Clipboard manager with advanced features
12k
Stars
579
Forks
398
Open issues
30
Contributors
AI Analysis
CopyQ is a cross-platform clipboard manager that monitors system clipboard activity and stores content in customized tabs with support for text, HTML, images, and custom formats. It serves users who need advanced clipboard history management, scripting capabilities, and system-wide keyboard shortcuts—best suited for power users and developers who work with repetitive copy-paste workflows. General users seeking basic clipboard history will find it feature-rich but potentially over-engineered.
Inferred from signals mentioned in the README (tests, CI, type safety) — not a review of the actual code.
AI's overall editorial judgment — not an average of the bars above, can weigh other factors too.
CopyQ: A 16-year-old cross-platform clipboard manager with scripting depth that rivals dedicated automation tools
CopyQ is a mature, feature-rich clipboard manager targeting power users on Linux, Windows, and macOS. It stores and organizes clipboard history across multiple tabs, supports rich content types (text, HTML, images, custom formats), and exposes a full scripting API and CLI for automation. Its primary audience is developers, system administrators, and keyboard-driven workflow users who need more than a basic clipboard history tool. With 11,879 stars and active development through mid-2026, it represents one of the most capable open-source clipboard managers available across all major platforms.
Started in October 2009, CopyQ predates most clipboard manager alternatives by several years. It has evolved from a simple Qt-based history tool into a scriptable clipboard automation platform, accumulating a stable user base over 16+ years of continuous development.
Growth appears steady rather than explosive — 23 stars in the last 7 days suggests organic discovery rather than viral moments. The project likely grows through Linux distribution package repositories, Homebrew, Flathub, and word-of-mouth among power users. Its longevity and cross-platform availability contribute to sustained, gradual adoption. No single high-profile event appears to have driven a spike.
CopyQ is packaged in Debian, Ubuntu (with official PPA), Fedora, Arch Linux, Homebrew (macOS), Chocolatey/Scoop (Windows), and Flathub — broad distribution coverage strongly implies real-world deployment at scale. The Repology badge in the README confirms packaging across many repositories. A mailing list, issue tracker, and Liberapay donation page suggest an engaged user community, though precise install numbers are not publicly documented.
Likely built on Qt framework (given C++ base and cross-platform GUI support across Linux/Windows/macOS). Appears to follow a main-window tray-app architecture with a plugin system (referenced via 'copyq-plugins' package), a scripting engine exposed through a documented API, and a CLI interface. Multi-tab clipboard storage suggests a local database or file-backed persistence layer.
Codecov integration is present with a badge in the README, indicating automated test coverage is tracked. Exact coverage percentage is not documented in the README, but the presence of CI badges for Linux, macOS, and Windows builds suggests a reasonable testing discipline.
Last push was 2026-06-22 — effectively yesterday relative to evaluation date. CI pipelines are active across all three supported platforms. A Weblate translation badge indicates ongoing community localization effort. Documentation is hosted on ReadTheDocs. All signals point to active, well-maintained project with no signs of stagnation.
ADOPT IF: you are a power user on Linux, Windows, or macOS who needs a scriptable, extensible clipboard manager with rich history, tab organization, and CLI automation — especially if you want a stable, well-packaged tool with 16 years of refinement. AVOID IF: you want a lightweight, minimal clipboard tool with no learning curve, need cross-device sync out of the box, or are on macOS below version 13. MONITOR IF: you are evaluating clipboard tools for team or enterprise environments where scripting capabilities could be valuable but need to assess long-term Qt dependency and single-maintainer bus-factor risk.
Independent dimensions
Mainstream potential
4/10
Technical importance
7/10
Adoption evidence
7/10
- Single primary maintainer (hluk) — bus-factor risk is real for a 16-year-old project, even with community contributions
- Qt dependency means UI may feel dated compared to newer Electron/Taiga-based alternatives that match modern OS aesthetics
- macOS support requires version 13+, excluding users on older hardware or those who defer OS updates
- Scripting API depth may create a steep learning curve for non-technical users, limiting broader adoption
- No built-in cross-device clipboard synchronization may push users toward newer tools that offer this as a primary feature
CopyQ will likely continue its steady, niche-dominant trajectory — remaining the go-to clipboard manager for Linux power users and technically inclined users on all platforms, without breaking into mainstream consumer adoption.
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Languages
Information
- Language
- C++
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Last updated
- 1w ago
- Created
- 204mo ago
- Analyzed with
- anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5
Stars over time
Contributors over time
Top 100 contributors only — repos with more will plateau at 100.
Open issues
is copyq.net official website?
ADD DATE TIME INDICATOR TOO....
Can't open tray menu
CopyQ unable to correctly identify specific character patterns (e.g. CRLF)
Ubuntu 26.04 support in PPA
Top contributors
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Clipy is macOS-only and simpler in scope. CopyQ offers cross-platform support, scripting, and far more customization at the cost of greater complexity. Clipy may feel lighter for casual macOS users.
Clipboard focuses on a CLI-first, headless clipboard experience without persistent history. CopyQ targets GUI-driven power users who want history, tabs, and scripting together. They serve different interaction models.
EcoPaste is a newer, TypeScript-based (likely Tauri/Electron) cross-platform clipboard manager with a modern UI focus. CopyQ has significantly more scripting depth but a less contemporary UI. EcoPaste may attract users prioritizing aesthetics over automation.
cliphist is a minimal, Wayland-native clipboard history tool for Linux power users who compose their own tools. CopyQ is self-contained and GUI-driven; cliphist is better suited for tiling WM users who prefer composable Unix tools.
CrossPaste emphasizes cross-device sync across machines. CopyQ is single-machine focused with no built-in sync. For users needing multi-device clipboard sharing, CrossPaste addresses a different primary need.
