Will ClipHistory keep my clipboard history private?

Yes. ClipHistory is 100% local—everything stays on your Mac. No cloud servers, no account required, no data sent anywhere. Your 150 unpinned clips and unlimited pinned items are yours alone.

Can I use my own AI API keys with ClipHistory?

Absolutely. ClipHistory supports 5 AI providers: Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, and custom endpoints. Bring your own key, control your costs, and avoid vendor lock-in. With Raycast Pro, you're locked into their API.

How many clips does ClipHistory store?

ClipHistory automatically saves your last 150 unpinned clips. You can pin unlimited items, so important snippets, code, or configs stay forever. Press ⌘⇧V to search and retrieve them instantly.

Is ClipHistory a subscription?

No. ClipHistory is $19.99 lifetime—one payment, forever. No recurring fees, no monthly charges, no hidden costs. Compare that to Raycast Pro at $96/year, and ClipHistory pays for itself in weeks.

ClipHistory vs Raycast Clipboard AI: Cost, Features & Value Comparison for macOS

If you spend your day copying and pasting on macOS—code snippets, URLs, design tokens, customer emails—you know the frustration of losing something important or digging through history. Two popular solutions have emerged: ClipHistory and Raycast's clipboard AI. But which one makes sense for your workflow and your budget?

This comparison cuts through the marketing to show you exactly what you get, what it costs, and which clipboard manager aligns with your needs.

Pricing: The Biggest Difference

ClipHistory: $19.99 lifetime, one payment.
You buy once. No recurring fees, no monthly surprises, no subscription required. Ever.

Raycast: Free tier + Pro at $8/month ($96/year).
Raycast's free plan includes basic clipboard history, but AI features (including clipboard transforms) require the Pro subscription. That's $96 per year, or $960 over a decade.

Cost winner: ClipHistory. A single $19.99 payment beats $96+ annually, especially if you plan to use it for years.

Clipboard Storage & History

ClipHistory:

Stores 150 unpinned clips automatically
Unlimited pinned items (you decide what stays)
100% local storage—nothing leaves your Mac
Full auto-detection of content type (URL, email, code, color, phone, image, etc.)

Raycast:

Clipboard history available on both free and Pro tiers
Syncs across devices if you sign in to a Raycast account
Cloud-based sync means your clipboard data passes through Raycast's servers

Storage winner: Depends on your privacy needs. ClipHistory keeps everything local; Raycast offers cloud sync.

AI Transforms: Where the Power Lies

Both tools offer AI-powered clipboard transforms. Here's what sets them apart.

ClipHistory AI Transforms:

Summarize, translate, rewrite, clean (remove formatting, whitespace, etc.)
Bring your own API key — use Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, or a custom provider
No vendor lock-in; no ClipHistory AI subscription needed
You control which AI model, which provider, and your costs
Works 100% offline if you self-host or use a local model

Raycast AI:

Summarize, rewrite, explain, and more
Uses Raycast's own API (no bring-your-own-key option on free/Pro)
Premium AI features require Raycast Pro ($8/month)
Simpler setup but less flexibility

AI winner: ClipHistory, if you want flexibility and cost control. Raycast, if you prefer simplicity out of the box.

Core Features Comparison

Feature	ClipHistory	Raycast
Clipboard History	150 unpinned + unlimited pinned	Yes
Quick Access Hotkey	⌘⇧V	Yes
Search & Pin	Yes	Yes
Auto-Type Detection	Yes (URL, email, code, color, phone, image)	Yes
AI Transforms	Yes (5 providers, BYOK)	Yes (Pro only)
Custom Snippets	Yes	Yes
Custom Boards	Yes	Limited
Paste Stack	Yes	No
Local-Only	100% local, no cloud	Cloud sync available
Account Required	No	Yes (for sync/Pro)
Lifetime Cost	$19.99	$960+ (10 years of Pro)
macOS Only	Yes	Multi-platform

Privacy & Data Ownership

ClipHistory:

Everything stays on your Mac
No account creation
No data sent to servers
You own your clipboard history
No tracking

Raycast:

Requires a Raycast account
Clipboard data can sync to Raycast's cloud (optional, but needed for multi-device sync)
Raycast's privacy policy governs your data

Privacy winner: ClipHistory, if privacy is your priority.

Ease of Use

ClipHistory:

Open with ⌘⇧V
Search, pin, or transform in seconds
Single $19.99 purchase—no onboarding
Lightweight; doesn't slow your Mac

Raycast:

Powerful command launcher, not just clipboard
Steeper learning curve if you're exploring beyond clipboard
Free tier available to test first
Broader integration ecosystem

Ease winner: Tie. ClipHistory is simpler for clipboard-only; Raycast is more powerful overall.

Who Should Choose What?

Choose ClipHistory if you:

Want a simple, local clipboard manager
Hate subscriptions and recurring fees
Value privacy and 100% local storage
Want to bring your own AI keys and save on API costs
Are willing to pay once and own it forever
Work on macOS exclusively

Choose Raycast if you:

Want a universal launcher that includes clipboard management
Sync across multiple Apple devices
Prefer simplicity and out-of-the-box features
Don't mind monthly subscriptions
Need more than just clipboard management

The Verdict

For pure clipboard management and value: ClipHistory wins decisively. At $19.99 lifetime, it's hard to beat, especially if you bring your own AI keys and save on API costs.

For an all-in-one productivity suite: Raycast is stronger—but you're paying for more than clipboard history.

If you're tired of losing clipboard history, want to transform clips with AI, and prefer a single payment over a subscription, Get ClipHistory — $19.99. No recurring fees, no account, no surprise charges. Just a clipboard manager that works for you, forever.