ArsClip vs Ditto: Config Depth vs Simplicity

Choose Ditto if you want a searchable clipboard history that works well out of the box. Choose ArsClip if you want to configure how the history pops up (hotkey, holding the right mouse button, a trigger window) and build permanent clips that run macros or JavaScript. Both are free; ArsClip is still updated, though its page lists support for Windows XP through Windows 10 only.

ArsClip vs Ditto at a glance

ArsClip details come from JoeJoe's product page and version notes; Ditto details from its GitHub project and wiki.

What ArsClip is

ArsClip is a freeware clipboard manager from JoeJoe's freeware utilities. It monitors the clipboard, keeps a history, and pastes from a popup. It needs no installation (an optional setup program is included) and ships with its Delphi XE2 source code.

Its version notes read like a power-user changelog. Features added over the years include:

• Permanent clips and macros for copy-and-paste automation, organised in groups.
• JavaScript in clips, extended in recent versions with new script functions and a timeout option.
• Per-program paste methods, such as always using "Mimic Typing" for Command Prompt.
• Autoswitch, which remembers which permanent group you use in each program.
• A tray option to stop monitoring specific programs.
• An optional Clipboard Bar viewer and an optional Global Clipboard that shares clips with other Windows and Android devices.

The product page still lists support as "Windows XP through Windows 10," even though v5.46 was released in June 2026. If you're on Windows 11, test it before relying on it. ClipX, a similar freeware popup, went the other way and now lists Windows 11 support; see ClipX 2.0 on Windows 11.

What Ditto is

Ditto is an open-source extension to the Windows clipboard. It saves each copy to a local database; press Ctrl+`, type to search, and press Enter or double-click to paste into the previous window. It adds groups, plain-text paste with Shift+Enter, regex-based exclusions, short ChaiScript scripts on copy or paste, and optional sync between computers. The project lists no login, no cloud and no telemetry.

Ditto has options too, but you can use it for weeks without opening them.

Permanent clips vs pinned items

Windows clipboard history and Ditto let you keep items so they don't scroll away. ArsClip's permanent clips go further: a clip can be a macro or run JavaScript, and ArsClip can switch to the right group for the program you're in. That's closer to a text expander than to a history.

If your real need is typed boilerplate, a dedicated expander may be cleaner; see PhraseExpress vs Ditto. If you want "hold right-click, pick a clip, optionally run a macro," ArsClip is built for that.

Mouse triggers vs a keyboard shortcut

Ditto and Win+V assume a keyboard shortcut. ArsClip can open its popup when you hold the right mouse button or move into a trigger window, which suits people who keep a hand on the mouse. In apps that use a held right-click for their own actions, such as panning or brushes, turn that trigger off. The best clipboard setup if you prefer the mouse covers other mouse-first options, and ArsClip vs a screen-edge shelf compares its popup with a hover-to-open approach.

Who should pick which

Pick ArsClip if

• you want permanent clip groups that switch per program,
• you want macros or JavaScript in your clips,
• you want popup triggers beyond a hotkey,
• you're comfortable spending time in a large options dialog.

Pick Ditto if

• search is the main job,
• you want sensible defaults,
• you install software through winget, Chocolatey or the Microsoft Store,
• you want open-source code and a public GitHub issue tracker.

Already running ArsClip with years of permanent clips? The configured groups are the hard part to recreate. If it still works for you, there's no reason to switch. ArsClip's help page recommends its built-in backup feature, which saves the program and its data to a ZIP.

Try them in a week

1. Turn on Windows clipboard history and use Win+V for a day. If 25 items and clearing on restart don't bother you, stop there.
2. Install Ditto. If search and keeping history after a restart solve the problem, stop there.
3. Only if you still want permanent clips, mouse triggers or per-program paste, try ArsClip's no-install version for a week.
4. Keep one clipboard history running, and turn off Windows clipboard history once you trust your choice. Can you run two clipboard tools at once? explains why.

FAQ

Is ArsClip still maintained?

Yes. Version 5.46 was released on June 18, 2026, according to its product page.

Does ArsClip work on Windows 11?

Its page lists Windows XP through Windows 10. It may run on Windows 11, but that isn't stated, so test it with the apps you use most.

Is ArsClip open source?

It includes its Delphi source code, but it's freeware under its own terms, which forbid modifying and redistributing it as a new commercial product. Ditto is licensed under GPL-3.0.

Related reading

• Ditto vs CopyQ vs Win+V: Which Should You Use?
• PhraseExpress vs Ditto: Text Expander or Clipboard Manager?
• Best Clipboard Manager for Mouse Users on Windows
• Best Ditto Alternatives for Windows: 8 Clipboard Managers

Sources

• ArsClip (JoeJoe's freeware utilities) — features, popup triggers, permanent clips, Global Clipboard, supported Windows versions, source code, version notes including v5.46.
• ArsClip Help (JoeJoe's freeware utilities) — built-in backup recommendation.
• Ditto (GitHub) and Ditto releases — formats, default shortcut, local-first policy, install options, latest release.
• Ditto wiki — groups, plain-text paste, exclusions, scripting.

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