The short answer
Choose Raycast if you already use its launcher or want image capture, on-device OCR, format-aware pasting, editing, snippets, sequential paste, and optional AI actions. Choose Clipboard History if you want a focused free app with no AI, account, cloud sync, or app telemetry—and named groups plus detailed Finder-file handling matter more than image tools.
Raycast and Clipboard History compared
| Area | Raycast Clipboard History | Clipboard History |
|---|---|---|
| Product scope | One core feature inside a launcher with extensions, snippets, window management, notes, AI, and more. Raycast plan overview. | A standalone menu-bar clipboard manager with search, groups, favorites, and file references. How it works. |
| Price and retention | The free plan keeps clipboard history for up to three months. Six months, one year, and unlimited retention require Pro. Official retention settings. | Free and open source. Keeps 1,000 items by default, adjustable from 100 to 10,000; starred and grouped items remain until removed. Clipboard History FAQ. |
| Content captured | Text, images, files, links, emails, colors, and original formats. Raycast Clipboard History manual. | Text, links, and Finder file or folder references. Bitmap-only clipboard images are not captured. Clipboard History FAQ. |
| Search and organization | Search, type filters, rename, pin, save as snippet, and bulk deletion. Raycast actions. | Instant text and filename search, named groups, Favorites, and direct Command-1 through 9 selection. Shortcut guide. |
| Image intelligence | On-device text recognition, QR extraction, and searchable text from copied images. Raycast text recognition. | No bitmap-image history, OCR, or QR extraction. |
| Paste and edit | Paste as original or plain text, choose a supplied format, edit content, and paste sequentially. Raycast manual. | Pastes the selected stored clip and offers direct-number shortcuts; no in-panel editor, format chooser, or sequential-paste mode. |
| Privacy | Raycast says copied content stays on the computer, is encrypted locally, and password-manager/transient content is ignored. Official feature page. Pro separately includes Raycast Cloud Sync; check current settings and scope. | Local SQLite history, no cloud sync and no app telemetry; supported password managers and concealed/transient content are skipped. Privacy details. |
| AI | Ask Clipboard can act on the latest copy, and entries can be sent to AI Chat; access and limits depend on the Raycast plan. Ask Clipboard documentation. | No AI processing or AI features. |
| Source code | Raycast’s application is proprietary, while its extension ecosystem includes public code. | The complete app is open source under MIT. |
Raycast’s free and paid limits can change. This table uses Raycast’s official manual and pricing page as checked on July 27, 2026; verify the linked plan page before subscribing.
When Raycast is clearly the better fit
- You already live in Raycast. Adding its clipboard command avoids running a separate app and places clips beside your other commands.
- You copy images. Clipboard History cannot currently compete with Raycast’s bitmap history, OCR, and QR extraction.
- You transform clips before pasting. Editing, format selection, plain-text preference, snippets, and sequential paste are substantive advantages.
- You want a wider productivity system. Extensions, Quicklinks, window management, AI tools, and other Raycast features go far beyond clipboard recall.
When Clipboard History is the better fit
- You want one small utility. There is no launcher, extension store, AI layer, or paid feature tier to configure.
- You organize by project. Named groups and Favorites are persistent, simple destinations rather than a larger snippet system.
- You copy large files and folders. The app stores references and previews rather than duplicating the data, then reveals the original in Finder.
- You require open source and local-only history. The application code is public, and clipboard records do not sync to a service.
Learn what macOS itself now provides in the Mac clipboard history guide, or compare other free choices in the clipboard-manager roundup.
Clipboard History limitations to know first
- No direct bitmap image capture, OCR, QR-code extraction, or visual content-type filters.
- No clip editor, paste-as-format menu, sequential paste, AI actions, or extensibility layer.
- No device sync; history intentionally remains on one Mac.
- macOS 14 or later only. There are no iPhone, iPad, or Windows versions.
- Finder items are stored by reference, so they are not backups and cannot paste if the original is gone.
If you need two or more of those features, Raycast is likely the more capable choice even if Clipboard History’s simpler privacy model appeals to you.
Sources and methodology
Raycast facts come from its Clipboard History manual, official feature page, and current pricing table. Clipboard History facts come from its public source and documentation. We do not use unverified traffic, user-count, or speed claims.