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CrystalDiskInfo vs Paste

CrystalDiskInfo logo

CrystalDiskInfo

Utilities

Free Windows tool that reads S.M.A.R.T. data from drives and warns before they fail

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paste logo

Paste

Utilities

Subscription clipboard manager for Mac, iPhone and iPad with iCloud sync between devices

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CrystalDiskInfo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CrystalDiskInfo many USB enclosures do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through, so external drives often report nothing at all and users read that as a healthy result.; Paste it is an ongoing subscription, unlike the free, one-time-cost alternatives Maccy and the built in macOS clipboard, so the cost compounds every year it is used.
  • They diverge on capability: CrystalDiskInfo covers S.M.A.R.T. reporting, Paste covers Clipboard history.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CrystalDiskInfo and Paste actually diverge.

Attributes where CrystalDiskInfo and Paste differ
AttributeCrystalDiskInfoPaste
Starting priceFree$29.99/year
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindowsMac, iOS

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CrystalDiskInfo

  • S.M.A.R.T. reporting
  • NVMe support
  • Threshold alerts
  • Temperature monitoring
  • Standard and Shizuku editions
  • MIT licensed

Only in Paste

  • Clipboard history
  • iCloud sync
  • Pinboards
  • Rich content support
  • Search and filter
  • Setapp availability

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CrystalDiskInfo

  • Checking the true condition of a second-hand drive before trusting data to itnot Paste
  • Watching SSD endurance on write-heavy machines such as build servers and video workstationsnot Paste
  • Getting early warning of mechanical failure while a backup can still be takennot Paste
  • Auditing power-on hours and wear across a small fleet of machines one at a timenot Paste

Paste

  • Someone who regularly copies something on their iPhone, such as an address or code, and needs it moments later on their Macnot CrystalDiskInfo
  • A user organising reusable snippets like email signatures or boilerplate text into named pinboardsnot CrystalDiskInfo
  • A team member already paying for Setapp who wants Paste included rather than purchased separatelynot CrystalDiskInfo
  • Anyone who has outgrown a local-only clipboard manager because they now work across multiple Apple devicesnot CrystalDiskInfo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CrystalDiskInfo

  • Many USB enclosures do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through, so external drives often report nothing at all and users read that as a healthy result.
  • It is Windows only, and there is no central console, so checking a fleet means visiting each machine or scripting an alternative.
  • A good status is not a prediction: drives fail suddenly with clean attributes, and treating the summary as an assurance leads people to skip backups.
  • The Shizuku edition ships anime artwork and voice packs, which is unsuitable on company machines and is often downloaded by mistake because it is the more visible option.
  • Vendors define raw attribute values inconsistently, so the same number means different things on different drives and the detailed view needs interpretation to be useful.

Paste

  • It is an ongoing subscription, unlike the free, one-time-cost alternatives Maccy and the built in macOS clipboard, so the cost compounds every year it is used.
  • Sync depends on iCloud, so a user without a reliable iCloud connection or who disables iCloud for privacy reasons loses the entire reason to pay for it over Maccy.
  • It has no Windows or Android app, so sync only works within the Apple ecosystem.
  • Because it preserves rich content and images, the synced history can grow large enough to be noticeable in iCloud storage use over time.
  • A user who only ever uses one Mac gets no benefit from the subscription cost over a free local-only tool like Maccy.

Pricing, plan by plan

CrystalDiskInfo

Free
  • CrystalDiskInfoFree
    • MIT licensed
    • Commercial use permitted
    • All features in the free download

Paste

$29.99/year
  • Paste$2.49/month
    • Billed annually at roughly 29.99 USD per year
    • Covers Mac, iPhone and iPad apps under one subscription
    • iCloud sync between all devices

Which should you pick?

Choose CrystalDiskInfo if

  • You need s.m.a.r.t. reporting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want nvme support.
CrystalDiskInfo review

Choose Paste if

  • You need clipboard history.
  • You work on Mac, iOS.
  • You also want icloud sync.
Paste review

Questions people ask

Is CrystalDiskInfo or Paste better?
Neither clearly leads. CrystalDiskInfo starts at Free and Paste at $29.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CrystalDiskInfo or Paste?
CrystalDiskInfo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CrystalDiskInfo and $29.99/year for Paste.
Does CrystalDiskInfo or Paste run on more platforms?
CrystalDiskInfo runs on Windows. Paste runs on Mac, iOS.
Can I use CrystalDiskInfo for free?
Yes. CrystalDiskInfo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paste starts at $29.99/year.
What is CrystalDiskInfo best used for?
CrystalDiskInfo is most often used for checking the true condition of a second-hand drive before trusting data to it, watching ssd endurance on write-heavy machines such as build servers and video workstations, getting early warning of mechanical failure while a backup can still be taken, auditing power-on hours and wear across a small fleet of machines one at a time. Of those, checking the true condition of a second-hand drive before trusting data to it and watching ssd endurance on write-heavy machines such as build servers and video workstations are not what Paste is typically brought in for.
What can CrystalDiskInfo do that Paste cannot?
CrystalDiskInfo covers S.M.A.R.T. reporting, NVMe support, Threshold alerts, Temperature monitoring. Paste covers Clipboard history, iCloud sync, Pinboards, Rich content support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CrystalDiskInfo: Can I use it in a business?

Yes. It is MIT licensed with no personal-use restriction, which distinguishes it from several other free Windows utilities.

Paste: Is Paste free?

No. It is a subscription, priced around 2.49 to 3.99 US dollars a month or roughly 30 dollars a year, though it is also available through the Setapp bundle.

CrystalDiskInfo: Why does my external drive show no data?

Most USB bridge chips do not pass S.M.A.R.T. commands through. Connecting the drive directly by SATA or NVMe usually reveals the attributes.

Paste: Does Paste sync between my Mac and iPhone?

Yes, that is its main differentiator, using iCloud to sync clipboard history across Mac, iPhone and iPad.

CrystalDiskInfo: Does a caution status mean I should replace the drive immediately?

It means an attribute has crossed a vendor threshold, most often reallocated sectors. Back up now, then decide. It is a warning, not a countdown.

Paste: Is there a free alternative that does not sync?

Yes, Maccy is free, open source and Mac-only with no sync, for users who do not need cross-device history.

CrystalDiskInfo: What is the difference between the editions?

Function is identical. The Shizuku edition adds themed artwork and voice packs; the standard edition is the plain one you want on a work machine.

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