's no paid tier, no account and no telemetry, so you could stay on it for good.
FeaturesCFor one PC it covers clipboard work: text, images, HTML and custom formats, search, plain-text paste on Shift-Enter, groups with their own hot keys, scripts and exclusion rules. The listing names the limits too. No cloud sync, only clips sent to PCs on your network, and scripts read ASCII text alone.
Ease of useBNo store rating is on record, but nothing needs setting up: install it, copy as usual, then press Ctrl + ` and hit Enter on the clip you want. The scripting is there if you fancy it, not something you need.
Platforms and integrationsDWindows only, a single operating system. It comes as an installer, a portable ZIP, Chocolatey and Winget packages and a Microsoft Store app, but that's all one system. No Mac, no phone and no cloud sync.
Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.8

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 Ditto is for

  • Fits if you copy and paste all day on Windows and keep losing the thing before last
  • Works for people who want clips kept on their own PC, with no account or cloud service

Who it is not for

  • Skip it if you use a Mac or want your clipboard on your phone, as it's Windows only
  • Not for you if you want clips synced through the cloud, since they only move over your local network
  • Too light for scripts that handle anything beyond ASCII text, which is all they can read
  • Watch out: the Friends feature opens a network port; you can turn off receiving clips in Options - Friends

Good to know

Good for

  • Windows users who want a searchable history of everything they copy
  • People who want clips kept on their own PC, with no account or cloud service
  • Passing clips between PCs on the same local network

Worth knowing

  • Windows only: the downloads listed are an installer, a portable ZIP, Chocolatey and Winget packages, and a Microsoft Store app.
  • There is no cloud sync. Clips reach other computers only when sent over the local network to machines listed under Options - Friends.
  • Ditto opens a network port for the Friends feature; receiving clips can be turned off in Options - Friends.
  • Scripts can read and change ASCII text only, a limitation of the ChaiScript engine.

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

Ditto is free to use.

There's a PayPal page if you feel like donating, and nothing changes if you don't.
From our grade for value for money

  • Ditto

    $0

    The complete clipboard manager as an installer, a portable ZIP, a Chocolatey or Winget package, or a Microsoft Store app. Donations are optional.

The free plan

The whole app is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license, and its Microsoft Store listing is priced at 0. The site links a PayPal page for optional donations.

Read from apps.microsoft.com on Oct 6, 2026.

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

1

Place it runs: Windows

Free, open-source clipboard manager for Windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, clipboard manager.

No cloud sync, only clips sent to PCs on your network, and scripts read ASCII text alone.
From our grade for features
Clipboard history
Saves every item placed on the clipboard, whether text, images, HTML or custom formats, in a local SQLite database so it can be retrieved later.
Hot key and tray access
Opens from its system tray icon or a global hot key, Ctrl + ` by default. Double-clicking an item or pressing Enter pastes it into the previous window.
Search and plain-text paste
Earlier entries can be searched and pasted again, and Shift-Enter pastes the selected clip as plain text with no formatting. Copied images show as thumbnails in the list.
Groups with their own hot keys
Clips can be filed into groups. A group can be given a hot key, optionally a global one, that opens it or saves the currently selected text straight into it.
Sending clips between computers
Options - Friends lists other machines on the local network to send clips to. The project's feature list says data is encrypted when sent over the network.
Scripts and exclusion rules
ChaiScript scripts can run on every copy or paste and cancel or alter it, and regular expressions can stop matching clips from being saved, optionally per process.

Where it runs

  • Windows

What it works with

  • AutoHotkey

Ditto is made by Scott Brogden, and has been around since 2003.

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

Ditto'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 platforms and integrations (D, above 0).

Ditto 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. Ditto’s own letter is outlined.

  • AValue for moneyAbove 24 of 94
  • AFree plan and trialAbove 49 of 94
  • CFeaturesAbove 1 of 94
  • BEase of useAbove 33 of 94
  • DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. Ditto is the marked dot.

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$0.5$1$2$5$10More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessDittoCCleanerLocalSendRaycastKomorebi

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

Ditto is free, so making your own would save you nothing.

What you could not

  • A clipboard history running in the background of your computer.
  • A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.

What this rests on. Ditto’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

CopyQ, ClipClip, Raycast and Maccy

The 4 tools Ditto is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

  • 2.8GPA

    CopyQ

    Free

    Open-source clipboard manager with tabs, commands and scripting.

    • Only CopyQ lists macOS and Linux apps.
    Ditto and CopyQ compared in full
  • 2.8GPA

    ClipClip

    Free plan · from $49 one-time

    Windows clipboard manager with editors and screen capture.

    • Ditto is open source, according to its own site.
    • ClipClip can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • ClipClip also covers screen recording and screenshots.
    Ditto and ClipClip compared in full
  • 2.8GPA

    Raycast

    Free plan · from $96/yr

    Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI.

    • Only Raycast lists macOS and iOS apps.
    • Only Raycast lists a browser extension.
    • Ditto is open source, according to its own site.
    Ditto and Raycast compared in full
  • 2.8GPA

    Maccy

    Free plan · from $4.99

    Lightweight, open-source clipboard manager for macOS.

    • Only Ditto lists a Windows app.
    • Only Maccy lists a macOS app.
    • Maccy also covers menu bar app.
    Ditto and Maccy compared in full

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 Ditto free?

Yes. Ditto is free to use.

How much does Ditto cost?

Ditto lists one plan. Ditto: $0.

What platforms does Ditto work on?

Ditto is available on Windows.

Does Ditto have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Ditto is listed for Windows.

Does Ditto have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Ditto is listed for Windows.

Is Ditto open source?

Yes. Ditto is open source, according to its own site.

Does Ditto 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 Ditto integrate with?

Ditto's listing names AutoHotkey. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes Ditto?

Ditto is made by Scott Brogden. It dates from 2003.

What are the alternatives to Ditto?

The closest alternatives to Ditto in our directory are CopyQ, ClipClip, Raycast and Maccy.

How does Ditto compare with other desktop utilities?

Ditto's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 57 of the 94 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 26.

Is Ditto good value for money?

ToolGPA grades Ditto A for value for money. Ditto has no paid plan.

Could I make my own version of Ditto?

Ditto 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 Ditto’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Ditto's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-23.

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 Scott Brogden. Prices change, so check sabrogden.github.io before you buy.

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

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, "Ditto: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/ditto

Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/ditto/guide

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See our other guides

The best-graded desktop utilities after Ditto, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Ditto’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. Ditto is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Scott Brogden. Prices and plans change: check sabrogden.github.io before you buy.