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Versus Paste

SnipTray vs Paste: which clipboard manager wins in 2026?

Paste was the original premium clipboard manager for Apple devices and is still polished and well-known. SnipTray is the newer native alternative built around a feature Paste does not offer: iCloud team sharing with roles and audit logs. If you copy and paste solo, both are great; if you work with a team, SnipTray pulls ahead.

See SnipTray pricing All SnipTray features

Feature matrix

SnipTray vs Paste, line by line

No marketing hand-waving — every row is what each app actually does today.

Feature SnipTray Paste
iCloud sync across Mac, iPhone & iPad
iCloud team sharing (shared pinboards, roles, audit log)
Unlimited clipboard history (paid)
Pinboards / snippet library
Apple Shortcuts integration
Color, code, image, file previews
Password & 2FA auto-exclusion Partial
Per-app exclusion list
Lifetime one-time purchase option
Native Swift, sub-20 MB RAM Higher RAM use reported

Why switch

Reasons to move from Paste to SnipTray

  • You want shared pinboards with role-based access (Viewer, Editor, Admin) so your team can paste the same approved snippets
  • You want an audit log of who changed which shared snippet and when
  • You prefer a Lifetime one-time purchase ($79.99) instead of a forever subscription
  • You want lower memory usage — SnipTray ships at sub-20 MB RAM
  • You want everything Paste does plus iCloud team sharing for the same per-seat price

Honest counter

When you should keep Paste

  • You are deep into Paste's pinboard layout and the muscle memory matters more than features
  • Your team is just you, and the polished single-user experience is all you need

Pricing

Cost comparison

Paste: Paste — $14.99/year (Mac + iOS bundle) or in Setapp

SnipTray: SnipTray — Free for one Mac · Pro from $2.99/mo or $24.99/yr · Lifetime $79.99 one-time · Teams at the same per-seat price with auto 10% volume discount on 5+ seats

SnipTray is the only one of the two with a Lifetime tier and a Teams plan.

Migration

How to move from Paste to SnipTray

Three steps, usually under ten minutes total.

    Step 1

    Export your Paste pinboards

    In Paste → Settings → Backup, export your pinboards to a JSON file. SnipTray imports the same JSON format unchanged.

    Step 2

    Install SnipTray and sign in to iCloud

    Download SnipTray from the Mac App Store, open Settings → iCloud, and sign in with the Apple ID you already use. Your clipboard starts syncing across every Apple device on that ID.

    Step 3

    Import and share

    Settings → Data → Import — point at the Paste JSON. Then right-click any pinboard, hit Share, invite teammates by email or iCloud, set their role, and you're done.

Related reading

Dig deeper in the blog: SnipTray vs Paste — the long-form take →

SnipTray vs Paste FAQ

Questions people ask before switching

Is SnipTray a Paste alternative for Mac?
Yes. SnipTray covers everything Paste does on macOS — unlimited history, iCloud sync, pinboards, rich previews, shortcuts — and adds iCloud team sharing with roles and an audit log, which Paste does not have. It also ships a Lifetime one-time purchase option in addition to subscription, while Paste is subscription-only.
Is SnipTray cheaper than Paste?
SnipTray Pro is $2.99/month or $24.99/year, comparable to Paste at $14.99/year (in Setapp it is bundled). The honest answer: solo subscription pricing is roughly equivalent. SnipTray wins on total cost of ownership if you want a one-time Lifetime purchase ($79.99) or a Teams plan — Paste offers neither.
Can I import my Paste pinboards into SnipTray?
Yes. Paste exports pinboards as JSON via Settings → Backup. SnipTray imports the same JSON format via Settings → Data → Import. Your snippets, tags, and order all carry over.
Does SnipTray sync via iCloud like Paste does?
Yes. SnipTray syncs through your private iCloud container — there is no SnipTray server in the middle. Copy on iPhone, paste on Mac, paste again on iPad. Sign in to the same Apple ID on each device and sync just works.

Ready to try the Paste alternative?

Free forever for one Mac. Sync across all your Apple devices on Pro from $2.99/mo, $24.99/yr, or $79.99 Lifetime.

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