Introduction
EcoPaste is an open-source, cross-platform clipboard manager that automatically records clipboard history and makes it searchable. Built with Tauri and Rust for a lightweight footprint, it provides a native desktop experience across macOS, Windows, and Linux.
What EcoPaste Does
- Automatically captures and stores text, images, and files from the clipboard
- Provides instant search across clipboard history with keyboard shortcuts
- Groups clipboard items by application and time for easy browsing
- Supports pinning frequently used items for quick access
- Offers customizable hotkeys and appearance settings
Architecture Overview
EcoPaste is built on the Tauri framework, combining a Rust backend for system-level clipboard monitoring with a React-based frontend for the UI. Clipboard data is stored locally in a SQLite database, ensuring privacy. The app runs as a system tray application with minimal resource consumption thanks to Tauri's lightweight runtime.
Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Download pre-built binaries from the GitHub releases page
- Configure the global hotkey for activating the clipboard panel
- Set maximum history size and retention period in preferences
- Customize which applications to exclude from clipboard monitoring
- Build from source using pnpm and Tauri CLI for custom modifications
Key Features
- Lightweight native app using Tauri instead of Electron
- Full offline operation with local-only data storage
- Smart search with fuzzy matching across clipboard history
- Support for text, rich text, images, and file references
- Clean, modern UI with dark mode support
Comparison with Similar Tools
- Maccy — macOS-only, simpler but less feature-rich
- Ditto — Windows-only, mature but dated interface
- CopyQ — cross-platform but uses Qt, heavier footprint
- Clipboard Manager (GNOME) — Linux-only, tightly coupled to GNOME
- Alfred/Raycast — macOS launchers with clipboard history as a sub-feature
FAQ
Q: Does EcoPaste send clipboard data to the cloud? A: No. All data is stored locally on your machine. EcoPaste never transmits clipboard contents.
Q: How much memory does EcoPaste use? A: Thanks to Tauri's Rust backend, EcoPaste typically uses under 50 MB of RAM.
Q: Can I sync clipboard history across devices? A: Currently EcoPaste is local-only. Cross-device sync is a community-requested feature under consideration.
Q: Does it support clipboard history for passwords? A: EcoPaste captures all clipboard content. You can exclude password manager applications in the settings to avoid storing sensitive data.