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Clipman

github.com

Free plan Open source WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidAPI
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Spec score 9.3 #1 of 39 in Clipboard Manager Software

What it is

Clipman is a free, open-source clipboard manager for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone, and iPad. Its history can be searched, named, grouped, pinned, edited, and pasted without opening the app first. It handles text, links, formatting, images, and files, with optional views for links and rich text. The app is designed for keyboard and screen-reader use, with predictable keyboard behavior and concise spoken feedback. History can stay on a device, use a shared folder, or be stored on an optional self-hosted Clipman Server. Windows and Mac can synchronize through a cloud-synced folder or network share; the server supports encrypted synchronization across supported platforms. Privacy controls include history encryption, excluding selected apps, and honoring clipboard privacy signals. Quick Paste provides global hotkeys and templates, while Quick Clip saves an entry directly. A command-line tool can manage server-backed text history on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The project releases Clipman under the MIT License.

Spec sheet

What it does
Clipman stores searchable clipboard history and lets users organize, edit, pin and paste saved entries.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Purpose
Clipman is an accessible clipboard manager for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone, and iPad.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The project is free and open source under the MIT License.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker
The project and Apple listing identify Andre Louis as the developer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Accessibility
The interface is designed for keyboard operation and screen readers, with labelled controls and predictable navigation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · onj.me
Android distribution
Android packages are distributed from GitHub Releases rather than a listed Google Play application.Read 15 Oct 2026 · onj.me
API and CLI
The command-line client can initialize connections, inspect status, list, retrieve, add, delete and synchronize server-backed text history with JSON output.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
App Store privacy
Apple lists the developer as collecting no data from the iPhone and iPad app.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Channel limitation
Sync channels organize transfers but are not an access-control boundary because clients sharing a server token and history password can access every channel.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
CLI maturity
The CLI is a pre-1.0 development preview and has no MCP endpoint or automatic history stream.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
ClipMerge
Desktop ClipMerge can append text or file selections after deliberate rapid copy or cut actions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Command line
The Clipman CLI supports Windows, macOS, and Linux and can inspect, list, retrieve, add, delete, and synchronize server-backed text history with JSON output.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Container support
Clipman Server publishes a multi-architecture container image for x86-64, ARM64 and ARMv7.Read 15 Oct 2026 · onjlouis.github.io
Content types
Clipman supports text, links, formatting, images, and files, with optional Links and Rich Text views.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Cross-device sync
Windows and macOS can share a database through cloud-synced folders or network shares, while Clipman Server extends encrypted sync to all supported clients.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Documentation depth
The manual covers platform behavior, shortcuts, preferences, history types, privacy, import/export and synchronization workflows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · onjlouis.github.io
Downloads
Windows is portable, macOS provides signed and notarized Apple Silicon and Intel builds, Linux includes a per-user installer, and mobile apps use normal platform installation flows.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
History
Clipboard history can be searched, named, arranged, grouped, pinned, edited, and pasted without opening Clipman first.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
History types
It supports text, links, rich text, images and machine-local copied-file history.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
iOS requirements
The App Store listing requires iOS 16 or later and iPadOS 16 or later.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Limit: browser exposure
The server manual warns that a compromised host or browser extension could read history after it is unlocked in the browser.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: physical Intel testing
The macOS release notes say the Intel package was tested under Rosetta because physical Intel hardware was unavailable.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: Windows diagnostic issue
A Windows latency diagnostic release states that issue #84 remained open and the diagnostic build was not a fix.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Local operation
Clipman works without an account and can keep history entirely on one device.Read 15 Oct 2026 · onj.me
macOS requirements
The macOS builds require macOS 13 or later and are supplied separately for Apple Silicon and Intel.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker location
Andre Louis's LinkedIn profile lists Greater London, England, United Kingdom.Read 15 Oct 2026 · uk.linkedin.com
Notable news: browser access
Clipman Server 2.7.0 added optional browser access to encrypted history, disabled by default and requiring HTTPS.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Notable news: Mac release
TyfloPodcast reported that Clipman gained a Mac version and could sort clipboard and copied-file history by source computer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tyflopodcast.net
Praise: accessibility
Guide Dog Users describes Clipman as giving screen-reader users searchable clipboard history with pinned entries and quick-paste hotkeys.Read 15 Oct 2026 · guidedogusersinc.org
Praise: cross-platform sync
TyfloPodcast highlighted encrypted database synchronization between Mac and Windows through shared folders or cloud storage.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tyflopodcast.net
Praise: free pricing
TyfloPodcast noted that Clipman is free while many clipboard-history alternatives require payment.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tyflopodcast.net
Privacy controls
Users can ignore applications, exclude likely sensitive values, encrypt history and keep machine-local Secrets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · onj.me
Quick actions
Quick Paste supports global hotkeys and templates, and Quick Clip creates a new saved entry directly without first copying it in another app.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Quick Clip
Quick Clip creates a new saved entry directly without first replacing the system clipboard.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Quick Paste
Users can assign global hotkeys to paste selected entries without opening the history window.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Rating on Apple App Store
No rating overview is displayed because the app has not received enough ratings or reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Search and organization
Entries can be searched, named, grouped, pinned, filtered by group or device, sorted and manually reordered.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security guidance
Public or VPS deployments are required to use HTTPS, with plain HTTP restricted to localhost or trusted private networks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · onjlouis.github.io
Self-hosting
Clipman Server can run on Linux, Windows, macOS, Raspberry Pi, NAS systems or VPS hosts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · onj.me
Server access model
One server can hold multiple password-derived database buckets, but the shared server token is not per-user access control and there are no per-person quotas.Read 15 Oct 2026 · onjlouis.github.io
Server encryption
History is encrypted on clients before upload and the server cannot decrypt it.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Server privacy
Clipman Server stores encrypted or compressed .clipdb blobs and does not know the history password or decrypt clipboard history.Read 1 Oct 2026 · onjlouis.github.io
Server security
Internet-facing Clipman Server deployments must use HTTPS; plain HTTP or plain clipman:// should not be exposed publicly.Read 1 Oct 2026 · onjlouis.github.io
Storage modes
History can be stored locally, in a shared folder, or on an optional self-hosted Clipman Server.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Synchronization
Windows and Mac can synchronize through a cloud-synced folder or network share, while Clipman Server provides encrypted synchronization across supported platforms.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Templates
Templates can resolve dates, device information and other fields when used.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Windows packaging
Windows is distributed as a portable package rather than a conventional installer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Clipman Free free and open source under MIT License · optional self-hosted server Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Clipman Free Free and open source · local use or optional self-hosted sync Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Small Tip $1.99, paid once Optional Apple tip; unlocks no features Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Medium Tip $4.99, paid once Optional Apple tip; unlocks no features Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Large Tip $9.99, paid once Optional Apple tip; unlocks no features Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com

Every Clipman plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone, and iPad
  • Searchable history for text, links, images, and files
  • Keyboard and screen-reader focused design
  • Encrypted synchronization through optional server
  • MIT-licensed and free

Limits

  • Internet-facing server deployments must use HTTPS
  • Sync channels do not restrict access between shared clients

Who it suits

Clipman suits people who want searchable clipboard history across desktop and mobile devices, including users who rely on keyboard or screen-reader access. Its optional server supports encrypted cross-platform sync, but requires HTTPS if exposed to the internet.

Clipman in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

Clipman is a free, open-source clipboard manager spanning desktop and mobile systems. It is aimed at people who keep substantial clip libraries, need accessibility-conscious keyboard and screen-reader operation, or want to choose between local, shared-folder and self-hosted storage. Its breadth and control make it a strong fit for technical and privacy-minded users, while server-based synchronization requires careful security decisions.

Key features

Clipman records text, links, formatting, images and files. History can be searched, named, arranged, grouped, pinned and edited, then pasted without opening the main application. Optional Links and Rich Text views provide more focused ways to browse mixed clip collections. This is a notably capable history for users who reuse material throughout the day; occasional users may find the organizational depth unnecessary.

Accessibility is a central design concern. Predictable keyboard behavior, concise screen-reader speech and operation designed for fast keyboard use make it better suited to keyboard-first and screen-reader workflows than a clipboard tool built mainly around visual browsing.

Quick Paste offers global hotkeys and templates for repeatable insertions. Quick Clip creates a saved entry directly, without first copying it from another application. The CLI, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, can inspect, list, retrieve, add, delete and synchronize server-backed text history, with JSON output for scripting and automation.

Privacy controls let users encrypt history, ignore selected applications, honor clipboard privacy signals and exclude likely sensitive values from automatic capture. These are practical safeguards against collecting unwanted material, though they depend on sensible configuration and do not replace access controls on a shared server.

Pricing

Clipman costs nothing. The free plan is also free and open source under the MIT License, with an optional self-hosted server rather than a separate paid tier. That makes the complete feature set available without seat charges, usage quotas or renewal terms. The trade-off is operational: anyone choosing server synchronization may need to provide and maintain the server themselves.

Platforms

Clipman supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad. Windows is offered as a portable download; macOS has signed and notarized Apple Silicon and Intel builds; Linux includes a per-user installer; and the mobile versions use normal platform installation flows. This range is useful for households and teams mixing desktop and mobile devices rather than committing to one operating system.

Who it's for

Choose Clipman if you need searchable, multi-format history across several operating systems, rely on keyboard or screen-reader workflows, or want to decide whether clips remain local, live in a shared folder or move through a self-hosted service. It also suits users who want command-line access to text history.

It is less suitable when synchronization must be turnkey or when nontechnical users should not have to secure an internet-facing service. Clipman Server stores encrypted or compressed .clipdb blobs and does not know the history password or decrypt the history, but public deployments must use HTTPS; plain HTTP and plain clipman:// should not be exposed.

Pros and cons

Pro: Broad support for text, links, rich formatting, images and files, with extensive history organization.

Pro: Strong keyboard and screen-reader-oriented behavior, plus global hotkeys, templates and a direct-save Quick Clip action.

Pro: Local, shared-folder and optional server storage, with encryption and application-level capture exclusions.

Pro: Open-source MIT licensing and a cross-platform CLI with JSON output.

Con: Internet-facing server setups require HTTPS and responsible administration.

Con: Sync channels are not permission boundaries: clients sharing a server token and history password can access every channel.

Alternatives

For a broader hosted and web-enabled mix with a freemium model, consider Pasteable. ClipboardFusion is the alternative to consider when a freemium product with a 19.00 USD once-only Pro Standard lifetime license fits better. Pick Relic if open-source apps, sync server, encryption code and self-host stack are the priority. Octoclip targets cross-device copy and paste with Nearby Sync and cloud-sync features. Clipdiary is Windows-only and offers a free personal license. Clipbara is a macOS-only option. Buddi is free budgeting software for Linux, macOS and Windows. OmniClip is a free option for Android, iOS, browser extension and web use.

See more options in Clipboard Manager Software.

Verdict

Clipman is the right choice for users who want a free, open-source clipboard manager with deep history handling, accessibility-focused controls and storage they can keep under their own control. Look elsewhere if you want managed synchronization without HTTPS and server-maintenance responsibilities, or if channel-level access separation is essential.

Verdict

Clipman combines broad clipboard history support with several storage and sync choices. Consider its HTTPS requirement and shared-server channel limitation when setting up synchronization.

Where Specifiction places it

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