Question 1

How does OpenClip compare to PopClip?

Accepted Answer

OpenClip is free, 100% open-source, and written in modern Swift 6 for macOS 14+. It includes streaming AI actions (Apple Intelligence, Ollama, OpenAI-compatible APIs), sub-5ms inline math calculation, a universal keyboard command palette (⌥⌘C), and an open extension ecosystem (JavaScript, AppleScript, Shell) with zero tracking or telemetry.

Question 2

Does OpenClip monitor or store my clipboard data?

Accepted Answer

Never. OpenClip uses native macOS Accessibility APIs to detect selected text directly on screen without reading your clipboard until you explicitly trigger an action or copy. Your data stays strictly on your Mac.

Question 3

Which AI providers and models are supported?

Accepted Answer

OpenClip supports on-device Apple Intelligence (macOS 15.1+), local offline LLMs via Ollama, and any OpenAI-compatible cloud API (OpenAI, Claude via proxies, OpenRouter, Groq). API keys are stored securely in your encrypted macOS Keychain.

Question 4

How do I install or create custom extensions?

Accepted Answer

Browse extensions in the built-in Catalog or on www.getopenclip.app/extensions and install with a single click (openclip://install). Building your own extension is as simple as creating a manifest.json and a script in JavaScript, AppleScript, or Shell inside ~/.openclip/extensions.

Question 5

Is OpenClip completely free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OpenClip is 100% free and open-source under the MIT license with no paywalls, subscriptions, or account requirements.

Notes