# PopClip

> Pop-up bar of text actions when you select text on a Mac

PopClip is a Mac utility that shows a small bar of actions whenever you select text in any app. Built-in actions cover cut, copy, paste, web search, opening links, dictionary lookup and spelling, and a directory of 287 extensions adds actions such as translation or sending text to other apps. It is made by one developer, Nick Moore of Pilotmoon Software, and is sold as a one-time license after a trial of 250 uses.

- **Category:** Desktop Utilities
- **Made by:** Pilotmoon Software (since 2011)
- **Website:** https://www.popclip.app
- **Runs on:** macOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 6, 2026

## Pricing

PopClip is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $12 one-time purchase (Standard License, 2 years of updates).

- **Pricing model:** Free trial
- **Free plan:** None.
- **Free trial:** Fully functional trial for 250 uses; after that the app periodically asks you to buy a license.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. |

Read from https://www.popclip.app/buy on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with PopClip before buying.

## Ways to pay less

- **Half-price Standard License for students** (Education): 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. Source: https://www.popclip.app/student-discount
- **Lifetime License with all future updates** (Lifetime license): The Lifetime License is a one-time purchase that never expires and includes free updates to all future versions of PopClip. Source: https://www.popclip.app/buy
- **Volume pricing for teams** (Other savings): Teams and organizations can buy a multi-user license key at a discounted rate by emailing the developer for a quote. Source: https://www.popclip.app/buy
- **Free 1-year license on request** (Other savings): 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. Source: https://www.popclip.app/buy
- **Lower prices in listed countries** (Other savings): 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. Source: https://www.popclip.app/regional-pricing

## Key features

- **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.

## Good for

- 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

- 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.

## Works with

Google Translate, DeepL, Obsidian, Things 3, Todoist, OmniFocus, Raycast, Alfred

**Tags:** One-time purchase, Menu bar app

## Alternatives

- [LaunchBar](https://toolgpa.com/tools/launchbar): Keyboard launcher for Mac with clipboard history and actions. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/launchbar-vs-popclip)
- [Alfred](https://toolgpa.com/tools/alfred): Mac launcher with hotkeys, snippets and custom workflows. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/alfred-vs-popclip)
- [Raycast](https://toolgpa.com/tools/raycast): Keyboard launcher with extensions, clipboard history and AI. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/popclip-vs-raycast)
- [Keyboard Maestro](https://toolgpa.com/tools/keyboard-maestro): Macro automation for macOS with triggers and actions. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/keyboard-maestro-vs-popclip)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026:

- https://www.popclip.app/
- https://www.popclip.app/buy
- https://api.pilotmoon.com/frontend/store/getProductsBilling?products=popclip_2year,popclip_lifetime&coupon=&mode=live&country=US
- https://www.popclip.app/regional-pricing
- https://www.popclip.app/student-discount
- https://www.popclip.app/download
- https://www.popclip.app/guide/
- https://www.popclip.app/guide/basics
- https://www.popclip.app/guide/actions
- https://www.popclip.app/guide/extensions
- https://www.popclip.app/guide/settings
- https://www.popclip.app/guide/install
- https://www.popclip.app/kb/sync
- https://www.popclip.app/extensions/
- https://forum.popclip.app/t/happy-15th-birthday-to-popclip/3846

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/popclip
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).