Guide
The best clipboard managers for Windows in 2026
Updated on
Short answer
- You just need a few recent items: the built-in Windows clipboard (Win+V).
- Best free, all-round Windows manager: Ditto.
- Most powerful and scriptable, also on Linux and Mac: CopyQ.
- Big free history, folders, editors and screen capture: ClipClip (free for personal use).
- Text clean-up, macros and phone sync: ClipboardFusion.
- You want a launcher too: Raycast for Windows.
- Your PC has to share a clipboard with a Mac or an iPhone, encrypted: Clipster.
Comparison table
| Win+V | Ditto | CopyQ | ClipClip | ClipboardFusion | Raycast | Clipster | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (built in) | Free | Free | Free for personal use | Free; paid version | Free; paid plan | — |
| Open source | ✗ | ✓ GPL | ✓ GPL | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| History | 25 items, cleared on restart (except pinned) | Large, saved in a database | Large, configurable | Up to 1,000 clips | History + pinned items | Up to 3 months free, unlimited on paid plan | — |
| Search | No (scroll) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ full-text |
| Organization | Pins | Groups | Tabs, tags, notes | Folders, password-protected | Pinned items | Pins, snippets | Pins (named boards) |
| Files copied in File Explorer | ✗ (text, HTML, bitmap only) | ✓ | Custom formats | ✓ | Images locally | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sync | Text, Windows ↔ Windows | PC ↔ PC on local network | DIY folder sync | Via your cloud drive | Text, via account (paid), phone apps | ✗ clipboard not synced | Windows ↔ Mac ↔ iPhone |
| Other platforms | ✗ | ✗ | Mac, Linux | ✗ | Companion apps | Mac | Mac (Apple Silicon and Intel), iPhone |
Windows clipboard (Win+V): already on your PC
Press Windows + V, click Turn on, done. You get your last 25 copies, pins, and optional text sync between Windows PCs with your Microsoft account. Limits from Microsoft itself: 4 MB per item, text/HTML/bitmap only, and history is cleared on restart except pinned items. There's no search in the clipboard tab. Perfect for light use; frustrating if you rely on it. Details in our Windows clipboard history limit guide.
Ditto: the classic free choice
Ditto has been the go-to free Windows clipboard manager for years. It's open source (GPL), stores your history in a database so it survives restarts, has search, groups and endless options, and can share clips between Windows PCs on the same network. Still maintained (latest release September 2025). Its interface is dense and old-school, and it's Windows-only. If you only use Windows, it's very hard to beat. See Clipster vs Ditto.
CopyQ: the power user's tool
Free and open source (GPL), CopyQ runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. It organizes clips in tabs, supports notes and tags, can ignore copies from chosen windows, encrypts its data, and has a command-line interface and a scripting API. Actively developed, with a new release in October 2026. Ideal if you like to automate; more setup than most people want. See Clipster vs CopyQ.
ClipClip: the all-in-one
ClipClip keeps up to 1,000 clips, organizes them in folders you can password-protect, and adds an RTF/image editor, text converters, OCR, actions, plus screenshots and screen recording. Free for personal use; professionals are asked to buy a commercial license. Windows-only. See Clipster vs ClipClip.
ClipboardFusion: text clean-up and macros
From Binary Fortress (makers of DisplayFusion), ClipboardFusion is great at scrubbing formatting, replacing text and running C# macros and triggers. The free version covers the basics; the paid version adds clipboard syncing with companion apps for Android, iPhone and Mac.
Raycast for Windows: a launcher with clipboard history
Raycast, the popular Mac launcher, is on Windows too. Its Clipboard History is excellent: type filters, "paste as" formats, OCR, sequential paste, up to 3 months free. Clipboard history doesn't sync between devices. Worth it if you want a launcher anyway. See Clipster vs Raycast.
Clipster: when your PC isn't your only device (our app)
Clipster's reason to exist is reach: the same clipboard on your Windows PC, Mac and iPhone. With sync turned on, your copies sync over the internet, encrypted end to end on your device (zero-knowledge). On iPhone, a keyboard pastes any copy into any app. Built with Tauri (Rust, not Electron), it's lightweight and fast, with a modern card interface, full-text search and Pins.
Honest limits: on Windows, previews are simpler than on Mac because Windows has no Quick Look; it's not open source; and it's young. Download Clipster.
How to choose
- Only Windows, want free: Ditto, then CopyQ if you want scripting.
- Need Linux too: CopyQ.
- Want editing and capture tools: ClipClip.
- Need an Android phone in the loop: ClipboardFusion (text sync).
- Need an iPhone in the loop: ClipboardFusion (text sync) or Clipster (Windows + Mac + iPhone, E2E).
- Don't want to install anything: Win+V.
Whatever you install, disable Win+V history (Settings > System > Clipboard) if you don't want two histories at once.
FAQ
What is the best free clipboard manager for Windows?
For most Windows-only users, Ditto: free, open source, searchable and persistent. CopyQ is the best free choice if you want scripting or also use Linux.
Does Windows 11 have a clipboard manager?
Yes, a basic one: Win+V keeps 25 items with pins and optional sync between Windows devices. It has no search and clears unpinned items on restart.
Which Windows clipboard manager syncs with an iPhone?
Clipster syncs Windows, Mac and iPhone with end-to-end encryption. ClipboardFusion's paid version syncs text with its iPhone app. The built-in Windows clipboard doesn't reach iPhone.
Is a clipboard manager safe for passwords?
Prefer one that keeps data local or encrypts it end to end, and exclude your password manager. Raycast and CopyQ, for example, let you exclude apps or windows; Clipster encrypts synced copies on your device.
Do clipboard managers slow down Windows?
Good ones run quietly in the background. Clipster is built with Tauri to stay lightweight.
Disclosure: Clipster is our app, and it's on this list. We checked every competitor fact on official websites in October 2026, and we recommend other apps where they're the better fit. Several of the best options here are free and open source.
Try it on your own devices
Available on Mac, Windows and iPhone.
Download ClipsterOther comparisons: Clipster vs Paste · Clipster vs Maccy · Clipster vs Ditto · Clipster vs ClipClip · Clipster vs CopyQ · Clipster vs Pastebot · Clipster vs Raycast · Clipster vs Windows clipboard (Win+V) · every app side by side
Details checked on official websites in October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us: contact@clipster-app.com