Clipboard manager · alternatives
The best Paste alternative for Mac
Paste is $29.99/yr or $89.99 once. Paste is the most polished Mac and iPhone clipboard manager, with pinboards, iCloud sync, and a Liquid Glass redesign. It has no text expansion, and its 2020 switch to subscription and 2024 price doubling are the loudest complaints in the category. If you are looking for something that does more, costs less over time, or fixes the issues below, here is how the options stack up.
Why people switch
Why people look for a Paste alternative
Quoted from public reviews and forums. Follow the links for full context.
“Paste's pricing is comical… a huge amount for a clipboard manager… still a large subscription for a tiny app.”
“If you don't pay, they lock away everything stored in your clipboard, preventing you from pasting anything - even the most recent.”
“Bought last year and used it, now dev want more money, so add a new subscription, and block me from using what I have already paid for.”
“Paying a sub for this seems strange to me, seeing as there are so many capable apps available for free.”
Our pick
1. SnipVault
Clipboard history, screenshot OCR, and snippets in one keyboard-first Mac app.
| Feature | SnipVault | Paste |
|---|---|---|
Clipboard history | ✓ | ✓ |
Unlimited history | ✓ | ✓ |
Full-text search | ✓ | ✓ |
Pinboards / collections + tags Paste has flat pinboards, no tags. SnipVault has nested pinboards plus tags. | ✓ | Partial |
Paste stack (sequential paste) Paste's stack is not persistent; SnipVault's survives restarts. | ✓ | ✓ |
Screenshot OCR (region → text) Paste can search text inside images you copied; it cannot capture a screen region. | ✓ | Partial |
| Price | $29.99/yr or $79 once | $29.99/yr or $89.99 once |
Top differences only. See the full feature-by-feature table.
- ✓You also want screenshot OCR and text snippets without two more apps
- ✓You want to pay once and keep access to your history forever
- ✓You want secrets like OTP codes and card numbers to vanish automatically
- ✓You want tags and nested pinboards rather than one flat list
Other options
Other clipboard manager to consider
Fair picks if SnipVault is not the right shape for you.
2. Maccy
Free (open source) · Mac (macOS 14+)
Maccy is the free, open-source, keyboard-first clipboard manager. It does one job well and deliberately skips collections, snippets, OCR, and sync.
Best for: You want a free, minimal, open-source history and nothing else
SnipVault vs Maccy →3. Pastebot
$39 + $19/yr updates · Mac (macOS 26 only)
Pastebot 3 is Tapbots' July 2026 rewrite: rule-based Pastebins, text filters, stacks, and an MCP server. It requires macOS 26 Tahoe, has no iPhone app, and moved to a paid-updates model that reviewers call steep.
Best for: You want regex rules that file clips automatically
SnipVault vs Pastebot →4. PastePal
$14.99 once · Mac (macOS 13+), iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision
PastePal is a $14.99 one-time Mac and iOS clipboard manager with collections, a paste stack, and image OCR. It is the app Paste users most often switch to, and its iCloud sync is its weak spot.
Best for: You want the cheapest one-time price that includes an iPhone app
SnipVault vs PastePal →5. Copy 'Em
$8.99 once (Mac) · Mac (macOS 14.5+), iPhone, iPad
Copy 'Em is a dense, feature-rich one-time-purchase clipboard manager with lists, stars, 36 paste shortcuts, and text transforms. OCR and sequential paste are sold as separate apps, and iOS sync needs a subscription.
Best for: You want the cheapest Mac clipboard manager with lists and batch paste
SnipVault vs Copy 'Em →Still with them?
When Paste is still the right call
- •You need clipboard history on your iPhone and iPad today
- •You share pinboards with a team
- •You prefer a large, mouse-driven visual grid over a keyboard palette
FAQ
Paste alternative: questions
What is the best Paste alternative?+
SnipVault is the closest all-in-one replacement: it covers what Paste does and adds screenshot OCR and text snippets, for $29.99 a year or $79 once.
Is there a free Paste alternative?+
Maccy is free and open source. SnipVault is paid but offers a 7-day free trial without a card.
How do I switch from Paste to SnipVault?+
Install SnipVault, press ⇧⌘V, and keep Paste running alongside it during the 7-day trial. Nothing is charged until you choose a plan, and you can export your SnipVault vault at any time.
Does SnipVault sync to iPhone like Paste?+
Not yet. SnipVault syncs between Macs via iCloud in the iCloud-entitled build; an iOS app is planned.
Switch from Paste in five minutes
Install, press ⇧⌘V, and keep both apps until you are sure. Nothing is charged during the trial.