Compare

Clipboard sync apps compared: Android, Mac, Windows

By Intelligentia Studios, the maker of MyClippy · Published 28 September 2026

No built-in clipboard spans Android, Mac and Windows. Apple’s Universal Clipboard is Apple-only, Microsoft Phone Link covers selected Android phones with Windows, and SwiftKey syncs one clip through a Microsoft account. To use all three platforms together, choose a cross-platform app: KDE Connect is free and open source with manual sending from Android, and MyClippy is a free local-Wi-Fi pilot with optional automatic copying from Android.

At a glance

Clipboard sync options for Android, Mac and Windows
Option	Works with	Copying from Android	Requirements	Cost
Apple Universal Clipboard	Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro	Not supported	Same Apple Account; Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Handoff on; devices nearby	Built in
Microsoft Phone Link	Windows PC with Samsung (One UI 2.1+), Surface Duo, select HONOR, OPPO, ASUS, vivo	Supported phones only; text and images	Windows 10 (May 2019 update+) or 11; Phone Link apps	Built in
SwiftKey cloud clipboard	Android with SwiftKey, Windows	While typing with SwiftKey; last clip, kept for an hour	Microsoft account; Windows clipboard history and sync on	Free
KDE Connect	Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS	Tap “Send clipboard” on Android 10+	Paired devices on the same network	Free, open source
ClipRelay	Android 11+, macOS 13+	Automatic detection listed as experimental	QR pairing; Bluetooth Low Energy	Free
LocalSend	Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux	Send text or files manually each time	Same local network	Free, open source
MyClippy	Android 8+, Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 13+), Windows 10/11 x64	Automatic after optional Accessibility setup, or Share / Send	Same private Wi-Fi; one desktop app open; trusted network only	Free pilot

We make MyClippy. Other products are described from their official documentation as of 28 September 2026; we have not tested them. Only MyClippy’s behaviour comes from our own device tests.

Which one should you choose?

Only Apple devices: use Apple’s Universal Clipboard — it’s built in.
A Samsung Galaxy or other phone on Microsoft’s list, with a Windows PC: try Phone Link first.
You already type with SwiftKey and mainly use Windows: SwiftKey’s cloud clipboard syncs your latest copy through your Microsoft account.
You use Linux, or want a free open-source suite that also handles files and notifications: KDE Connect.
Android and a Mac only, and you prefer Bluetooth: ClipRelay.
Photos or files rather than copied text: LocalSend.
Android with a Mac, a Windows PC or both, and you want copies to move automatically in both directions without changing keyboard: MyClippy, on a private network you trust.

How copying from Android differs

Every Android option works around the same rule: since Android 10, an app can read the clipboard only when it is the default keyboard or the app in focus. SwiftKey syncs because it is your keyboard; KDE Connect gives you a “Send clipboard” button; MyClippy offers an optional Accessibility service that notices copy actions. Each has a trade-off between convenience and how much access you grant. More on Android permissions.

What MyClippy doesn’t do yet

No iPhone, iPad or Linux apps.
No images or files — text and links up to 32,768 bytes per copy.
No syncing across different networks or mobile data; devices must share a private network.
No accounts or device approval: any MyClippy installation on the network can join, and the session key is shared over local HTTP.
The Mac app requires Apple silicon, and the Android app is available only to invited Google Play testers.

How we compared

We read each product’s official documentation on 28 September 2026 and recorded supported devices, how copying from Android works, requirements and price. We did not install or benchmark the other products, so this page doesn’t rate their reliability. For MyClippy we link to dated results from real devices. If a detail here is out of date, email intelligentiastudios@gmail.com and we’ll correct it.

Frequently asked questions

Which clipboard sync apps work on Android, Mac and Windows?

KDE Connect (free, open source) and MyClippy (free pilot) both run on Android, Mac and Windows. LocalSend also runs on all three but sends items manually rather than syncing the clipboard. Apple’s Universal Clipboard and Microsoft Phone Link each cover only part of that combination.

What is the difference between KDE Connect and ClipRelay for Android and Mac?

KDE Connect is an open-source suite that runs on Android, iOS, Linux, Windows and macOS and connects over your network; on Android 10 and later you tap “Send clipboard” to share a copy. ClipRelay is dedicated to Android and Mac, connects over Bluetooth Low Energy, and lists automatic copy detection on Android as experimental.

Is there a clipboard sync app that works over mobile data?

SwiftKey’s cloud clipboard syncs through your Microsoft account rather than a local network. MyClippy, KDE Connect and LocalSend need the devices on a shared local network, and ClipRelay uses Bluetooth, so none of those four syncs over mobile data.

Which option works with two computers and one Android phone?

Apps that run on all three platforms, such as KDE Connect and MyClippy. MyClippy is designed for an Android phone with a Mac and a Windows PC on the same private Wi-Fi; a copy on any one of them reaches the other two.

Sources and current requirements

Product capabilities and platform requirements can change. This page describes a local pilot, not a guarantee of compatibility with every phone or source app. Spotted something out of date? Email intelligentiastudios@gmail.com.