How many clipboard items does ClipHistory save?

ClipHistory saves your last 150 unpinned items automatically, plus unlimited pinned clips. Simply press ⌘⇧V to open history, search, and pin anything you want to keep forever. Unlike subscription managers, this all happens 100% locally on your Mac with your $19.99 lifetime license.

Does ClipHistory require a cloud account or subscription?

No. ClipHistory is completely local and requires no account, cloud sync, or subscription. You pay $19.99 once and own lifetime access. All clipboard data stays on your Mac—nothing is ever uploaded or stored in the cloud.

How do I use the AI features in ClipHistory?

After installation, add your API key from one of 5 providers: Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, or your custom API. You bring your own key, giving you full control. Right-click any clip to summarize, translate, rewrite, or clean it. AI transforms are optional—ClipHistory works perfectly as a pure clipboard manager without them.

Is ClipHistory available on iOS, iPad, or Windows?

ClipHistory is macOS only. It's a universal app that runs natively on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs (macOS 12.0 or later). The $19.99 lifetime license covers your Mac forever, with no additional purchases needed.

Best AI Clipboard Manager for Mac: ClipHistory Installation & Setup Guide

If you copy and paste dozens of times daily on your Mac, you've likely faced the frustration of a clipboard that only remembers one item. A clipboard manager with AI built in transforms that experience—and ClipHistory is designed specifically to solve this problem for macOS users.

In this guide, we'll walk you through installing ClipHistory, understanding why an AI-powered clipboard manager matters, and how to get the most from it immediately after setup.

Why You Need a Clipboard Manager with AI on Mac

Your Mac's native clipboard is intentionally simple: it holds only your most recent copy. Within minutes, that snippet of code, that URL, or that draft sentence is gone forever.

A clipboard manager preserves your history—but ClipHistory goes further. Built-in AI transforms any clipped item:

Summarize long articles or emails
Translate text between languages
Rewrite for tone, clarity, or brevity
Clean formatting from messy pastes

Unlike competitors that require cloud accounts or subscriptions, ClipHistory keeps everything local on your Mac and offers flexible AI options through 5 providers: Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, or your custom API. You bring your own key—full control, zero vendor lock-in.

Installing ClipHistory: Step-by-Step

Download & Install

Visit the ClipHistory download page
Download the universal macOS app (Intel and Apple Silicon compatible)
Open your Downloads folder and drag ClipHistory.app to Applications
Launch from Applications or use Spotlight (⌘Space, type "ClipHistory")

The app is signed and notarized by Apple, so installation is seamless and safe.

First Launch: Essential Setup

When you open ClipHistory for the first time:

Grant Clipboard Access: macOS will prompt permission to read your clipboard. Click Allow (required for the app to function)
Configure AI (Optional): If you want AI features, add your API key from Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, or Google. This step is entirely optional—ClipHistory works as a pure clipboard manager without AI enabled

Pro tip: You do not need an account, cloud login, or subscription. ClipHistory is 100% local—your clipboard data never leaves your Mac.

Keyboard Shortcut: Quick Access

The default hotkey to open ClipHistory is ⌘⇧V (Command+Shift+V). Customize this in Settings if preferred.

Core Features After Installation

Clipboard History Storage

ClipHistory automatically saves:

150 unpinned clips (newest items cycle automatically)
Unlimited pinned clips (mark favorites to keep forever)

Access your full history anytime with ⌘⇧V, then search or scroll to find what you need.

Auto-Type Detection

ClipHistory recognizes what you copy:

URLs and links
Email addresses
Code snippets
Hex color codes
Phone numbers
Images

This detection makes searching and organizing faster. Looking for a phone number? Filter by type and find it instantly.

AI Transforms (5 Providers)

Once you've added an API key, right-click any clip to:

Summarize
Translate
Rewrite
Clean formatting

Choose which AI provider powers each transform. No vendor lock-in—switch providers anytime by updating your API key in Settings.

Snippets & Custom Boards

Snippets: Save text templates you use regularly (code blocks, email signatures, templates)
Custom Boards: Organize clips into boards for projects, clients, or workflows
Paste Stack: Queue multiple clips and paste them in order

100% Local, No Cloud

Every clip stays on your Mac. There are no servers, no cloud sync, no team features, no account required. This means:

Maximum privacy
Zero subscription fees
Works offline
Fast, local search

Pricing: One Payment, Lifetime Access

ClipHistory costs $19.99—a one-time lifetime license. No monthly fees, no recurring charges, no upgrades. Once purchased, you own perpetual access.

This pricing model stands apart from recurring subscription tools. If you use your Mac for years, the value compounds.

System Requirements

macOS 12.0 or later
Intel or Apple Silicon (universal app)
Approximately 50 MB disk space
Clipboard access permission (prompted at first launch)

Comparison with Other macOS Clipboard Managers

vs. Paste: Paste is feature-rich but cloud-based and subscription-driven. ClipHistory is local-first and one-time paid.

vs. Maccy: Maccy is free and open-source, ideal for basic clipboard history. ClipHistory adds AI transforms and richer organization (boards, snippets) with a $19.99 lifetime license.

vs. Alfred: Alfred is a powerful launcher and automation tool with clipboard features as one module. ClipHistory focuses entirely on clipboard + AI, making it simpler for this specific need.

vs. Raycast: Raycast is a modern command launcher with clipboard support. Like Alfred, it's a generalist tool. ClipHistory is a specialist clipboard manager with built-in AI.

Next Steps After Installation

Set Your AI Provider (optional but recommended): Add your API key in Settings to unlock AI transforms
Customize the Hotkey: If ⌘⇧V conflicts with another app, reassign it in Settings
Pin Frequently Used Clips: Start pinning snippets, templates, or reference links you access often
Explore Snippets & Boards: Organize your workflow into boards for projects or contexts

Final Thoughts

A clipboard manager with AI built in transforms how efficiently you work on Mac. ClipHistory combines robust clipboard history, intelligent type detection, flexible AI transforms, and local-first privacy—all in a single lifetime purchase.

Whether you're a developer managing code snippets, a writer handling multiple drafts, or a knowledge worker juggling links and notes, ClipHistory eliminates the friction of your Mac's limited clipboard.

Get ClipHistory — $19.99 and reclaim every piece of text you copy.