Microsoft Clipboard Alternatives

There are quite a few apps available in the market that can add more features to the now improved Microsoft Clipboard. Some examples include more number of clips saved, search by different parameters, support for more platforms, exclude passwords, and even more. These are smart features that you need and will use on a daily basis. Convinced yet? Let’s begin. Also Read: 7 Best Clipboard Managers for Android (2019)

1. Ditto

Ditto is an open-source and free copy-paste manager for Windows 10 that simply blows the default clipboard out of the water. Instead of using a pre-assigned shortcut key, you can choose your own which is kinda cool. The most useful feature is the search which will let you find what you are looking for in a sea of text, images, links, snippets of codes, and so much more.

It even supports wild cards that you can use to filter search results. The last 10 clipped items can be copied directly using custom keyboard shortcuts, and you decide when old clips are deleted. Know how to work with IP addresses? Sync clips between devices irrespective of the platform. Own a Mac? Download Ditto: Windows 10

2. CopyQ

CopyQ supports Windows, macOS, and Linux making it a true platform-agnostic, open-source, and free Microsoft Clipboard alternative. There is no need to install the app as it is portable and can be run directly, even from a  flash drive. Like Ditto above, it can copy all forms of data and you can even edit copied data before pasting it. Useful when you want to make some changes. There is the familiar search function.

What I like about CopyQ is the tabs feature. You can create different tabs for different walks of your life. For example, you can have one tab to copy data from laptop, another tab for work, one for Mac, and so on. Makes it easier to find what you are looking for, bringing organization feature to clips. You can teach CopyQ to avoid copy-paste from certain programs like password managers using rules which increases security aspect. The same rules can also be used to sort clipboard entries, print, and perform more functions. It’s a powerful clipboard manager with command line and editing tools built-in. Download CopyQ: GitHub

3. Clipdiary

Only available for Windows, Clipdiary made the list for one simple feature that no other Microsoft Clipboard alternative offers. This uber app will also save files to the clipboard along with text, links, and images. Cool, huh? You can organize clips by putting labels on them or simply clicking the star icon. There is a search feature too. Sadly, Clipdiary loses out on several other features like cross-platform compatibility, rules, and advanced organization features. Download Clipdiary: Windows Also Read: 6 Best Clipboard Manager Apps for iOS

4. ClipClip

Most Microsoft Clipboard alternatives work really well but only within the confines of the app. For example, you can access all the clips as long as you use the app. What if you don’t want to use the app anymore or find an alternative? What if you lose access to your system due to failure or theft? ClipClip will allow you to save your clips as individual files that you can then save to cloud storage sites like Drive.

This makes it easier to take backups of important clips that you may use over and over again. Inside the ClipClip app, you can create a hierarchy of folders and sub-folders to save clips, and searching for them is easy. Another cool feature is integration with Google Translate. Useful for those who work in multi-lingual setups. The clipboard app is free but not open-source. Download ClipClip: Windows

5. PhraseExpress

PhraseExpress is not only available on Windows and macOS, but also on iOS devices like iPhones and older versions of iPad. It is not just a clipboard manager but a text expander that you can use to create frequently used shortcuts. One example can be myemail which will automatically expand to myname@email.com. That can save a lot of time and actually reduce the need for clipboard managers significantly. Another example can be your address.

You can create templates in multiple languages too if you work in a multi-lingual environment. These phrases and clips can be organized in folders that are easy to search. PhraseExpress works inside any app whether it is a browser or a Word document. Working with a team? Share phrases with everyone. PhraseExpress is a powerful app that will cost you $139. The free version is limited but you should check it out. Download PhraseExpress: Windows

6. ClipboardFusion

Last but not least Microsoft Clipboard alternative comes with a host of features packed in a simple UI. You can clean HTML and other tags from any text that you have copied from the web. It comes with a text expander that we discussed above. Useful for frequently used phrases and whatnot. The one feature I found unique was macros that you can write yourself. You can also make use of the library.

This is the only app that syncs with both Android and iOS along with Windows and macOS, making it truly cross-platform compatible. It is also the only app that encrypts all your data using standard 256-bit encryption. That makes it ideal for a lot of things like copying passwords, something that we do all the time. Download ClipboardFusion: Windows

Microsoft Clipboard Alternatives

There are a lot of options available, each offering something different and unique in an attempt to stay relevant in the crowded niche. There are some open-source apps that should be good enough for most users, but if you are looking for advanced features and customizations, there are paid apps too. They are all reasonably priced and carry a one-time price.