PasteBoard
If you regularly copy something on your iPhone and want it available on your Mac a few minutes later — beyond Apple's single-item Universal Clipboard — you need a clipboard manager that specifically supports iCloud sync, not just clipboard history.
Why sync matters for some workflows
Universal Clipboard already moves the single most recent item between Apple devices. The gap it leaves is history: if you copied something on your iPhone an hour ago, then copied something else, Universal Clipboard has already moved on. A clipboard manager with real sync keeps a full searchable history available on every signed-in device, not just the latest item.
Clipboard managers with iCloud sync
| App | Sync method | Price model |
|---|---|---|
| Paste | iCloud | Subscription |
| Pastebot | iCloud | One-time purchase, with an iOS companion app |
| Raycast (Pro) | Raycast cloud (Pro tier) | Free tier local-only; Pro adds sync |
Why some tools stay local-only on purpose
Maccy, Clipy, and PasteClip are local-only by design, not by limitation — keeping clipboard data on a single device removes an entire category of privacy and security questions that sync inevitably introduces. For single-Mac users, this isn't a missing feature so much as a deliberate trade-off in favor of simplicity and privacy.
Setting up sync
- Make sure the same Apple ID is signed in on both your Mac and iPhone.
- Install the clipboard manager's Mac app and, where offered, its iOS companion app.
- Enable iCloud sync inside the app's settings on both devices — this is usually off by default and needs to be turned on explicitly.
- Test by copying something on one device and confirming it appears in history on the other after a short delay.
Which to choose
If sync is the deciding factor, Paste is the most complete option, with the broadest feature set alongside sync. If you'd rather pay once than subscribe, Pastebot covers the same core need. If you only occasionally need something from your iPhone on your Mac, Apple's free Universal Clipboard may already be enough — see our comparison of Universal Clipboard vs third-party tools to check before paying for sync you may not need.
Frequently asked questions
Does Maccy sync with iPhone?
No. Maccy is local-only by design and does not offer iCloud sync. Paste and Pastebot are the more established options if you specifically need clipboard history shared between Mac and iPhone.
Is iCloud clipboard sync secure?
Sync relies on Apple's iCloud encryption rather than a third-party server, which is generally considered a reasonably secure approach — though local-only storage remains the more conservative choice if you handle particularly sensitive data.
