NanoClip vs Paste
An honest comparison.
Two well-designed macOS clipboard managers — built for different people. Here's what each one does well, where they differ, and how to pick.
Last updated: April 2026
TL;DR
- Pick Paste if: you need clipboard sync between Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and don't mind a $29.99/yr subscription or paying $89.99 for lifetime.
- Pick NanoClip if: you work primarily on Mac, prefer a one-time purchase ($4.99), and want built-in text snippets with auto-expansion — the kind of thing TextExpander charges $40/yr for.
- Both: private iCloud sync, unlimited history, rich previews, search, pinning, themes.
Pricing — the biggest difference
Over five years, Paste's annual subscription costs about 30× more than NanoClip.
| Plan | NanoClip | Paste |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes | Trial only |
| Monthly | — | $2.49/mo |
| Annual | — | $29.99/yr |
| Lifetime / one-time | $4.99 | $89.99 |
| 5-year cost (annual plan) | $4.99 | $149.95 |
Prices verified April 2026. Both apps offer family sharing on lifetime/annual plans where applicable.
Feature comparison
| Feature | NanoClip | Paste |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited clipboard history | ||
| Search history | ||
| Rich link previews (OG images) | ||
| Image, GIF, file support | ||
| Pin items | ||
| iCloud sync between Macs | ||
| Sync to iPhone/iPad | ||
| Smart snippets with keyword auto-expansion | ||
| Edit clipboard items in place | ||
| Paste queue (sequential paste) | ||
| Hide sensitive items (passwords, keys) | ||
| Personal usage stats | ||
| 19 themes (Dracula, Tokyo Night, etc.) | ||
| Team / collaboration features | ||
| Native macOS Liquid Glass design | ||
| Open source | ||
| One-time purchase available |
Where Paste wins
- iOS and iPadOS apps. If you copy on Mac and paste on iPhone, Paste handles it. NanoClip doesn't (yet).
- Team collaboration. Pinboards can be shared across team members.
- Maturity. Paste has been around for a decade and has a polished, well-tested experience.
- Setapp inclusion. If you already pay for Setapp, Paste is included.
Where NanoClip wins
- Price. $4.99 one-time vs $29.99/yr or $89.99 lifetime — about 18× cheaper at lifetime, ~30× cheaper over 5 years vs annual.
- Smart snippets built in. Keyword auto-expansion (@sig, @addr) with dynamic placeholders. A separate TextExpander subscription costs $40/yr.
- Paste queue. Copy multiple items, then paste them in sequence — perfect for filling forms.
- 19 themes, 14 fonts. Catppuccin, Nord, Dracula, Tokyo Night, Liquid Glass — match your editor.
- Hide sensitive items. Obfuscate passwords and API keys directly in your history.
- No subscription anxiety. Pay once, keep forever. No surprise price increases, no expiration.
Which one is right for you?
You should choose Paste if you live across Mac, iPhone, and iPad and constantly move text and images between them. The iOS apps are Paste's biggest moat — there's nothing equivalent in NanoClip today.
You should choose NanoClip if your workflow is Mac-centric, you don't want a recurring subscription, and you'd use built-in snippets to replace TextExpander or aText. For most independent developers, designers, and writers working from one (or several) Macs, NanoClip covers the same ground for a fraction of the price.
You should consider Maccy instead if you want a free, open-source clipboard manager and don't need snippets, sync, or rich previews. Read our NanoClip vs Maccy comparison for that breakdown.
Try NanoClip free
Free download. $4.99 one-time for Pro features. No subscription, no account, no data collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is NanoClip really cheaper than Paste?
Yes — substantially. NanoClip is a one-time $4.99 purchase. Paste is $29.99/year, $2.49/month, or $89.99 for the lifetime plan. Over five years, Paste's annual subscription costs $149.95 vs NanoClip's $4.99 — that's about 30× more.
Does NanoClip have an iPhone or iPad app?
Not yet. NanoClip is currently macOS only. If you need to sync your clipboard between Mac, iPhone, and iPad, Paste is the better choice today. NanoClip syncs across multiple Macs via iCloud.
Can NanoClip do everything Paste can?
On macOS, NanoClip covers all the core features most people use Paste for: unlimited clipboard history, search, iCloud sync between Macs, rich previews, multiple paste formats, pinning, and themes. NanoClip also adds smart text snippets with auto-expansion (a separate $40/yr product like TextExpander otherwise) and a paste queue. The main gap is iOS — Paste has it, NanoClip doesn't.
How does sync compare between NanoClip and Paste?
Both use private iCloud, so neither sees your clipboard data. Paste syncs across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. NanoClip syncs across Macs only. If your workflow is Mac-only, sync quality is equivalent.
Can I migrate from Paste to NanoClip?
There's no automated import — clipboard history is ephemeral by nature. Snippets and pinned items in Paste would need to be recreated in NanoClip. Most users find this takes 5–10 minutes. You can run both apps in parallel during the transition.
Why is Paste more expensive?
Paste is a more mature product with a larger company behind it (developed by FiftyThree and now WeTransfer-acquired). It has dedicated iOS apps, a team plan, and ongoing development costs. NanoClip is a focused, independent macOS app — lower overhead, lower price.
Disclosure: This comparison is published by NanoClip. We've worked to represent Paste fairly based on its publicly documented features and pricing as of April 2026. Paste is a trademark of its respective owner.