Updated: · 6 min read
Maccy‘s pricing is refreshingly simple: it is free. But people reasonably ask how a polished app stays free, whether there is a paid version, and how it compares to paid rivals. Here is the full picture.
The price: Maccy is free and open source under the MIT license — no tiers, no subscription, no feature gates. Optional tips and a Setapp listing exist, but the standalone app is fully free.
What Maccy costs
Nothing. Maccy app from the official site or via Homebrew and every feature is available at no cost, on any number of Macs, forever. There is no “Pro” unlock. For the direct yes/no, see Maccy Mac.
How a free app stays alive
Maccy is maintained in the open by its author and community contributors, supported by optional tips and donations rather than by charging users or selling data. Being Maccy app also makes it durable: it does not hinge on one company’s revenue.
The Setapp option
Maccy Mac is also offered through Maccy, a paid subscription bundle of Mac apps. That is just another way to get it as part of a bundle — you do not need Setapp, and the standalone Maccy remains free and complete on its own.
Free vs paid clipboard managers
| Maccy | Paste | Pastebot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Free (MIT) | Subscription | One-time |
| Ongoing cost | None | Recurring | None after purchase |
| Open source | Yes | No | No |
| Cloud pinboards | No | Yes | No |
| Paste filters/sequences | No | Limited | Yes |
Paid apps justify their cost with specific extras — Paste’s cloud pinboards, Pastebot’s scripted pastes. Maccy intentionally focuses on a fast, private history and gives it away. Whether the paid extras are worth it depends entirely on your workflow; compare in Maccy app and the Maccy GitHub.
Hidden costs? There are none
No ads, no telemetry monetising your data, no upsell nags. The version you download is the whole thing. Explore all Maccy clipboard manager and see for yourself — or read clipboard manager for Mac for the value breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Maccy cost?
Maccy is free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid tiers, subscriptions, or feature gates. Every feature is available at no cost on any number of Macs.
Is the Setapp version of Maccy different?
No. Setapp simply offers Maccy as part of its paid app bundle. You do not need Setapp — the standalone Maccy from the official site and Homebrew is free and complete on its own.
How is Maccy funded if it is free?
Through optional tips and donations and community contribution, not by charging users or selling data. Its open-source nature also means it does not depend on a single company’s revenue.