Get Plain Text

Active

Overview

Get Plain Text is a macOS utility that converts formatted text from any source into plain text by removing all styling, formatting, colors, fonts, hyperlinks, and images. The application integrates with the Mac clipboard system to streamline the copy-paste workflow, allowing users to instantly strip formatting from text copied from websites, PDFs, documents, or emails. It is designed for users who frequently work with text across multiple applications and need a quick way to remove unwanted formatting without manual cleanup.

Key Features

Automatic Formatting Removal - Removes colors, typeface sizes, styles (bold, italics), hyperlinks, and images with a single click or automatically on every copy.
Universal Source Compatibility - Converts text from any source including websites, PDF documents, emails, and other applications.
Taskbar Integration - Launches from the Mac taskbar for always-accessible, quick access to the conversion feature.
Manual or Automatic Mode - Users can choose to manually activate formatting removal or enable automatic processing for every copied text.
Clipboard Processing - Integrates directly with macOS copy-paste functions to streamline text workflow without requiring additional applications.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Standard	$2.99	One-time purchase with full access to all formatting removal features

Platforms & Requirements

Get Plain Text runs exclusively on macOS and integrates with the Mac clipboard system. The application was updated to support OS X Yosemite and later versions. It operates as a lightweight utility that sits in the taskbar for convenient access.

Integrations & Ecosystem

TextEdit
Microsoft Word
Pages
macOS Clipboard
PDF documents
Email applications
Web browsers

Alternatives

App	Difference
TextSoap	Offers more advanced text cleaning with additional formatting options and batch processing capabilities.
Paste	Provides clipboard management with history tracking and organization features beyond simple formatting removal.
ClipMenu	Focuses on clipboard history management with search functionality rather than formatting conversion.
Microsoft Word Special Paste	Built-in feature in Word that offers paste-special options but requires Word to be open and active.

Reputation

Get Plain Text is widely appreciated as a simple, effective utility that solves a common workflow problem for Mac users. Users consistently praise its ease of use, reliability, and time-saving benefits when working with text from multiple sources. The application has maintained a positive reputation since its 2012 release, with reviewers noting it becomes an essential part of their workflow. A minor limitation noted by some users is the lack of paragraph-level unformatting capabilities, though this has not significantly impacted its overall positive reception.

Sources (8)