Best Alternatives to Assist in 2025

CleanShot X is the gold standard for Mac screenshots, offering advanced capture modes, scrolling captures, screen recording, and a built-in annotation editor. It also includes a clipboard history manager and a Quick Access overlay, making it a more powerful all-in-one replacement for Assist’s screenshot and clipboard needs, though it lacks voice annotation.

Paste is a dedicated clipboard manager for Mac that excels at organizing copied text, images, and files with a beautiful searchable interface. If your primary use of Assist is clipboard history, Paste offers deeper features like pinning, smart folders, and iCloud sync, but you’ll need a separate screenshot tool.

VoiceInk is a Mac dictation app that lets you control your computer and type with your voice, including custom voice commands to automate actions. It’s a robust alternative if you rely heavily on voice annotation and want to extend voice control beyond just annotating screenshots, though it doesn’t include screenshot or clipboard features.

Shottr is a lightweight, fast screenshot tool for Mac that focuses on pixel-perfect captures, scrolling screenshots, and quick annotation with text, arrows, and blur. It also has a built-in OCR and color picker. While it lacks voice input and clipboard management, it’s a superior choice for pure screenshot workflows.

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Raycast is a powerful productivity launcher that includes a built-in clipboard history, quick screenshot capture, and a growing library of extensions. You can add voice control via third-party extensions or Apple Shortcuts. It’s a great alternative if you want to replace Assist with a broader command palette that handles clipboard, screenshots, and many other tasks.

Maccy is a minimalist, open-source clipboard manager that lives in your menu bar and offers instant search and keyboard navigation. It’s perfect for users who want a simple, privacy-focused clipboard history without extra features. Pair it with macOS’s built-in screenshot tools (Cmd+Shift+4) and you can cover most of Assist’s functionality.

Dropover is a Mac utility that creates temporary floating shelves for dragging and dropping files, text, and images. While not a direct match, it complements screenshot and clipboard workflows by letting you collect multiple items and then paste or save them together. It’s a unique alternative if you often need to gather content from different sources before annotating or sharing.