Paste

What Paste is

Paste is a private notepad and clipboard that syncs text, links, and code snippets across macOS, Linux, and Windows devices. Notes can be plain text, Markdown, or code, and frequently used notes can be pinned. The app works offline and reconciles changes when devices reconnect. Its local search is described as finding entries in under 30 ms across 10,000 items. Devices pair using a QR scan, short code, or recovery phrase, and each receives a revocable signing key. Paste says it encrypts content on the device with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before storage or syncing, using keys derived from the recovery phrase. Optional relays store encrypted blocks and can observe network metadata, but cannot read note contents or keys. The encryption envelope, sync engine, relay client, and verifier are open source; Paste also includes a verifier and standalone command-line tool. Desktop versions run through the Pear runtime, which is required by the installers. On Windows, the first launch fetches the app over peer-to-peer and may take about one minute. Paste is free, open source, and requires no account. iOS and Android are in development, and Paste does not provide anonymity or provable physical deletion of ciphertext held on third-party disks.

Who it suits

Paste suits people who want an offline-capable notepad and clipboard for text, links, and code across desktop devices. It may appeal to users who want open-source encryption components and do not require anonymity or guaranteed physical deletion.

Getting started

1. Visit https://www.paste.global/.
2. Install the Pear runtime.
3. Install Paste on macOS, Linux, or Windows.
4. Pair devices using a QR scan, short code, or recovery phrase.
5. On Windows, allow about one minute for the first launch to fetch the app over peer-to-peer.

Verdict

Paste combines offline notes and clipboard syncing with on-device encryption and open-source components. Its desktop setup depends on Pear, while mobile versions are still in development.