What is DeskUtils used for?

DeskUtils is a native macOS menu bar app with a clipboard manager, screenshot and annotation tools, OCR, color picker, window switcher and display dimming. It is a good fit for replacing separate clipboard and screenshot utilities, and copying text out of images and videos.

Yes. DeskUtils has a free plan, and paid plans start at $7.99 as a one-time payment.

Is DeskUtils open source?

No. DeskUtils is proprietary (closed-source) software. In the Productivity category, open-source options include Stats, Maccy and Rectangle.

What are some alternatives to DeskUtils?

DeskUtils competes with Paste, CleanShot X and Raycast.

DeskUtils: features, pricing and alternatives

About DeskUtils

DeskUtils is a native macOS menu bar app that bundles a dozen everyday utilities in one place. Its core is a clipboard manager that lets you search, pin and preview copied text, images and files, alongside screenshot tools that capture an area, a window or a scrolling page and then annotate or blur parts of the image.

Other tools include Quick Ring, which opens eight quick actions when you press the Command key twice; Capture Text, which copies text from anything on screen and reads QR codes; a color picker that copies any pixel as HEX, RGB or HSL; and a window switcher that previews windows from the Dock. Display dimming and other menu bar controls are also included. The app is localized into several languages. DeskUtils is a commercial Mac app with a free version available, and it requires macOS 15.2 or later. It suits Mac users who want to replace several single-purpose utilities with one app.

Key features

Searchable clipboard history with pinning
Area, window and scrolling screenshots
Annotate and blur captured images
OCR text capture and QR code reading
Color picker with HEX, RGB and HSL
Window switcher with Dock previews
Display dimming controls

Good fit for

→Replacing separate clipboard and screenshot utilities
→Copying text out of images and videos

Tags: macos; menu-bar; clipboard-manager; screenshots; ocr; color-picker; utilities

DeskUtils: questions and answers

What is DeskUtils used for?: DeskUtils is a native macOS menu bar app with a clipboard manager, screenshot and annotation tools, OCR, color picker, window switcher and display dimming. It is a good fit for replacing separate clipboard and screenshot utilities, and copying text out of images and videos.
Is DeskUtils free?: Yes. DeskUtils has a free plan, and paid plans start at $7.99 as a one-time payment.
Is DeskUtils open source?: No. DeskUtils is proprietary (closed-source) software. In the Productivity category, open-source options include Stats, Maccy and Rectangle.
What are some alternatives to DeskUtils?: DeskUtils competes with Paste, CleanShot X and Raycast.