NotchStar vs Raycast clipboard history
Raycast is a launcher whose clipboard history keeps 3 months on the free plan and is unlimited on Pro at $10 a month; NotchStar is a $4 once app where clipboard history is one of ten notch tools.
| NotchStar | Raycast | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Ten small tools in the notch | A launcher; clipboard history is one of its features |
| Price | $4 once, with a 7 day trial, up to 3 Macs, 7 day refund | Free plan for personal use; Pro is $10 per month or $96 per year; eligible new accounts can start a Pro trial whose credits expire 7 days after they are granted |
| Clipboard history length | 50 items, kept in memory only | 3 months on Free, unlimited on Pro; pinned entries are kept |
| What it stores | Included Items copied to the clipboard | Included Text, images, colors and links |
| Skips password manager items | Included Skips items marked as concealed | Included Passwords from password managers are ignored by default |
| Launcher and search | Not listed | Included A full launcher with search and snippets, per its pricing and home pages |
| Minimum macOS | macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon and Intel | Not stated; its clipboard page mentions macOS Sierra, which looks out of date |
| File shelf with AirDrop | Included | Not listed Not listed on the pages read |
| Screenshot Tray | Included Catches macOS screenshots; it does not capture | Not listed Not listed on the pages read |
| Account needed | No account | Not stated for the free plan; login is mentioned for shared organisation items |
Sources: Raycast clipboard history (checked 4 November 2026), Raycast pricing (checked 4 November 2026), Raycast website (checked 4 November 2026). “Not listed” means the source does not mention it, which is not proof the feature is missing. Prices and features change, so check before you buy.
Raycast at a glance.
- Made by
- Raycast
- Who it suits
- A launcher user who already wants one app for search, snippets and clipboard.
- Price
- Free tier and paid plans. Pricing page, 4 November 2026: free plan at $0 for personal use with 3 months of clipboard history. Pro is $10 per month or $96 per year, with unlimited clipboard history. Eligible new accounts can start a free Pro trial; trial credits expire 7 days after they are granted.
- Needs
- macOS version not stated. Apple silicon and Intel.
- License
- Closed source
Raycast is one of the 62 apps counted in our pricing statistics and requirements statistics.
Strengths
- Clipboard history sits inside a full launcher, and the free plan includes it.
- It stores text, images, colors and links, and lets you pin entries so they are kept.
- Keyboard shortcuts to copy, open links and remove entries.
- Its clipboard page says content stays on your computer and is encrypted on the local disk.
Limits
- Free history is capped at 3 months; unlimited history needs Pro.
- The full app is a launcher, not a single purpose clipboard tool, so there is more to learn.
- Its pages state no minimum macOS. The clipboard page mentions macOS Sierra, which looks out of date.
- Whether the free plan needs an account is not stated.
Choose Raycast if…
- You want a launcher with search, snippets and clipboard history in one app.
- You want clipboard history that can reach back further than 50 items, which Raycast offers as 3 months on Free and unlimited on Pro.
- You want pinned entries, keyboard shortcuts for history and a free plan that includes it.
Choose NotchStar if…
- You want a $4 one time price instead of a plan that reaches $10 a month for unlimited history.
- You want a file shelf with an AirDrop zone, timers, calendar and a screenshot tray around the notch.
- You want an app with no account and no analytics unless you opt in.
The verdict.
Raycast is a launcher, and its clipboard history is one feature of a much larger tool. NotchStar overlaps only on that feature and keeps 50 items in memory. Choose Raycast if you want a launcher and a longer history. Choose NotchStar if you want small tools in the notch for a one time $4. Prices as of 4 November 2026.
What Raycast is
Raycast is a launcher for the Mac. This page compares only one part of it, clipboard history, because that is where NotchStar overlaps. Its clipboard page says it stores text, images, colors and links, lets you pin entries, and ignores passwords from password managers by default.
The free plan keeps 3 months of history for personal use. Pro costs $10 per month or $96 per year and keeps history without a limit. Prices as of 4 November 2026.
Who it suits
Someone who already lives in a launcher. If you open apps, run snippets and search from one keyboard shortcut, having clipboard history in the same place makes sense.
What Raycast does that NotchStar does not
It reaches back further. NotchStar keeps 50 items in memory only and clears them when the app quits. Raycast keeps 3 months on Free and unlimited on Pro, and it keeps pinned entries. It is also a launcher, which NotchStar is not.
What NotchStar does that Raycast does not list
The pages we read list no file shelf, no timers, no calendar tool, no teleprompter and no screenshot tray. NotchStar has ten tools in the notch plus a Screenshot Tray that catches macOS screenshots, for $4 once, a 7 day trial and a 7 day refund. It needs no account and sends nothing unless you opt in.
Switching from Raycast to NotchStar
You would not remove Raycast to use NotchStar. The two overlap on one feature. If you only use Raycast for clipboard history, NotchStar gives you a shorter history and several other tools for a one time price.
What we could not verify
We read Raycast’s clipboard, pricing and home pages on 4 November 2026. No minimum macOS is stated, and the clipboard page’s mention of macOS Sierra looks out of date. We could not confirm whether the free plan needs an account, and no release date was read. We have not tested the app.
Questions.
Is Raycast clipboard history free?
Its pricing page lists a free plan for personal use with 3 months of clipboard history. Pro is $10 per month or $96 per year, with unlimited history.
Does NotchStar replace Raycast?
No. NotchStar has no launcher. It overlaps with Raycast only on clipboard history.
Where does Raycast keep clipboard content?
Its clipboard page says copied content never leaves your computer and is encrypted on the local disk.
More comparisons.
- NotchStar vs AgentNotch
- AgentNotch is an MIT licensed app that shows Claude Code and Codex tool calls, tokens and cost in the notch; NotchStar has no agent monitoring. Read it
- NotchStar vs Alcove
- Alcove is a $12.99 one time purchase for macOS 15 or later built around live activities, lock screen widgets and HUDs; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten utilities with none of those three. Read it
- NotchStar vs Alfred
- Alfred is a launcher whose clipboard history needs the Powerpack at 34 GBP and keeps up to 3 months; NotchStar is a $4 once app where clipboard history is one of ten notch tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Atoll
- Atoll is an open source GPL 3.0 notch app with live activities, lock screen widgets and a very wide feature list; NotchStar is a $4 signed toolbox with neither, and with tools Atoll does not list. Read it
- NotchStar vs Avocado
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- NotchStar vs Bartender
- Bartender is a dedicated menu bar manager that handles items the notch hides; NotchStar does not organize menu bar icons and instead puts ten tools in the notch for $4 once. Read it
- NotchStar vs Be Focused
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- NotchStar vs Boring Notch
- Boring Notch is free, open source and replaces the volume and brightness HUDs; NotchStar is a $4 signed and notarized app with more utility tools, such as clipboard history, timers, a teleprompter and disk tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Brow
- Brow is a broad Mac toolkit with a launcher and window management, free with a Pro tier at $4.99 a month for AI features; NotchStar is a smaller notch app at $4 once. Read it
- NotchStar vs ChocolateBar
- ChocolateBar is a $15 menu bar manager that hides crowded icons or shows them in a second row under the bar, on macOS 12 to 15. NotchStar is a $4 notch toolbox that does not manage menu bar icons. Read it
- NotchStar vs CleanShot X
- CleanShot X captures, annotates and records, from $35 with a year of updates; NotchStar does not capture, and its $4 Screenshot Tray only holds screenshots macOS already took. Read it
- NotchStar vs Crest
- Crest is a larger notch control room at $14.99 once, with Claude Code and Codex approvals, passwords, a 2FA authenticator and encrypted file sending; NotchStar is $4 once and sticks to everyday utilities. Read it
- NotchStar vs CueNotch
- CueNotch is a feature rich notch teleprompter with voice following and Ghost Mode, free with a $29.99 lifetime or $7.99 weekly Pro; NotchStar's teleprompter scrolls at a set speed inside a $4 toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs DaisyDisk
- DaisyDisk is the dedicated visual disk analyzer at $9.99 once with a 30 day money back guarantee; NotchStar's Disk tool finds large files, duplicates and leftovers inside a $4 toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs DropNotch
- DropNotch is a free notch file shelf with live status displays and a $15 one time Pro upgrade for clipboard history; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Dropover
- Dropover is a dedicated drag and drop shelf that opens on a shake, with cloud uploads and actions, free with a $7.99 Pro; NotchStar is a $4 app whose shelf is one of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Droppy
- Droppy is a larger modular suite with 41 free extensions, live activities, window snapping and a teleprompter at $9.99 once; NotchStar is a smaller $4 toolbox of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Dropzone
- Dropzone 5 is a $35 action launcher with grids, scripting and a Drop Bar; NotchStar is a $4 app whose file shelf overlaps only with that Drop Bar. Read it
- NotchStar vs Dynamic Notch
- Dynamic Notch is a free GPL 3.0 app that brings iPhone style live activities to the Mac notch, with a release on 3 November 2026; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools with no live activities. Read it
- NotchStar vs DynamicHorizon
- DynamicHorizon sells 20 or more notch modules with lock screen media and lyrics for $11.99 lifetime; NotchStar is $4 once with ten tools and a clear Mac count. Read it
- NotchStar vs DynamicLake
- DynamicLake adds a Dynamic Island style layer with message and call notifications, plugins, weather and file conversion for $13.99, with 89 changelog entries since June 2024; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten utilities that stays quiet until you open it. Read it
- NotchStar vs Gojo
- Gojo sells clipboard, shelf, window snapping, camera mirror and on device dictation from $9.99 lifetime for one Mac, or $19.99 for up to three; NotchStar is $4 once for up to three Macs. Read it
- NotchStar vs Hidden Bar
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- NotchStar vs Ice
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- NotchStar vs iStat Menus
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- NotchStar vs Korinotch
- Korinotch lists $11.50 lifetime, a 14 day trial and a required account; NotchStar is $4 once with no account, a 7 day trial and ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Maccy
- Maccy is a free MIT clipboard manager you search by typing; NotchStar's clipboard history is one of ten notch tools for $4 and keeps 50 items in memory only. Read it
- NotchStar vs MacNotch
- MacNotch, sold through Setapp, does more: a widget grid, device batteries, file actions and live activities in the closed notch. NotchStar is smaller and costs $4 once, where MacNotch is a subscription from $4.99 a month. Read it
- NotchStar vs MediaMate
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- NotchStar vs MewNotch
- MewNotch is a free GPL 3.0 app that replaces volume and brightness HUDs and adds a shelf with AirDrop, now playing and a mirror; NotchStar is $4 once, signed and notarized, with ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Notch Buddy
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- NotchStar vs NotchBar
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- NotchStar vs NotchBox
- NotchBox is free with a $4.99 Pro purchase, runs on macOS 13 and has shipped 25 listed updates since October 2025; NotchStar is $4 once with a 7 day trial and needs macOS 14, with a similar set of notch tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchDrop
- NotchDrop does one job, a temporary file shelf with AirDrop in the notch, and is open source under the MIT license; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools that includes a shelf with an AirDrop zone. Read it
- NotchStar vs Notchet
- Notchet is a notch clipboard manager with search, text inside images and a shelf for $9.99 once; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox where clipboard history is one of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs Notchi
- Notchi is a free GPL 3.0 app that shows Claude Code and Codex sessions, usage and cost in the notch; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox with no agent monitoring. Read it
- NotchStar vs Notchie
- Notchie is a teleprompter in the notch for $29.99 once that hides during screen sharing in supported apps and pauses when you hover; NotchStar's teleprompter is one tool in a $4 toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs Notchmeister
- Notchmeister is a free Mac App Store app from The Iconfactory that adds decorative effects around the notch; NotchStar adds ten working tools instead. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchNest
- NotchNest is a free Mac App Store download with capped free use, $2.99 a month or $14.99 once, and on device AI helpers; NotchStar is a $4 one time toolbox of ten tools with no caps. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchNook
- NotchNook Pro (28 October 2026) adds live activities, AI agent approvals, clipboard and a teleprompter for $19 lifetime or $3 a month on Apple silicon; NotchStar is a $4 one time toolbox with none of the live features. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchPop
- NotchPop is a free, open source notch app covering clipboard, shelf, music, calendar, timers and system stats; NotchStar costs $4 once and adds a teleprompter, camera mirror, quick notes, disk tools and a screenshot tray. Read it
- NotchStar vs NotchPrompter
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- NotchStar vs NotchSpace
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- NotchStar vs NotchThings
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- NotchStar vs OmniNotch
- OmniNotch ships twenty tools, including on device AI chat, AI usage meters and live sales totals, and has a timer countdown in the closed notch. NotchStar is narrower, with ten tools, and costs $4 once against OmniNotch's $5 flash sale and $19.99 regular price. Read it
- NotchStar vs OneNotch
- OneNotch is a free to start notch app with deep clipboard boards, capture tools and window snapping for Apple silicon on macOS 15; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox that runs on macOS 14 and Intel. Read it
- NotchStar vs Paste
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- NotchStar vs PastePal
- PastePal is a dedicated clipboard manager with iCloud sync and 75+ text transforms, free with a $14.99 Pro; NotchStar is a $4 app where clipboard history is one of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs PromptSmart
- PromptSmart Pro is a full window teleprompter that follows your voice and imports many file types for $29.99; NotchStar's Teleprompter is a fixed speed scroll in the notch within a $4 toolbox. Read it
- NotchStar vs QuackScreen
- QuackScreen is a capture app for the notch with screen recording, screenshots and an annotation editor, for EUR 20 on macOS 26; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox that catches screenshots but does not capture. Read it
- NotchStar vs Sapphire
- Sapphire is a free, AGPL licensed notch app with Face ID, window snapping, a lock screen and a big free feature set, plus monthly AI and live data plans from $15.99; NotchStar is a $4 one time toolbox with none of those. Read it
- NotchStar vs Seam
- Seam is a Dynamic Island style surface with live activities, a lock screen display, coding agent progress and on device voice dictation for $19.90 on Apple silicon; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools you open on purpose. Read it
- NotchStar vs Session
- Session is the dedicated focus timer, with website and app blocking, calendar sync and AppleScript, on a $4.99 monthly or $39.99 yearly plan; NotchStar has simpler Pomodoro timers for $4 once. Read it
- NotchStar vs Shottr
- Shottr captures and annotates screenshots with OCR and scrolling capture at a pay what you want price; NotchStar does not capture, and its $4 Screenshot Tray only holds macOS screenshots. Read it
- NotchStar vs Stats
- Stats is a free, open source menu bar monitor with sensors, GPU, Bluetooth and a clock; NotchStar is a $4 closed source toolbox where system stats is one of ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs SuperIsland
- SuperIsland is a free app with live activities, a JavaScript extension SDK and store, and meeting join links, but it needs a physical notch and has had no release since June 2026; NotchStar is $4 once with ten tools. Read it
- NotchStar vs TopNotch
- TopNotch, a free app from the CleanShot team, makes the camera housing blend into a black menu bar; its last release was June 2023. NotchStar keeps the notch visible and puts ten tools around it. Read it
- NotchStar vs Tuneful
- Tuneful is a focused $4.99 music controller for Spotify and Apple Music that needs macOS 15; NotchStar is a $4 toolbox of ten tools with Now Playing as one of them. Read it
- NotchStar vs Vibe Notch
- Vibe Notch, formerly Claude Island, is an Apache 2.0 open source app for monitoring Claude Code and approving permissions from the notch; NotchStar has no agent monitoring. Read it
- NotchStar vs Xnapper
- Xnapper beautifies and redacts screenshots from $29.99 with a year of updates; NotchStar does not capture, and its $4 Screenshot Tray only holds screenshots macOS already took. Read it
- NotchStar vs Yoink
- Yoink is a long established drag shelf with clipboard history and an iOS companion at $8.99 once with a 28 day trial; NotchStar is a $4 app whose shelf is one of ten tools. Read it
- Raycast alternatives
- Every option next to Raycast, with price and macOS support. See the alternatives
- Best Mac notch apps
- A neutral roundup of the options. Read the guide
Put your notch to work.
Buy it once for $4, activate it in a minute, and keep it. Not sure yet? Try every tool in the browser on the home page, or install the 7 day trial.