Spud: the clipboard history Maccy users switch to
You searched for Maccy, so you already know the pain: the Mac clipboard holds one item, and the last thing you copied is gone the moment you copy again. This article explains what Spud does, how it compares to Maccy, and what it costs. It is written for Mac power users who want fast clipboard history and a few more keyboard-first tools around it.
Key takeaways
- Spud is a Mac clipboard manager with a searchable clipboard history you open from one shortcut, plus saved workspaces, snippets, a screenshot history, and text-to-speech.
- Maccy is a free, open-source clipboard manager under the MIT license that does one job well, while Spud bundles clipboard history with workspaces, snippets, screenshots, and Talk.
- Spud keeps your last 10 clipboard items on the free tier and your full history on Pro at $4.99 per month, with a 10-day trial that needs no card.
- Spud stores your clipboard history locally on your Mac and downloads signed and notarized direct from eatspud.com, not the Mac App Store.
What Spud is
Spud is a Mac clipboard manager, and more, for people who came looking for Maccy. It keeps a searchable clipboard history you open from one shortcut, and it adds saved workspaces, snippets, screenshots, and Talk, which reads copied text aloud. Everything opens from a keystroke, so your hands stay on the keyboard. Your last copies stay searchable instead of vanishing, and the free tier keeps your last 10 clipboard items.
Why people switch
People switch because Spud does what a clipboard manager should, then adds the tools around it that keep you in flow. Here is what stands out:
- Searchable clipboard history: press ⌃ Space to open the panel, type to find an old copy, and press Return to paste it.
- Keyboard-first: every tool opens from a shortcut, so you rarely reach for the mouse.
- Local-only storage: your clipboard history stays on your Mac.
- Snippets: save the text you type every day and paste it from one search.
- Saved workspaces: snapshot your open apps and windows, then restore them with a keypress.
- Honest pricing: a free tier that keeps your last 10 clipboard items and a $4.99 Pro plan for the full history.
Spud vs Maccy
Maccy and Spud both give you a fast, searchable clipboard history from the keyboard. The difference is scope. Maccy is free and open source under the MIT license, and it deliberately does one job well: keep your copy history at hand. Spud keeps the clipboard history and adds saved workspaces, snippets, screenshots, and Talk.
If all you want is clipboard history that never costs a cent, Maccy is a solid, honest choice, and you can audit its code. If you want that history plus workspace restore and a few keyboard tools in one menu-bar app, Spud fits better.
| Feature | Spud | Maccy |
|---|---|---|
| Clipboard history | Searchable, last 10 free, full on Pro | Full searchable history, free |
| Snippets | Yes | No |
| Saved workspaces | Yes | No |
| Screenshot history | Yes, saved files and clipboard captures | Clipboard images only |
| Text-to-speech (Talk) | Yes, on Pro | No |
| Price | Free tier, Pro $4.99/mo | Free |
| Local, private storage | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes, MIT license |
| Distribution | Direct from eatspud.com | GitHub, Homebrew, direct |
How it works
Spud stays out of the way until you copy something and want it back. It works in four steps, all from the keyboard.
- Copy as usual with ⌘ C. Spud records it.
- Press ⌃ Space to open the Spud panel.
- Type a word to search your history.
- Press Return to paste the item you picked.
Maccy works much the same way. You open Maccy with ⌘⇧C, search, and press Return. If you know that flow, Spud will feel familiar on day one.
Feature highlights
Spud is more than a plain clipboard manager. The tools below open from a shortcut and share one menu-bar app.
Searchable clipboard history
Everything you copy stays searchable from ⌃ Space, so pasting something from an hour ago no longer means retracing your steps. The free tier keeps your last 10 items, and Pro keeps your full history.
Snippets
Save the text you type every day, like email intros and standup templates, and pull one up from a search. Return copies the snippet you picked and closes the panel, ready to paste.
Screenshots
Every screenshot you take lands in a searchable grid, including the ones you copy straight to the clipboard with ⌃⇧⌘4 that macOS never saves to disk. Return copies one, ⌘↩ opens it, and you can reveal it in Finder or trash it without leaving the keyboard. It is opt-in: turn it on in Settings, and nothing leaves your Mac.
Talk
Turn on Talk with ⌃ T and anything you copy is read aloud. Proof-listen your own draft, or follow a long document while you work in another window.
Saved workspaces
Snapshot your open apps and windows, name the layout, and restore it later. Open the switcher with ⌃⌥ Space, save the current layout with ⌃⌥ S, and jump to a saved workspace with ⌃⌥ and a number key.
Global shortcuts
Every tool has a keystroke, so you rarely touch the mouse. ⌃ Space opens the panel, ⌃⌥ Space opens the switcher, and ⌃ T toggles Talk.
Trust and privacy
Your clipboard history stays private because it is stored locally on your Mac, not on a server. Spud is signed and notarized and downloads direct from eatspud.com, not the Mac App Store. Direct download is a plus here: it runs without the App Sandbox limits that would block a menu-bar app from managing other apps' windows.
Pricing
Spud has a free tier that lasts forever and a Pro plan at $4.99 per month. The free tier covers up to 2 saved workspaces, your last 10 clipboard items, and 5 snippets, and Pro unlocks unlimited workspaces, your full clipboard history, and Talk. Every download starts with a 10-day Pro trial that needs no card and no sign-up, and nothing you make in the trial is ever taken away.
Maccy sets a fair bar: it is free and open source, and always will be. Spud asks $4.99 a month for the workspaces, snippets, screenshots, and Talk that sit on top of the clipboard history. Try it free first, then decide if the extra tools are worth it.
Download Spud and search your first clipboard history in under a minute.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spud a good Maccy alternative?
Yes, if you want more than clipboard history. Spud gives you the same fast, searchable clipboard from one shortcut, then adds saved workspaces, snippets, screenshots, and Talk. If you only want clipboard history and nothing else, Maccy is free and open source and does that one job well.
Is Spud open source like Maccy?
No. Maccy is open source under the MIT license, so you can inspect or change its code. Spud is not open source, but your clipboard history is still stored locally on your Mac rather than on a server.
Is Spud on the Mac App Store?
No. Spud downloads direct from eatspud.com, signed and notarized. Direct download is what lets it manage other apps' windows without App Sandbox limits.
What macOS version does Spud need?
Spud requires macOS 26 Tahoe and runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Maccy has a lower bar and runs on macOS Sonoma 14 or higher, so check your macOS version before you switch.
How do I open my clipboard history in Spud?
Press ⌃ Space to open the Spud panel, type a word to search, and press Return to paste the item you picked. It mirrors the flow you already know, where Maccy opens with ⌘⇧C.