Honest comparison
Clipster vs ClipClip
Updated on
ClipClip is a feature-packed clipboard manager for Windows: up to 1,000 clips, folders you can password-protect, a built-in rich text and image editor, text converters, actions, and even a screenshot and screen recording tool. It's free for personal use. Clipster is a lighter, more focused clipboard manager whose main difference is reach: Windows, Mac and iPhone, synced and end-to-end encrypted.
At a glance
| ClipClip | Clipster | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free for personal use; paid commercial license for professional use | — |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), iPhone |
| History size | Up to 1,000 clips (if your device's memory allows) | — |
| Search | Yes, from the Paste Menu | Full-text search |
| Organization | Folders and subfolders, pinned clips, local folders | Pins: named boards |
| Content types | Text, images, tables, files, screenshots | Text, links, images, code, files, colors and more |
| Extras | Rich text and image editor, converters (case, Markdown→HTML, Base64, MD5, translate…), image-to-text, actions, screenshot & screen recorder | Previews, syntax-highlighted code, iPhone paste keyboard |
| Sync | Connect cloud drives (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox) to access and back up clips | Built-in sync Windows ↔ Mac ↔ iPhone |
| Security | Encrypted local storage; password-protected folders | Local by default; end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption for synced copies |
| Open source | No | No |
Where ClipClip shines
A big history. ClipClip keeps up to 1,000 clips.
Organization like a file manager. You group clips into folders and subfolders, connect existing folders from your PC, and lock sensitive folders with a password. ClipClip even ships default folders (addresses, FAQ responses, snippets) to get you started.
Editing and transforming. ClipClip includes an RTF editor and an image editor, plus converters for case, Markdown to HTML, Base64, MD5, translation, sorting and more, and can extract text from images. If you reshape text before pasting, these save trips to other tools.
Screen capture built in. Screenshots (with annotation) and screen recording live in the same app.
Paste Menu. A shortcut (Ctrl+Alt+V by default) opens a menu with your latest, saved and context-sensitive clips.
Where Clipster is different
Mac and iPhone. ClipClip describes itself as a Windows desktop application; its team says it plans a cross-platform version in the future. Clipster already runs on Windows, Mac and iPhone, and with sync turned on your copies sync between them in real time. On iPhone, the Clipster keyboard pastes any copy into any app.
Sync model and encryption. ClipClip's cloud features work by connecting your own cloud drive. Clipster's sync is built in, and each copy is encrypted on your device (AES-256-GCM, key derived from your master password) before it leaves; our server stores only ciphertext it can't read.
Focus and footprint. Clipster deliberately does less: history, search, Pins, previews and sync. It's built with Tauri (Rust, not Electron) to stay lightweight and fast. If you want an all-in-one clipboard, editor and capture suite, ClipClip offers more.
Clipster's limits, honestly
- No editors, converters, OCR or screen capture.
- On Windows, previews are more limited than on Mac (no system Quick Look), so Clipster shows file metadata instead.
- No Linux or Android.
- Young app; not open source.
ClipClip is the better pick if you…
- only use Windows
- want a big history and folder-style organization
- edit, convert or annotate what you copy
- want screenshots and screen recording in the same tool
Clipster is the better pick if you…
- also use a Mac or an iPhone
- want built-in sync across devices, end-to-end encrypted
- prefer a focused, lightweight app over an all-in-one suite
- want to paste copies into any iPhone app
Switching from ClipClip
There's no history to import: it rebuilds as you copy. Move the clips you really reuse into a Clipster Pin, then quit ClipClip (or pause its clipboard capture) so the two apps don't both record every copy.
Download Clipster. Also compare Clipster vs Ditto, Clipster vs the Windows clipboard, or read our best clipboard manager for Windows guide.
FAQ
Is ClipClip free?
Yes, for personal use (personal productivity, school, hobby projects). ClipClip asks professional users to buy a commercial license; prices are on ClipClip's website.
Does ClipClip work on Mac or iPhone?
No. ClipClip is a Windows desktop application. Its help center mentions plans for a cross-platform version in the future.
Can ClipClip sync clips between computers?
ClipClip can connect cloud drives such as Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox to access and back up clips. Clipster has built-in, end-to-end encrypted sync across Windows, Mac and iPhone.
Does Clipster have an editor or screenshot tool like ClipClip?
No. Clipster focuses on clipboard history, search, Pins and sync. If you need editing and screen capture in one app, ClipClip is the better fit.
Disclosure: Clipster is our app.
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 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