Ember keeps your clipboard, images, and files in sync between Android and Mac — and quietly mirrors your phone's notifications to your desktop. End-to-end encrypted, local-first over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, with optional cloud when your devices are apart.
Free, no ads. macOS 13+ · Android 11+ · end-to-end encrypted
Every copy takes exactly one route, chosen automatically — the most private one available. Nothing touches the internet while your devices can reach each other directly.
Same room, no network needed. A direct BLE link — works fully offline.
Same network. Fast local transfers over your own Wi-Fi — big files fly.
Apart? An encrypted, zero-knowledge relay bridges you — with just a free account.
Text and images copy straight across, in both directions — the moment you hit copy.
Drag a file onto the Mac menu bar, or share from Android. Streams straight to disk.
Your Android notifications, quietly on your Mac — with per-app control.
Away from home? Sign in with your email and Ember bridges your devices over an encrypted relay.
X25519 key exchange, AES-256-GCM per message. Keys are made on-device and never leave.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi need no internet and no account. The cloud is opt-in, never required.
Pair more than one Mac, give each a name, and choose exactly where things go.
Auto-send copies from Android, or use the share sheet and a "Send to Mac" Quick Settings tile.
Get Ember on your Android phone and on your Mac — it lives in the menu bar.
Point your phone at the QR code on your Mac. Encryption keys are exchanged on-device — nothing is uploaded.
From then on, your clipboard, files, and notifications simply follow you between devices.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi always work with no account at all. When your devices aren't on the same network, sign in with just your email and Ember bridges them over an encrypted, zero-knowledge relay that can't read a thing. It's free while in early access — paid plans may come later.
KDE Connect's macOS app is an unofficial community port that's often flaky. Ember is a purpose-built, native menu-bar app — first-class on both Android and Mac.
| Feature | Ember | Apple Universal Clipboard | KDE Connect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android ↔ Mac | Yes | Apple only | Yes |
| Native, stable Mac app | Yes · menu bar | Built in | Unofficial · flaky |
| Clipboard text & images | Yes | Yes | Text only |
| File transfer | Both ways | No | Yes |
| Notification mirroring | Yes | No | Yes |
| End-to-end encrypted | Yes | Yes | LAN only |
| Works with no account | Local: yes | Apple ID | Yes |
| Cloud when apart | Yes · free | Same network | Same network |
Not for local sync. Over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, your data goes straight between your devices and never touches the internet. Cloud sync is optional and, even then, the relay is zero-knowledge — it forwards encrypted data it can't read.
Keys are exchanged at pairing with X25519, and every message is sealed with AES-256-GCM. Keys are generated on your devices and are never uploaded — not even for cloud sync.
Only for cloud sync, and it's just your email — no password. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi work with no account at all.
Yes. Everything is free today, including cloud sync while it's in early access. Paid plans may arrive later, but local sync stays free. No ads, ever.
A Mac on macOS 13 or later and an Android phone on Android 11 or later.