How long does Alfred keep clipboard history?

Alfred's clipboard history is off by default and, once enabled, is capped (about three months). It ignores password managers by default. For unlimited, permanent history you need a dedicated clipboard manager.

Is Alfred's clipboard history enough, or do I need a clipboard manager?

If you already use Alfred and mostly paste recent text, its clipboard feature is convenient. A dedicated tool like Copydrop makes sense when the clipboard is a core part of your work: unlimited history, rich previews, and images, files and app-native objects preserved exactly.

Can I use Alfred and Copydrop together?

Yes. Keep Alfred as your launcher; give the clipboard job to Copydrop. They use different shortcuts and don't conflict.

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Alfred's clipboard history vs Copydrop: feature vs tool

Alfred is a superb launcher, and its clipboard history is a handy extra inside the Powerpack. The question isn't which app is better — it's whether a launcher's side-feature covers a job you do hundreds of times a day. One shortcut that does one job completely, or one of many features?

The short version

Stay with Alfred's clipboard if you already use Alfred, paste mostly recent text, and never need anything older than its cap.

Add Copydrop if your history should be permanent and searchable forever, with full previews and images, files and design objects kept exactly. They run side by side — Copydrop doesn't touch the launcher.

The cap, and the previews

Alfred's clipboard history is disabled by default and, once on, keeps items for a limited window (around three months) — a sensible privacy default, but a ceiling if you treat the clipboard as long-term memory. Previews are compact list entries built for quick recent recall, not for confirming which screenshot or file you're about to paste.

Copydrop keeps everything, permanently, with rich previews and instant full-text search — the link you copied in March is still findable in November, in three keystrokes.

Feature by feature

	Alfred (clipboard feature)	Copydrop
History retention	Capped (~3 months), off by default	Unlimited, permanent
Pricing model	Powerpack ~£34 / £59 lifetime (one-time)	$8.99 — one-time
Scope	One feature of a launcher suite	One job, done completely
Previews	Compact list entries	Rich — full text previews, real thumbnails
App-native objects (e.g. Figma layers)	Text & images	Pastes the exact original form
Passwords excluded by default	Yes	Yes
Local-first, no account	Yes	Yes — clipboard data stays local

They're not rivals

Alfred is a fantastic launcher and workflow tool — keep it. Copydrop takes over one shortcut (⌘⇧C) and one job: never losing anything you copy, and finding it instantly for as long as you use your Mac. If Alfred's clipboard cap has ever lost you something, that's the gap Copydrop fills.

Questions people ask

Do I lose Alfred's clipboard merging if I switch?

You don't have to switch anything off — run both. Use Alfred for launching and its own tricks; let Copydrop own the long-term clipboard history and previews.

Is Copydrop as keyboard-first as Alfred?

Yes — invoke with ⌘⇧C, type to search, Enter to paste, ⌘1–⌘9 for direct hits. No mouse required.

Try Copydrop free for 4 days

Full app, no card, no account. Then $8.99 once — one-time, no subscription.

Try Copydrop free

Your clipboard history never leaves your Mac.

More comparisons: Copydrop vs Raycast · vs Paste · vs Maccy · vs the built-in history

Sources (verified July 2026): Alfred Powerpack pricing & clipboard feature — alfredapp.com and alfredapp.com/shop. Retention cap is approximate; check Alfred's docs for your version. Corrections welcome at hello@copydrop.app.