Compare • Holdem vs Yoink
Holdem vs Yoink: Free Yoink Alternative for Windows
Yoink is the classic Mac drag-and-drop shelf — refined over many major versions, with a loyal following and deep macOS integration. But it has never had a Windows version. If you searched “Yoink for Windows”, Holdem is the answer: the same stash-and-go shelf workflow, rebuilt free and open-source for Windows 10 and 11.
Holdem vs Yoink: side-by-side
| Feature | Holdem | Yoink |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Windows 10/11 x64 (Tauri/Rust) | macOS 10.13+ (native Mac app; separate iOS/iPad app sold separately) |
| Pricing | 100% free & open-source (MIT) | $8.99 (US) one-time — Mac App Store, direct, or Setapp; free trial on the developer site |
| Trigger | Mouse shake or global hotkey; shelf appears at cursor | Appears at screen edge (or cursor) when dragging; keyboard shortcut with long-press recall and double-press clipboard save; per-app ignore list |
| Supported content | Files, folders, web images (URLs & text on the roadmap) | Virtually anything draggable: Finder files, app content, web images, text snippets |
| Move/copy semantics | Drag out to destination | Finder-like: ⌥ force-copies, ⌘ force-moves; multiple items auto-stack, splittable in-app |
| Previews & history | None | Icon + pinnable QuickLook previews; clipboard history via widget with pin/search; password managers excluded by default |
| Cross-device | None | Handoff between Macs/iPhones/iPads running Yoink; Continuity Camera import; Share extension, Services, Quick Action, Terminal/Automator support |
| Customization | Minimal — tray settings, hotkey, auto-launch | Shelf size/position (6 spots), appearance timing, ignored apps, 8+ interface languages |
| Footprint | Tauri + Rust — small, quiet tray app | Native Mac app, actively maintained (v3.7.x line in 2026) |
Platform: why this page exists
Yoink is developed by Eternal Storms exclusively for Apple platforms: it needs macOS 10.13 or newer on the desktop, and the iPhone/iPad companion is a separate purchase. There is no Windows build, so Windows users searching for it are really asking “what is the Yoink of Windows?” Holdem is built to be that answer — not a clone of Yoink's Mac-only extras, but the same fundamental interaction: a temporary shelf that frees your mouse hand while you navigate to the destination. Mac users comparing shelves should look at Yoink vs Dropover instead; Windows users should compare Holdem against Dropshelf and DropPoint.
Pricing: $0 forever vs $8.99 once
Yoink's pricing is the friendliest kind of commercial software: pay $8.99 once (US Mac App Store pricing; also sold direct and bundled in Setapp), get free updates, evaluate first with the free trial from the developer's site. No subscription, no per-feature unlocks. Still, it is $8.99 plus a Mac. Holdem costs nothing on any Windows PC and its MIT-licensed source is public on GitHub. Neither app has wait timers or a “Pro” tier gating the core shelf — a contrast with the freemium Windows/Mac shelves (see pricing).
Shelf behavior: edge vs cursor
Yoink's signature is positional flexibility: the shelf can live at the screen edge and slide in as you approach, or pop up beside your cursor; you can resize it, park it in one of six positions, and tell it to ignore apps where you never need it. Its keyboard shortcut doubles as a memory — long-press to recall files you already moved out, double-press to stash your clipboard contents. Holdem is simpler: one floating shelf, summoned by shaking the mouse mid-drag or by hotkey, appearing exactly at the cursor, auto-hiding when empty. Yoink behaves like a shelf that lives on your desk; Holdem behaves like a shelf that appears only when your hands are full.
Where Yoink is honestly ahead
A decade-plus head start shows. Yoink understands Finder semantics (Option to copy, Command to move), stacks multiple drops automatically, previews anything via QuickLook, keeps a searchable clipboard history with pinned items, and moves content across your Apple devices with Handoff. It is localized into 8+ languages and plugs into Services, Quick Actions, and Automator. Holdem does not attempt any of this: it is a young, Windows-only, local-only shelf whose roadmap (URL/text drops, multiple shelves) targets the dragging workflow specifically. If your computer is a Mac, buy Yoink with confidence. If it runs Windows, Holdem is the free way to get the shelf habit.
Switching: Yoink habits → Holdem
- Download Holdem for Windows (free .exe installer).
- Drag files → shake the mouse → the shelf appears at your cursor.
- Release the mouse, switch folders, apps, and desktops freely.
- Drag items out to the destination — the shelf auto-hides when empty.
FAQ: Yoink on Windows
Is there a Yoink for Windows?
No. Yoink by Eternal Storms is macOS-only (a separate Yoink app for iPhone/iPad is sold separately). Holdem is the closest free, open-source equivalent built natively for Windows 10 and 11.
How much does Yoink cost vs Holdem?
Per the developer site and Mac App Store, Yoink is a $8.99 (US) one-time purchase — also available via Setapp — with a free trial on the developer website. Holdem is MIT-licensed open source: free forever with no trial or paywall.
Does Holdem work like Yoink’s shelf?
The core workflow matches: Yoink shows a shelf at the screen edge (or cursor) when you start dragging; Holdem shows a floating shelf at your cursor when you shake the mouse while dragging or press the global hotkey. Stash files, navigate freely, drag them out.
Does Holdem have Yoink’s clipboard history and Handoff?
No. Yoink’s clipboard history (with Notification Center widget), QuickLook previews, file Stacks, and Handoff/Continuity Camera transfers with iOS devices are Mac-ecosystem features Holdem does not replicate. Holdem focuses on the core Windows shelf: files, folders, and browser images.
Which is lighter: Holdem or Yoink?
Both are light native apps on their own platforms — Yoink is a long-optimized native Mac app, Holdem is a small Tauri/Rust tray app for Windows. Neither is an Electron app, so neither carries Electron’s memory overhead (unlike DropPoint).
Which should I choose?
If you use a Mac, Yoink is the proven classic — a decade-plus of refinement, deep OS integration, one-time price. If you use Windows, Yoink is not an option and Holdem gives you the same stash-and-go workflow free and open-source.
Sources
- Yoink for Mac homepage — $8.99 pricing, trial, triggers, clipboard history, Handoff
- Eternal Storms blog (v3.7.6) — one-time pricing, 28-day trial, macOS 10.13+ requirement
- Yoink on Setapp — stacks, shortcuts, Handoff feature rundown
Also: Holdem vs Dropover • Holdem vs Dropshelf • Holdem vs DropPoint • Go to homepage →