Skip to content
Minimal Paste

Paste

6 Best Paste Alternatives in 2026 (Mac)

The best Paste alternatives for Mac in 2026. Paste costs $29.99 a year or $99.99 lifetime. Compare Minimal Paste ($9.99 once), Maccy, PastePal, Raycast, and more.

Minimal Paste shelf on the right of a Mac desktop with recent clipboard cards

Paste is a great clipboard manager, but it bills $29.99 a year, or $99.99 to pay once. Many people only copy and paste on one Mac and do not need iPhone sync.

These are the best Paste alternatives for Mac in 2026, with official prices checked today.

TL;DR comparison

Paste alternatives at a glance
AppBest forStarting priceKey difference
Minimal PasteA one-time price and a local Mac shelf$9.99 one-timeClips and files from folders in one shelf, no account
MaccyA free, open source history listFreeFree and open source, keyboard-first list
PastePalA one-time price with iPhone and iPad apps$14.99 one-timeOne purchase on the App Store covers Mac, iPhone, and iPad
Raycast clipboard historyPeople who already live in the Raycast launcherFree (Pro $10/month or $96/year)Clipboard history is one command inside a launcher
PastebotPower users who want filters and paste stacks$39, or $24.99/yearFilters, Smart Pastebins, and sequential paste
macOS clipboard historyFinding a recent copy without installing anythingFree, built into macOSLives inside Spotlight, no extra app
Paste (for reference)History synced across Mac, iPhone, and iPad$2.49/month, $29.99/year, or $99.99 lifetimeiCloud sync and Pinboards on every Apple device

1. Minimal Paste

Who it is for: Mac users who want clipboard history and the files they reach for in one shelf, for one price, with nothing leaving the Mac.

Minimal Paste shelf floating along the bottom of a Mac desktop, showing recent clipboard cards for links, colors, and images
Shift-Command-V opens the shelf. Return pastes into the app you left.

Where it beats Paste:

  • $9.99 once instead of $29.99 every year, or $99.99 for Lifetime
  • History stays on this Mac. No account and no iCloud.
  • A Folders shelf puts Downloads and Screenshots next to your clips

Features:

  • A shelf that opens with ⇧⌘V from any app. Return pastes back into it.
  • Search that filters clips and folder files as you type
  • Pins and groups for the clips you keep
  • A Folders shelf for Downloads, Screenshots, or any folder you add
  • Pause capture and ignore apps
  • Local only. No account, no iCloud.

Price: $9.99 one-time for 3 Macs. macOS 14 or later. 7-day trial with the full app and no credit card.

Minimal Paste vs Paste

Minimal Paste compared with Paste
FeatureMinimal PastePaste
Price$9.99 one-time for 3 Macs$2.49/month, $29.99/year, or $99.99 lifetime
DevicesMac only, 3 MacsMac, iPhone, and iPad on every plan
macOSmacOS 14 or latermacOS 14 or later
Trial7 days, full app, no credit card7 days. Website download needs no credit card.
Where data livesLocal only. No account, no iCloud.Your devices and your private iCloud
OrganizingPins and groupsPinboards for snippets, links, colors, and templates
FilesFolders shelf for Downloads, Screenshots, or any folderNot described on Paste's pricing page

Migration: Install Minimal Paste and run it next to Paste during the 7-day trial. New copies land in the shelf from the first ⌘C. Pin the snippets you reuse, add the folders you open most, then quit Paste when the shelf covers your day.

What you give up:

  • iPhone and iPad apps, and iCloud sync between devices
  • Paste's Pinboards across every device

Other Paste alternatives

2. Maccy

Best for: A free, open source history list.

Strengths:

  • Free and open source under the MIT license
  • Lightweight, keyboard-first: type to search, press Enter
  • History is stored on your computer

Weaknesses:

  • One job only: a history list. No folders shelf on maccy.app.
  • A plain list, not a visual shelf with cards

Pricing: Free. MIT license. The official site says it will always be free. Maccy alternatives.

3. PastePal

Best for: A one-time price with iPhone and iPad apps.

Strengths:

  • One-time price, no subscription
  • App Store version runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • Optional iCloud sync

Weaknesses:

  • Paste and unlimited history need the paid unlock
  • Direct Mac license activates on one Mac

Pricing: Free to download. $14.99 one-time on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. A $14.99 Mac-only direct license activates on one Mac. PastePal alternatives.

4. Raycast clipboard history

Best for: People who already live in the Raycast launcher.

Strengths:

  • Free, and part of a launcher you may already use
  • Encrypted history that respects your password manager
  • Pro unlocks longer history

Weaknesses:

  • Free history is capped at 3 months
  • A list in the Raycast window, not a dedicated shelf

Pricing: Clipboard History is a free core feature, kept up to 3 months. Pro is $10 per month or $96 per year and unlocks longer history. Raycast clipboard history alternatives.

5. Pastebot

Best for: Power users who want filters and paste stacks.

Strengths:

  • Filters that change text before you paste
  • Custom and rule-based Smart Pastebins
  • Optional iCloud Sync between Macs

Weaknesses:

  • Pastebot 3 needs macOS 26 Tahoe or later
  • Updates after the first year cost $19 per year

Pricing: $39 direct, including one year of updates, then $19 per extra year of updates. Or $24.99 per year or $2.99 per month on the App Store. 14-day free trial. Pastebot alternatives.

6. macOS clipboard history

Best for: Finding a recent copy without installing anything.

Strengths:

  • Already on your Mac, nothing to install
  • Search it from the Spotlight field
  • Clear History from the clipboard view

Weaknesses:

  • Open Spotlight, switch to the clipboard view, copy, then paste
  • Apple does not document pins or folders

Pricing: Included with macOS. macOS clipboard history alternatives.

FAQs

How much does Paste cost in 2026?

Paste's official pricing page lists $2.49 per month, $29.99 billed annually, or a $99.99 Lifetime Plan. Minimal Paste is $9.99 once for 3 Macs.

Is there a free Paste alternative?

Yes. Maccy is free and open source, Raycast includes free clipboard history, and macOS has clipboard history in Spotlight. Minimal Paste has a 7-day free trial, then costs $9.99 once.

Can I move from Paste to Minimal Paste?

Run both during the 7-day trial. New copies go into Minimal Paste right away. Pin the snippets you reuse, then cancel Paste before your next renewal.

Does Minimal Paste sync to iPhone like Paste?

No. Minimal Paste is Mac only and keeps history on this Mac.

Which one should you pick?

  • You copy and paste on one Mac and hate subscriptions: Minimal Paste
  • You want clipboard history on iPhone and iPad too: Paste, or PastePal for a one-time price
  • You want free and open source: Maccy
  • You already use Raycast: Raycast clipboard history
  • You want text filters and paste stacks: Pastebot

Related: Paste alternatives without a subscription, Best clipboard managers for Mac in 2026.

Sources

Prices and features checked on official sites on October 21, 2026.

Try Minimal Paste

$9.99 once for 3 Macs. 7-day trial, no credit card. Clipboard history stays on this Mac.