ClipStack vs Raycast clipboard history
Raycast is a launcher that does a lot, and its clipboard history is one of the best parts. If you already use Raycast every day, you probably don't need ClipStack. This page is for people weighing the two, written by the people who make ClipStack.
The short answer
Use Raycast if it's already your launcher, or you want clipboard history alongside snippets, window management, AI and everything else it does.
Pick ClipStack if you don't want a launcher, only clipboard history, and you'd like it kept forever for $12 once.
Side by side
| Raycast | ClipStack | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A full launcher, with clipboard history built in | A clipboard manager, and nothing else |
| Price | Free, or a Pro subscription | $12 once, 14-day free trial |
| History kept | Up to 3 months free; up to unlimited with Pro | Unlimited |
| Shortcut | None by default; you set your own | ⌥⌘V |
| Return | Pastes into the active app | Pastes into the app you were in |
| Pinned items | Yes | Yes |
| Filter by type | Text, Images, Files, Links, Emails, Colors | Text, Images, Links |
| Formatting | Keeps every format, with Paste as plain text | Always pastes plain text |
| Extras | Text from images, editing, snippets, AI chat | None, by design |
| Runs on | Mac and Windows | Mac (macOS 14 or later) |
Raycast details are from its manual as of October 2026.
Where Raycast is ahead
- It's free, and the free version is genuinely good.
- It remembers files, emails and colours, keeps the original formatting, and can pull text out of screenshots.
- Clipboard history sits next to snippets, window management, AI and hundreds of extensions in one app.
- It runs on Windows too.
Where ClipStack is ahead
- Unlimited history for $12 once. In Raycast, keeping items longer than 3 months needs Pro.
- One small app that only does clipboard history. Nothing to learn, no launcher to switch to.
- ⌥⌘V works the moment it's installed, and the panel opens at your pointer.
- ⌘1 to ⌘9 paste the first nine items without touching the arrows.
Try it
The trial is the full app for 14 days, with no card needed. If you don't use Raycast, or only open it for clipboard history, give ClipStack a week and see which one you reach for.
One-time purchase · macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon and Intel · 30-day money-back guarantee.
Other comparisons
- ClipStack vs Maccy, the free, open-source option.
- A Paste alternative without a subscription.
- Win+V on a Mac, if you're switching from Windows.