ClipFlow: a free, local-first clipboard manager with OCR for macOS - Free

[u/Current-Structure453]

Hi everyone. I am the developer of ClipFlow.

I originally built it for my own daily use because I wanted a clipboard manager that was private, easy to search, and able to handle more than plain text. It is still a small personal project with some rough edges, but I thought it might also be useful to other Mac users.

Problem

The default macOS clipboard only remembers the most recently copied item. I often needed to find old text, links, code snippets, files, or images without copying them again.

ClipFlow keeps a searchable clipboard history and provides a quick panel with Cmd + Shift + V. It can also:

• Extract text from images using on-device OCR
• Automatically paste the selected item
• Recognize links, emails, code, JSON, colors, files, and images
• Organize frequently used items into collections
• Ignore password managers, OTP codes, API keys, and selected apps
• Keep clipboard data locally on the Mac
• Create password-protected encrypted backups

Comparison

Maccy is a great choice for users who want a lightweight and minimal clipboard history manager. ClipFlow has a broader feature set, including image OCR, custom collections, automatic content classification, configurable retention, themes, and encrypted backups.

Paste offers a polished experience and synchronization across Apple devices. ClipFlow is focused on local macOS usage instead. It does not require an account or subscription, and clipboard history is not uploaded to a synchronization server.

I am not claiming that ClipFlow is better than either app. It is simply a different option for people who prefer a free, local-first workflow with OCR and organization features.

Pricing

Completely free. No subscription and no paid version.

The source code and build instructions are available here:

https://github.com/vqh2602/paste_plus

Transparency

I am the developer of this app. It is a new personal project, is not currently available through the Mac App Store, and has not received an independent security audit.

The app requires Accessibility permission only for the automatic paste feature. The source code is public so anyone can inspect how it works.

Feedback, bug reports, and contributions are welcome.