Copywarden vs Alfred (clipboard history)
Alfred is a beloved, deep macOS launcher and automation tool, and its clipboard history is a Powerpack feature. Copywarden is the opposite emphasis: the clipboard is the whole product, encrypted and first-class. If clipboard history is what you're weighing, here's an honest, sourced comparison.
What Alfred does well.
Alfred does well
- A deep macOS launcher with workflows, hotkeys and file actions.
- A large, devoted community and years of polish.
- Clipboard history, snippets and a clipboard-merge feature in the Powerpack.
Best for: people who want a deep launcher and automation tool and already own the Powerpack.
Where Copywarden fits
- You want clipboard history that isn't capped at 3 months.
- You want encryption at rest for your clipboard, with keys wrapped by the Secure Enclave on supported Macs.
- You want the clipboard to be the product, not a launcher feature.
Best for: people who want an encrypted, clipboard-first app rather than a launcher add-on.
Copywarden vs Alfred (clipboard history), on what matters.
| Capability | Copywarden | Alfred |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free core. Pro $29.99/yr (≈$2.50/mo billed annually) or $3.99/mo; $99 lifetime launch offer. | Core launcher is free; clipboard history requires the Powerpack — a one-time license (not a subscription): £34 Single License (per major version) or £59 Mega Supporter (lifetime upgrades). |
| Sync | Local-first core — sync is off by default, and you choose whether to turn it on. End-to-end encrypted iCloud sync across your Macs is in development: every entry is sealed on-device with AES-256-GCM before upload to your own private iCloud database, so neither Apple nor Copywarden can read it. Local-Only mode disables both cloud backends. | The clipboard help page describes a clipboard database but does not state where it is stored (as of 2026-08-15). |
| Encryption at rest | AES-256-GCM with per-item HKDF-SHA256 keys; the master key is wrapped by the Secure Enclave on supported Macs, and Keychain-guarded otherwise. | At-rest encryption for clipboard history isn't described on Alfred's published pages (as of 2026-08-15) — not a claim about unpublished internals. |
| Retention | Configurable, with GDPR/HIPAA (7-day) and Banking (3-day) retention profiles. | Capped: 24 hours, 7 days, 1 month or 3 months (3 months maximum). |
| Open source | No — proprietary. Local-first and telemetry-free (verifiable on the wire), signed + notarized, published threat model and disclosure policy; no independent audit yet. | No — proprietary. |
- Alfred's Powerpack is a one-time license per major version (£34) or a lifetime-upgrades Mega Supporter license (£59) — it is not a subscription. Prices are in GBP.
- Alfred's clipboard history auto-ignores macOS Keychain Access and 1Password, so passwords from those apps aren't recorded.
Sources
- Alfred — Powerpack pricing · retrieved 2026-08-15
- Alfred — clipboard feature (paywall, retention, ignored apps) · retrieved 2026-08-15
Secrets redacted, right in the popup.
Whatever you compare on, this is the difference that matters most: the moment Copywarden detects a secret, it redacts it inline — so it never reaches a screen share, an agent, or your history in the clear.
Copywarden vs Alfred (clipboard history), answered.
Do I have to pay for Alfred's clipboard history?
Yes — clipboard history is a Powerpack feature. The Powerpack is a one-time license (not a subscription): £34 for a Single License per major version, or £59 for the Mega Supporter lifetime-upgrades license (verified 2026-08-15). Copywarden's encrypted core is free.
How long does Alfred keep clipboard history?
Alfred caps clipboard-history retention at a maximum of 3 months (the options are 24 hours, 7 days, 1 month or 3 months). Copywarden's retention is configurable, with compliance profiles for shorter windows.
Is Alfred's clipboard history encrypted?
Alfred's published pages don't describe at-rest encryption for clipboard history (as of 2026-08-15) — we compare only against what vendors publish, not unpublished internals. Copywarden encrypts every entry with AES-256-GCM, with keys wrapped by the Secure Enclave on supported Macs.
Is Copywarden a launcher like Alfred?
No — Alfred is a launcher and automation tool; Copywarden is a clipboard-first app. Many people run a launcher for launching and Copywarden for an encrypted clipboard. Note that Alfred's clipboard history already auto-ignores macOS Keychain Access and 1Password.
Your clipboard deserves the same care as your passwords.
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