Clipboard history
Automatically records copied text and images so previously copied material can be retrieved instead of copied again.
Buffer
Buffer is a free, open-source clipboard manager for macOS that saves searchable local history of copied text and images for quick retrieval and reuse.
Local clipboard history for macOS
Buffer is a clipboard manager for macOS that runs from the menu bar and keeps a searchable record of copied text and images. Its global ⇧⌘V shortcut opens the history from anywhere, while search, tags, bookmarks, and configurable capacity help users retrieve and organize frequently reused content.
The app is designed for local use: its page states that clipboard data stays on the Mac, with no accounts or telemetry. Buffer is free and open-source under the MIT License, supports macOS 13.0 and later, and offers builds for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Clipboard management features
Search, tags, and bookmarks
Performs real-time fuzzy search across saved clipboard entries, with tag suggestions available for filtering.
On-device OCR
Uses Apple’s on-device Vision framework to extract text from images while keeping OCR processing offline.
Interactive image viewing
Provides an image canvas with pinch-to-zoom, panning, double-click fit/reset, and trackpad gestures for inspecting copied images.
Multi-item paste
Lets users select several entries, adjust the selection with Shift and Arrow keys, and paste the selected items together.
Configurable workflow
Offers configurable history capacity tiers, duplicate and noise filtering, inline text editing, content zoom, and configurable global hotkeys.
Practical uses
Development and technical work
Keep copied code, commands, and configuration snippets available while moving between documentation, terminals, and editors.
Repeated text entry
Save recurring email text, notes, addresses, and other short-form material so it can be found later with fuzzy search instead of recopied.
Image reference and review
Review screenshots or other copied images in the canvas, zooming and panning when the original dimensions make details difficult to inspect.
Text recovery from images
Extract text from a copied image locally with Vision OCR when the source is a screenshot or other visual document and manual retyping would be inconvenient.
Organized reuse
Group reusable clips with tags, bookmark important entries against automatic eviction, and paste multiple selected items together for compound workflows.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Captures both text and image clipboard items.
- Searches clipboard history with fuzzy matching and supports tags and bookmarks.
- Includes offline OCR through Apple’s Vision framework.
- Supports image inspection, multi-item selection and paste, and inline text editing.
- Free, open-source, and licensed under MIT, according to the product page.
Cons
- The documented platform support is limited to macOS 13.0 and later.
- The source describes a local menu bar utility but does not document integrations, team features, or cross-device synchronization.
FAQ
How do I install Buffer?
Download the Buffer DMG, open it, and drag Buffer.app into the Applications folder. Launch the app, grant Accessibility permission when prompted, then press ⇧⌘V to open clipboard history.
How does Buffer work?
Buffer captures copied text and images, stores them locally, and lets you retrieve them from the menu bar with the global ⇧⌘V shortcut. Select an item and press Return to copy it to the clipboard and dismiss the window.
Can Buffer extract text from images?
Yes. Buffer includes Vision OCR based on Apple’s on-device Vision framework, allowing text to be extracted from copied images without sending the image off the Mac.
Which Macs and macOS versions are supported?
Buffer supports macOS 13.0 and later and provides separate downloads for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
How much does Buffer cost?
The page describes Buffer as free and open-source under the MIT License. No paid plans or pricing details are listed.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Clipboard manager
- Platform
- macOS 13.0 or later
- Builds
- Apple Silicon and Intel
- Access
- Menu bar app with global ⇧⌘V shortcut
- License
- MIT License
- Data handling
- Local storage; no accounts or telemetry stated
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