Compare software

XSel vs xclip: catalog facts
XSel	xclip
Best for: Linux users scripting text transfers between a shell and X11 applications	Best for: Linux users and scripts that need access to the X11 clipboard
Free Free to use under the copyright license published on the project page.	Free Free and open source under GPL-2.0-or-later.
Linux, Command line	Linux, Command line
Reads and writes primary, secondary, and clipboard selections Can follow growing input and preserve selection contents in memory All 3 strengths for XSel Reads and writes primary, secondary, and clipboard selections Can follow growing input and preserve selection contents in memory Available in Linux distribution packages	Copies standard input or file contents to an X selection Prints clipboard selections for use in scripts All 3 strengths for xclip Copies standard input or file contents to an X selection Prints clipboard selections for use in scripts Includes file copy and move commands
Designed for the X Window System	Requires an X11 implementation
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Offline features available	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for XSel vergenet.net/~conrad/software/xsel Catalog checked October 8, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for xclip github.com/astrand/xclip Catalog checked October 8, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.