A free PastePal alternative for Mac
On Hand vs PastePal: what each is good at, what they cost, and which one fits how you copy and paste.
The short version: PastePal does a lot: iCloud sync, an iPhone keyboard, collections, and dozens of text transforms. If you want all of that for a one-time price, it’s good value. If you just want your Mac’s clipboard history, On Hand is free and simpler.
On Hand vs PastePal at a glance
| On Hand | PastePal | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free download. Pro $14.99 one-time |
| Source code | Open source (MIT) | Closed source |
| Images | Yes | Yes |
| Search | Yes, by text or source app | Yes |
| Pinned clips | Yes, with named boards | Yes, plus Collections |
| Search text in images | Yes, on your Mac | Captures text from a screen area |
| Sync | No. History stays on your Mac | iCloud (App Store version) |
| Skip password managers and apps | Yes. Password managers skipped; card numbers, SSNs, and 25+ kinds of keys never saved, concealed, and cleared after 90 seconds | Yes |
| Shortcuts | ⌘⇧Space to open (changeable), ⌘1–9 to copy | ⌘1–9 to paste |
| Requires | macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon or Intel | macOS 14 (App Store), macOS 12 (direct) |
Checked October 6, 2026 against PastePal’s own site, release notes, or App Store listing. Prices and features change, so check before you buy. Something out of date? Open an issue.
Choose PastePal if
- You want your clipboard on iPhone and iPad too, including a keyboard extension.
- You use text transforms like JSON formatting, Base64, or case changes.
- You want collections to organize clips.
Choose On Hand if
- You don’t want to pay $14.99 to unlock Pro.
- You don’t want clipboard data in iCloud.
- You want an open-source app focused on history.
Is PastePal still maintained?
Actively maintained. Version 2.16.1 shipped in September 2026.
Switching from PastePal
On Hand starts fresh. It doesn’t import history from PastePal, so pin anything you want to keep after you copy it again. Both apps can run at the same time while you try On Hand; give them different shortcuts. On Hand opens with ⌘ ⇧ Space, and you can change that in Settings.