Conditions and ordered actions
Match on text, URLs, a regex, or the source app, then chain actions such as trim whitespace, change case, strip a prefix, or regex find and replace.
Open source · macOS 14+ · Universal binary · Clipboard
Copy it once.
Paste it clean.
Write rules that clean or transform whatever you copy, like stripping tracking links or forcing plain text. It runs from the menu bar, automatically or on demand.
Free & MIT licensed · Apple Silicon & Intel · Latest release
Features
A rules engine for your clipboard.
Combine a condition with ordered actions, then let the rule run on every copy or pick it from the menu when you need it.
Automatic or on demand
Automatic rules run on every copy. On-demand rules appear in the menu bar and transform the current clipboard when you choose them.
Live Test area
Paste sample text into the editor and see the before and after result update as you change the rule.
Built-in safety checks
Concealed, transient, and 1Password content is skipped, as are file copies and clipboards over 2 MB. A rule that would produce empty output leaves your clipboard alone.
Six starter rules
Start from Plain text for chosen apps, Strip tracking links, Tidy whitespace, Straight quotes, Title Case, and Quote as Markdown.
Import and export as JSON
Share rules as JSON files. A malformed or newer-format file shows an error and never overwrites the rules you already have.
Screenshots
See it in action.
Install
Up and running in a minute.
CopyRuleFilter is open source and not notarized with a paid Apple Developer ID, so macOS needs one extra step the first time.
- Download CopyRuleFilter-macOS.zip and unzip it.
- Move CopyRuleFilter.app to your Applications folder.
- Clear the quarantine flag once, then right-click the app and choose Open:
xattr -cr /Applications/CopyRuleFilter.app
- No special permissions are required notifications and launch at login are optional and only requested if you turn them on in Settings.
Download
Get CopyRuleFilter for macOS
Free, forever. Built for macOS 14 Sonoma or newer, Apple Silicon and Intel.
Not notarized: on first launch right-click CopyRuleFilter.app → Open.
- macOS 14 Sonoma+
- Universal (Apple Silicon + Intel)
- MIT licensed · open source
- No ads, no accounts, no telemetry
- Built with Claude Code · how and why
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Is CopyRuleFilter really free and open source?
Yes. It is released under the MIT license, with no accounts, servers, or analytics. If it saves you time, you can support development through the Support button, but nothing is locked behind it.
What permissions does it need?
None beyond reading and writing the system pasteboard, so there is no Accessibility, Screen Recording, or Microphone prompt. Notifications are requested only if you enable them, and Launch at login is optional.
Where is my data stored?
Everything stays on your Mac. Rules are saved as versioned JSON at ~/Library/Application Support/CopyRuleFilter/rules.json. If that file cannot be read, it is kept as rules.corrupt.json and the defaults are loaded.
Why isn't the app notarized?
Notarization requires a paid Apple Developer account, and this is a free project. Right-click the app and choose Open once to run it, or build it yourself from source with Xcode.
Was this written by AI?
Yes. CopyRuleFilter was generated by Claude Code from a written spec as a clean-room reimplementation, with no code or assets from any commercial app. The full source is on GitHub under MIT, so you can read every line before you run it. It has had less human review than a hand-written app, so bug reports are welcome.
Support ❤️
Built by one person, given away for free.
CopyRuleFilter is a free, open-source alternative to paid utilities. If it earns a spot on your Mac, a coffee keeps the updates coming.
☕ Support Or on Ko-fi