Clypy vs KDE Connect: a phone link, or a clipboard
KDE Connect links your phone and computer over your own network, free and open source, and the clipboard is one feature among many. Clypy is only a clipboard, but one that keeps a history and follows you off your Wi-Fi.
- Copy on the phone.
- Pull down the notification shade.
- Tap Send clipboard in KDE Connect's notification.
- Paste on the computer.
Every copy needs that tap. On Android 14 and later there is a Quick Settings tile for it too.
- Copy it, then switch to the Clypy keyboard or open Clypy.
- It reaches the computer directly over your Wi-Fi.
- Paste it from Clypy's strip, or later from history.
Sent straight away on Android 13 and later. Sync is part of Clypy Pro.
KDE Connect is a whole toolkit, for free
Three places the clipboard part runs out
KDE Connect passes along the current clip. Clypy keeps every one on both devices, searchable by what you meant, so yesterday's address is still there.
Between your phone and computer, KDE Connect's clipboard carries text; images go across as files. Clypy syncs screenshots and photos as clips, with the text inside them searchable.
KDE Connect needs both devices on one network, unless you add a VPN. Clypy goes direct on your Wi-Fi and through an encrypted relay everywhere else.
Both work within the same Android rule
“Unless your app is the default input method editor (IME) or is the app that currently has focus, your app cannot access clipboard data.”Android Developers
Clypy vs KDE Connect, line by line
| Feature | Clypy | KDE Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, or $29.99 once for Pro | Free |
| Open source | ||
| Linux, Windows and macOS | Yes; Mac on Apple silicon | Yes; Mac stable on Apple silicon |
| Android | ||
| iPhone | Text, while the app is open | |
| Clipboard history | Unlimited, searchable | Current clip only |
| Images, phone to computer | As files, not clips | |
| Sending a copy from Android | Clypy keyboard or share sheet | Tap Send clipboard |
| Works away from your network | End-to-end encrypted, LAN or relay | Same network, or a VPN |
| Encryption | End-to-end | TLS, on your network |
| Account required | None | None |
| Send files between devices | On your network, end-to-end encrypted | On your network |
| Notifications and remote control |
Which one should you use?
You want your phone and computer linked for notifications, texts and remote control, you're usually on the same Wi-Fi, you mostly copy text, and you want it free and open source.
KDE Connect's siteWhat KDE Connect users ask
Why doesn't KDE Connect send my phone's clipboard automatically?
Since Android 10, apps can't read the clipboard in the background. KDE Connect puts a Send clipboard button in its notification instead, and on Android 14 and later a Quick Settings tile. Clypy works within the same rule through its own keyboard.
Can KDE Connect sync images on the clipboard?
Not between a phone and a computer. Recent desktop versions can share copied images between two computers, but the Android app's clipboard carries text only. From the phone, you send an image as a file, which lands in a folder rather than on the clipboard.
Can I use KDE Connect and Clypy together?
Yes. Many people keep KDE Connect for notifications and remote control. If both share the clipboard you'll see the same text arrive twice, so turn off one app's clipboard sync if that bothers you.
Does KDE Connect work on a Mac?
Yes. KDE ships a stable macOS release for Apple silicon Macs, and nightly builds for Intel Macs. Clypy's Mac app needs Apple silicon too.