Maccy
Maccy Pricing in 2026: It’s Free, and the $9.99 Version Is Optional
Quick answer: Maccy is free and open source under the MIT license. You can download it from GitHub or install it with Homebrew at no cost. The Mac App Store lists a paid build, usually $9.99, that works as a “support the developer” option with the same features. Nothing is locked behind a subscription or paywall.
How much does Maccy cost?
| Where you get it | Price | Updates | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub releases | Free | Manual download, or the in-app updater | Anyone comfortable installing apps outside the App Store |
Homebrew (brew install maccy) |
Free | brew upgrade |
Developers and anyone who manages their Mac’s software from Terminal |
| Mac App Store | About $9.99 (the price has varied by region and over time) | Automatic through the App Store | People who want one-click installs and want to fund development |
| Developer’s website | Pay-what-you-want has been offered | Depends on the build | Supporters who don’t want to use the App Store |
Regional App Store prices differ. Press coverage over the years has listed the paid build at $9.99 in the US and between €9.99 and €11.99 in Europe. Check the current price in your own storefront before assuming a number.
Why does a free, open-source app have a price tag?
The App Store build is a donation channel. Maccy App‘s source code is public, so anyone can build it. Charging in the store is how the maintainer gets paid for ongoing work without putting features behind a paywall.
Independent roundups have described the paid listing the same way: the same features as the free build, sold as a way to support the developer. That matches how the project presents itself. The paid version is not a “Pro” tier, and the free version is not a trial.
What’s actually different between the free and paid builds?
Functionally, nothing you’ll notice day to day. Both give you the same core experience:
- Clipboard history in a lightweight, keyboard-first popup
- Search across your history
- Pinning entries you reuse often
- Ignoring specific apps, such as password managers
- Local-only storage with no account and no cloud sync
The differences are logistical:
- Update delivery. App Store updates arrive through Apple’s review pipeline. The press has noted that new releases can appear on GitHub before they clear App Store review.
- Installation friction. A downloaded app from GitHub may trigger a Gatekeeper prompt the first time you open it. App Store installs don’t.
- Support. Buying the app doesn’t entitle you to dedicated support. Bug reports and questions go through the project’s GitHub issue tracker either way.
Are there hidden costs, subscriptions, or in-app purchases?
No. Maccy Mac has no subscription, no usage limits, no ads, and no account system. It’s local-first, so there are also no server costs that could later justify a recurring fee. The only money that changes hands is a voluntary purchase or donation.
How does Maccy’s cost compare with other clipboard managers?
Price differences mostly reflect feature differences, especially sync and visual polish.
| App | Pricing model (as reported in 2026 roundups) | What you’re paying for |
|---|---|---|
| Maccy | Free, or about $9.99 optional | Speed, privacy, open source; no cloud sync |
| Built-in macOS clipboard history | Free; reportedly arrives with macOS 26 Tahoe | Basic history with no extra install |
| Paste | Subscription, roughly $9.99/year or $1.49/month | Visual timeline, iCloud sync, iOS companion |
| CopyClip 2 | About $7.99, one-time | Simple menu-bar history |
| Flycut | Free, open source | Developer-oriented snippet-style history |
| Raycast | Launcher with a built-in clipboard history; pricing tiers vary | Clipboard history as part of a larger launcher |
Prices for third-party apps change often. Treat the competitor figures above as snapshots and confirm them on each app’s own page before deciding.
Is Maccy worth paying for?
You don’t need to pay for Maccy Clipboard to get everything it does. Whether to pay depends on what you value:
- Pay if you use it daily, want automatic updates through the App Store, or just want the maintainer to keep shipping releases. Ten dollars covers years of use.
- Stay free if you’re comfortable with GitHub or Homebrew, you’re evaluating the app, or the budget is tight. Nobody is penalized for it.
- Look elsewhere if you need iCloud sync between your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Maccy keeps your history on the Mac it was copied on. That is the privacy trade-off.
One consideration applies regardless of price: a clipboard manager records what you copy, which can include passwords and tokens. Maccy’s ability to ignore selected apps matters more than the purchase price, so set it up in the app’s settings right after installing it.
How do you install Maccy for free?
With Homebrew:
brew install maccyFrom GitHub: open the project’s Releases page, download the latest .dmg or .zip, and drag Maccy into your Applications folder. On first launch, macOS may ask you to confirm opening an app downloaded from the internet. Maccy also needs Accessibility permission to paste into other apps. The system prompts you for it when needed.
Check the current macOS requirement on the release page before installing. Recent major versions have raised the minimum supported macOS version .
Frequently asked questions
Is Maccy really free?
Yes. The source code is MIT-licensed, and the GitHub and Homebrew versions cost nothing. The paid App Store listing is optional.
Does the App Store version have more features?
No. Independent coverage describes the paid build as the same app, sold as a way to support development.
Does Maccy have a subscription?
No. There are no recurring fees, accounts, or in-app purchases.
Is the free version safe to use?
The code is public and auditable, and Maccy stores history locally rather than on a server. Download it only from the official GitHub repository or Homebrew, not from third-party mirror sites.
Can I try Maccy before paying?
Yes. Install the free build from GitHub or Homebrew, and buy the App Store version later if you decide to support the project.
The bottom line
Maccy costs nothing unless you decide it should. The free build is the complete app, and the paid listing is a tip jar with automatic updates attached. If you try it and it quietly becomes part of your workflow, ten dollars is an easy way to keep it maintained.
Which part of your workflow would a clipboard history change most: repeated code snippets, form entries, or research notes?