The Modern, Free & Open Source PopClip Alternative for macOS
Looking for a PopClip alternative? OpenClip turns selected text into instant actions with native Swift 6 speed, local AI streaming, a universal keyboard palette, and 100+ extensions—100% free under the AGPL-3.0 license.
OpenClip vs. PopClip: Head-to-Head
How the modern open-source floating action bar compares against the proprietary veteran.
| Feature & Capability | OpenClipAGPL-3.0 Open Source | PopClip |
|---|---|---|
Pricing & Licensing Cost and software license terms | 100% Free & Open Source (AGPL-3.0) | $20+ Paid License |
Native Architecture Underlying framework and codebase | Modern Swift 6 & AppKit | Objective-C & AppleScript architecture |
macOS Optimization Support for modern Apple Silicon & OS features | macOS 14 Sonoma & 15 Sequoia Native | macOS 10.15+ (Broader legacy compatibility) |
Local Offline AI (Ollama) Run private local LLMs without internet | Included | Not Supported |
Apple Intelligence Integration Native system writing tools on macOS 15.1+ | Included | Not Supported |
Cloud AI Streaming (OpenAI, Claude, Groq) Real-time response streaming in floating card | Included | Basic single prompt |
Keyboard Command Palette (⌥⌘C) Trigger text actions without reaching for the mouse | Included | Not Supported |
Sub-5ms Inline Math Calculator Instant inline evaluation of math expressions | Included | Requires extension |
Extension Ecosystem Supported scripting runtimes for custom actions | JavaScript, AppleScript, Shell, Shortcuts | JavaScript, AppleScript, Shell |
Extension Catalog & 1-Click Install Deep link installation via openclip://install | 100+ Free Extensions | Web directory & snippets |
Privacy & Zero Telemetry Data stays strictly local on device | 100% Local (Keychain storage, 0 tracking) | Proprietary / Closed source |
* Legal Notice: PopClip is a trademark of Nicholas Moore / Pilotmoon Software. OpenClip is an independent open-source project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nicholas Moore or Pilotmoon Software. Feature comparisons reflect publicly documented features and pricing as of 2026.
Why Mac Users Are Switching to OpenClip
Built from scratch in 2026 for Sonoma and Sequoia with modern developer expectations.
Local-First AI with Real-Time Streaming
PopClip requires third-party web requests. OpenClip connects directly to on-device Apple Intelligence or local offline models via Ollama (Llama 3, DeepSeek, Mistral) without internet access. For cloud LLMs, results stream token-by-token into a native floating result card.
Universal Keyboard Command Palette (⌥⌘C)
You don’t always want to reach for your mouse. OpenClip includes a global command palette accessible via ⌥⌘C so you can search, filter, and execute any text action entirely from the keyboard with instant fuzzy matching.
Swift 6 & Sub-5ms Inline Math
Highlight any math expression like 14.99 * 1.18 or 2^12 and OpenClip calculates the result locally in under 5 milliseconds with zero battery drain. Written in pure Swift 6 with strict concurrency.
100+ Free Extensions & Open Catalog
Browse our catalog of over 100 extensions—from Markdown preview and case conversion to Obsidian capture and developer formatters. Install with a single click using theopenclip://install protocol without restarting the app.
Switching from PopClip takes 60 seconds
OpenClip installs side-by-side with PopClip so you can test them together. All your familiar workflows—copy, paste, search, and text transformation—work immediately out of the box.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to upgrade your text actions?
Download OpenClip for free and experience the native floating action bar for macOS.