OpenClip
Ganesh M and OpenClip Contributors · An open-source macOS text-action popup with customizable extensions, search, text transforms, screen OCR and optional local or cloud AI actions.
About
OpenClip is a native macOS utility that displays contextual actions beside selected text. Instead of switching applications for every small task, select text and use its popup to transform it, search, copy or cut, evaluate a mathematical expression, run a script or invoke a configured AI action.
Actions and extensions
The search palette (Option-Command-C) provides fuzzy search across the action catalog. Custom extensions can use JavaScript, shell scripts, AppleScript or URL schemes. Extensions live in ~/.openclip/extensions/, and the Preferences Extension Store provides community extensions. Version 1.8.0 also supports dragging or double-clicking .openclipext bundles to install them.
Selection and screen capture
Version 1.8.0 adds modifier-held selection triggers, configurable contextual-pill placement and application rules matching process names or executable paths. Its screen text capture uses ScreenCaptureKit to capture a selected region and feed OCR text into the action bar. The command-palette button can be hidden without disabling its shortcut.
AI and privacy
Optional AI actions support local Ollama models, Apple Intelligence and OpenAI or Anthropic credentials. The project states that it has no telemetry or analytics. Local actions run on the Mac, but deliberately invoking a configured cloud provider can send the selected text to that provider; local execution should not be confused with a guarantee that every optional AI action is offline.
Installation and requirements
Homebrew records the 1.8.0 ZIP containing OpenClip.app and requires macOS 14 or newer. Install with brew install --cask openclip, then enable Accessibility permission in System Settings so the app can detect selections without clipboard polling. Source-build requirements, such as Xcode 16 and XcodeGen, are separate from normal app installation. The project is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and credits Ganesh M and OpenClip Contributors.
Sources
New What’s new in 1.8.0 Oct 7 · OpenNavo editorial
- ChangesAdds modifier-held text selection triggers and standalone popup AI actions.