CleanClip and reClip take different approaches to pricing. CleanClip is $12.99 once and you own it. reClip has a free tier and a subscription for Pro features. The pricing model shapes the rest of each app, and it is worth understanding what you get with each.
Pricing breakdown
CleanClip costs $12.99. You pay once and get lifetime access to the current features. Updates are included, though it is unclear for how long.
reClip is free for basic use — 20 clips, and every content type including images and files. Pro costs $2.99/month or $17.99/year for unlimited history, advanced search, type filters, and pinboards. If you pay yearly, it is about $1.50 per month.
If you use a clipboard manager for two years, CleanClip costs $12.99 total. reClip Pro costs $35.98. If you are on a tight budget and do not need sync, CleanClip is the cheaper option long-term.
But reClip's free tier is genuinely usable. You can run it forever without paying. CleanClip does not have a free tier.
Sync
This is the big one. reClip syncs your clipboard history between Macs through iCloud. CleanClip does not sync at all.
If you work on a single Mac, this does not matter. If you switch between a laptop and a desktop, or between a work Mac and a personal Mac, the lack of sync in CleanClip means you have two separate, disconnected clipboard histories.
Content types
Both apps handle text and images. reClip also saves files copied from Finder, URLs with link previews, RTF and HTML with formatting, and hex color codes with visual swatches.
CleanClip handles text and images but is less comprehensive with other content types. If you mostly copy text and the occasional screenshot, both are fine. If you copy files, formatted documents, or color codes regularly, reClip handles more.
Privacy
Both store data locally on your Mac. reClip adds automatic detection of sensitive content (passwords, API keys, OTP codes) and skips saving them. CleanClip saves everything you copy without filtering.
reClip's iCloud sync uses Apple's private CloudKit database. Your data stays in your iCloud account. CleanClip has no sync, so your data never leaves your Mac. Both are reasonable privacy approaches.
Interface
reClip uses a horizontal overlay at the bottom of the screen, activated with a keyboard shortcut. Arrow keys navigate, Enter pastes.
CleanClip uses a popup menu that appears near the menu bar. It is more of a dropdown list than a visual overlay. Some people prefer this, others find the horizontal overlay easier to scan.
iOS app
Neither has a shipping iOS app at the time of writing. reClip has one in development. CleanClip has not announced plans for iOS.
Who should use which
Choose CleanClip if: you want a one-time purchase, work on a single Mac, and do not need sync.
Choose reClip if: you want iCloud sync, a free tier to try first, sensitive content detection, or you work across multiple Macs.
Neither is a bad choice. The right one depends on whether sync and privacy features matter more to you than one-time pricing.