UStackUStack
Tansei icon

Tansei

Tansei is a Mac shelf for saving text, links, screenshots, files, colors, and code while you move between apps. It works offline, stores items locally on your Mac, and does not require an account.

Tansei

A local shelf for working across apps

Tansei is a Mac shelf that sits at the edge of your screen and stores the things you want to keep close while you move between apps. It is built for people who copy, reference, and return to many different kinds of content during the day, including text, links, screenshots, files, colors, and code.

The app is private by default, works offline, and does not require an account. Items stay on your Mac, and screenshots and files are saved locally in Documents/Tansei. Tansei uses familiar Mac shortcuts and simple capture actions so you can save something, switch apps, and come back to it without losing your place.

Features, explained

Local storage

Tansei keeps your active shelf on your Mac in Documents/Tansei, so saved items are stored locally instead of in a cloud account.

Multiple capture methods

Right-click, drag, or press ⌘C to capture text, links, images, screenshots, files, PDFs, notes, colors, and code from other apps.

Organize and search

Use groups, tags, pins, and instant search to organize items and find them again quickly.

Manage each item

Preview, rename, open, archive, delete, and recover items from the shelf when you need to manage what you saved.

Color detection

Grab colors as swatches and copy values in HEX, RGB, or HSL.

Control capture behavior

Pause auto-copying from the menu bar or in Settings if you want to stop new items from being captured automatically.

Where Tansei fits

  • Switching between apps

    Keep references, snippets, and prompts close while moving between ChatGPT, your editor, browser, and terminal.

  • Design and visual review

    Save colors, screenshots, and design references, then drag them back into Figma or other visual work without rebuilding the context.

  • Developer workflows

    Capture commands, error messages, and files while you debug, then copy the exact item back when you need it.

  • Research and reading

    Store links, notes, PDFs, and research fragments in one shelf so you can return to them later without searching through tabs.

  • Personal organization

    Use tags, groups, and pins to keep project materials organized when you are juggling many small items at once.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Keeps saved items local on your Mac rather than in an account.
  • Captures several content types, including screenshots, files, colors, links, notes, and code.
  • Supports common Mac actions like ⌘C, right-click, drag, and keyboard shortcuts.
  • Works offline and does not require sign-in.
  • Includes organization tools such as search, tags, groups, pins, archive, and delete.

Cons

  • Requires macOS 15 or later and an Apple Silicon Mac.
  • No web or Windows version is mentioned on the product pages.
  • The app locks after the 3-day trial unless you buy a license.

FAQ

What Macs does Tansei support?

Tansei runs on macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later and requires an Apple Silicon Mac.

Is Tansei just clipboard history?

No. Tansei is a shelf for the things that matter, not just a log of copied items. It can hold notes, colors, screenshots, files, links, PDFs, and code.

Where is my data stored?

Everything stays on your Mac. The shelf is stored locally, and screenshots and files are saved in Documents/Tansei. Tansei does not require an account or upload your data.

Does Tansei work offline?

Yes. The shelf works with or without an internet connection.

What happens when the trial ends?

The free trial includes every feature for 3 days. After that, the app locks until you purchase a license, and your shelf stays on your Mac.

Quick Facts

Category
Productivity
Platform
macOS 15+ on Apple Silicon Macs
Pricing
3-day free trial, then $7 USD once if you keep it
Data storage
Stored locally on your Mac; screenshots and files in Documents/Tansei
Account required
No
Source domain
tansei.io
Tansei - AI Tool, Features, Use Cases & Alternatives | UStack