Does ClipHistory sync with iPhone or iPad like Yoink does?

No. ClipHistory is macOS only and stores everything locally on your Mac. There is no iOS version, iPad version, or cloud sync. If cross-device syncing is essential, ClipHistory is not the right fit—but if you work primarily on Mac and value privacy and local control, this is by design.

Can I use ClipHistory for file drag and drop like Yoink?

ClipHistory is a clipboard manager for copied content (text, images, URLs, code). Yoink is specifically designed for drag-and-drop file workflows. They serve different purposes. ClipHistory captures what you copy; Yoink stages what you drag. For file management, use Yoink.

How much does ClipHistory cost compared to Yoink?

ClipHistory is $19.99 for a lifetime license—one payment, forever. Yoink is free with optional in-app purchases or a paid version around $4.99. However, if you use ClipHistory for years (which most users do), the lifetime model is typically more economical than recurring subscriptions or upgrades.

Can ClipHistory access cloud accounts or sync my clipboard history across Macs?

No. ClipHistory is 100% local—everything stays on your Mac. There are no cloud accounts, no syncing between devices, and no data sent to external servers. When you use AI transforms, you bring your own API key from providers like OpenAI or Anthropic. ClipHistory never sees your clips or your keys. This design prioritizes privacy.

ClipHistory vs Yoink: Which Clipboard Manager Wins for macOS Drag & Drop?

If you work on macOS and handle multiple clips daily—URLs, code snippets, emails, images—you've probably felt the friction of macOS's single-slot clipboard. Two popular solutions are ClipHistory and Yoink. While both improve your workflow, they solve different problems in different ways.

This comparison cuts through the marketing to help you choose the right tool for your needs.

What Is Yoink?

Yoink is a macOS utility designed to be a temporary holding area for dragged items. Think of it as a digital staging zone: drag files, images, or text to Yoink's dock icon or sidebar, and retrieve them later when you're ready to drop them into their final destination.

Yoink excels at file dragging workflows. If you frequently move files between folders, applications, or windows, Yoink reduces the cognitive load of keeping track of what you're moving. It's visual, dock-based, and intuitive for drag-and-drop users.

What Is ClipHistory?

ClipHistory is a clipboard history manager for macOS. Every time you copy something—text, URLs, images, code, colors, phone numbers—ClipHistory automatically saves it. Press ⌘⇧V to open a searchable history of your last 150 unpinned clips, plus unlimited pinned items.

Beyond simple history, ClipHistory includes:

Auto-detection of clip types (URLs, emails, code blocks, hex colors, phone numbers, images)
AI Transforms to summarize, translate, rewrite, or clean any clip using your choice of 5 AI providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, or bring your own)
Snippets for quick text templates
Custom Boards for organizing clips by project or category
Paste Stack for sequential pasting
100% local storage—no cloud, no account, no privacy compromises

Key Differences

Use Case: Drag & Drop vs. Copy & Paste

The core distinction is fundamental:

Yoink is built for drag-and-drop workflows, especially file management
ClipHistory is built for copy-and-paste workflows, especially text and rich content

If your work is file-centric (moving documents, organizing folders), Yoink is purpose-built for that.

If your work is content-centric (collecting research, storing code snippets, managing templates, reusing text), ClipHistory is designed for that.

Privacy & Data

Both prioritize privacy, but differently:

Aspect	ClipHistory	Yoink
Cloud sync	None—100% local	None—local only
Account required	No	No
Data storage	Your Mac, your control	Your Mac, your control
Searchability	Full clipboard history, searchable	Items you manually add

History & Scale

ClipHistory: Stores 150 unpinned clips automatically + unlimited pinned clips. Every copy action is captured.
Yoink: Stores items you manually drag to it. No automatic capture. No search.

AI & Transforms

ClipHistory includes integrated AI transforms (summarize, translate, rewrite, clean) with support for multiple AI providers. You bring your own API key—no data sent through ClipHistory's servers.

Yoink has no built-in AI features.

Cost & Licensing

ClipHistory: $19.99 lifetime license, one-time payment, no subscription, no recurring fees
Yoink: Free with optional in-app purchases, or paid version (~$4.99 on App Store)

Compatibility

ClipHistory: macOS only, universal (Apple Silicon + Intel), signed and notarized
Yoink: macOS only, universal

When to Choose Yoink

✓ You manage files and folders constantly
✓ You prefer visual, dock-based tools
✓ You drag items between locations multiple times per session
✓ You want a lightweight, simple solution

When to Choose ClipHistory

✓ You copy and paste frequently (code, text, URLs, emails)
✓ You need to search and retrieve past clips
✓ You work with snippets, templates, or repeating content
✓ You want AI-powered transforms (summarize, translate, rewrite)
✓ You value unlimited pinning for frequently reused items
✓ You prefer one-time licensing over recurring costs
✓ You want complete local storage with no account

Can You Use Both?

Absolutely. They solve different problems:

Use Yoink for file drag-and-drop workflows
Use ClipHistory for clipboard history and content management

Many macOS power users run both without conflict.

The Verdict

Choose Yoink if drag-and-drop file management is your bottleneck.

Choose ClipHistory if you need a searchable clipboard history, want to reuse snippets, or benefit from AI transforms. At $19.99 lifetime, it's also the more economical choice for long-term use.

Get ClipHistory — $19.99