ClipHistory vs Raycast: Which Clipboard Manager Wins on Storage Limits?
ClipHistory vs Raycast: Which Clipboard Manager Wins on Storage Limits?
If you spend your day copying and pasting—code snippets, URLs, design specs, customer emails—you've felt the pain of a clipboard that only remembers one thing at a time. Both ClipHistory and Raycast solve this problem, but they take very different approaches to clipboard history, storage limits, and pricing.
This guide compares the two head-to-head so you can choose the clipboard manager that fits your workflow and budget.
Storage & History Limits: The Core Difference
ClipHistory stores up to 150 unpinned clipboard entries plus unlimited pinned clips. Once you hit 150, the oldest unpinned item drops off automatically. But anything you pin—a code template, a recurring email signature, a design color—stays forever.
Raycast, by contrast, is built as a command launcher first and clipboard manager second. Raycast's clipboard history limit is 200 entries by default, but the emphasis is different: Raycast doesn't use a "pin" system. Your history expires based on time or manual cleanup, and there's no native way to save essential clips indefinitely without workarounds.
For power users who regularly reuse the same 20–50 snippets, ClipHistory's unlimited pinned approach wins. For occasional clipboard browsing, both handle the job.
Pricing & Licensing Model
This is where the gap widens dramatically.
ClipHistory costs $19.99 as a one-time, lifetime purchase. No subscriptions, no recurring charges, no cloud account required. You own it forever.
Raycast offers a free tier with basic clipboard history, but premium features—including extended history limits and advanced automation—require a Raycast Pro subscription starting around $10/month ($120/year). Over three years, Raycast costs 18× more than ClipHistory.
If budget matters to you, this alone makes ClipHistory the obvious choice.
AI & Transform Features
Both tools offer AI-powered transforms to rewrite, summarize, or translate clipboard content.
ClipHistory's AI Transforms let you bring your own API keys from 5 providers: Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, or a custom endpoint. You control costs, data privacy, and which model runs. Since ClipHistory is 100% local with no cloud, your clips never touch a third-party server unless you explicitly send them to your chosen AI provider.
Raycast's AI is built into the platform and tied to Raycast's cloud infrastructure. It's convenient but less flexible and adds to your monthly bill.
Type Detection & Smart Organization
ClipHistory auto-detects clipboard content type:
- URLs
- Emails
- Code blocks
- Colors (hex, RGB)
- Phone numbers
- Images
This makes searching and filtering effortless. You can search by type, date, or text content using ⌘⇧V.
Raycast also detects types but integrates them into its launcher UI, which feels less focused on clipboard-specific workflows.
Privacy & Local-First Design
ClipHistory runs 100% locally on your Mac. No cloud, no account, no syncing to servers. Your clipboard history lives in encrypted local storage. This matters if you copy passwords, API keys, proprietary code, or client data—it all stays on your device.
Raycast requires a Raycast account and uses cloud infrastructure for sync, backups, and AI features. If data residency or zero-cloud requirements are non-negotiable, ClipHistory is your answer.
Features Beyond Basic Clipboard
| Feature | ClipHistory | Raycast |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Limit | 150 unpinned + unlimited pinned | 200 entries |
| Pricing | $19.99 lifetime | $10/month or free (limited) |
| Cloud Required | No, 100% local | Yes, cloud account |
| AI Transforms | Bring your own key (5 providers) | Included, cloud-based |
| Custom Snippets | Yes, full snippet library | Yes, via automation |
| Custom Boards | Yes, organize by category | Limited (via collections) |
| Paste Stack | Yes, queue multiple clips | No native equivalent |
| Type Detection | 8+ types (URL, code, color, email, phone, image) | Similar coverage |
| Open Command | ⌘⇧V | ⌘+space (launcher) |
| macOS Only | Yes | Yes (also iOS/web) |
When to Choose ClipHistory
- You want one-time pricing with no subscription
- You need unlimited pinned clips for recurring content
- Privacy is paramount—100% local operation required
- You want to use your own AI keys and control costs
- You prefer a clipboard-focused tool (not a launcher that includes clipboard)
When Raycast Might Make Sense
- You already use Raycast as your command launcher and want integrated clipboard history
- You prefer cloud backup and cross-device sync (though this means more cost)
- You want built-in AI without managing API keys (but at monthly expense)
- Your team uses Raycast and needs standardized workflows
The Verdict
ClipHistory wins on value, privacy, and simplicity. At $19.99 for a lifetime license, it's an exceptional deal for macOS users who want a reliable, fast, local clipboard manager without recurring costs or cloud accounts. The unlimited pinned clips feature and bring-your-own-AI flexibility give it an edge for professionals.
Raycast is better if you're already paying for Raycast Pro as your primary launcher and want clipboard history as an add-on feature. But if you're comparing clipboard managers alone, ClipHistory offers better pricing and privacy.
Ready to Simplify Your Clipboard?
Stop losing important clips and wasting time searching through history. Get ClipHistory — $19.99 for a lifetime of clipboard mastery. No subscription, no cloud, no account. Just fast, local clipboard management on your Mac.