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Utilities · head to head

Deluge vs Paste

Deluge logo

Deluge

Utilities

Free open source BitTorrent client with true thin-client architecture for remote daemon control

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 Deluge has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Deluge it has no built in search tab, so finding torrents needs a separate tool, the same gap Transmission has against qBittorrent.; 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: Deluge covers Daemon and thin-client split, Paste covers Clipboard history.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Deluge and Paste actually diverge.

Attributes where Deluge and Paste differ
AttributeDelugePaste
Starting priceFree$29.99/year
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMac, Windows, LinuxMac, 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 Deluge

  • Daemon and thin-client split
  • Plugin system
  • Web UI
  • Label organisation
  • Low resource daemon
  • Cross-platform clients

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.

Deluge

  • A user running a seedbox or dedicated home server who wants full torrent control from a separate lightweight clientnot Paste
  • Someone who wants to organise a large torrent collection with labels and plugin-based automationnot Paste
  • A NAS owner who wants a low resource daemon with genuine remote control rather than only a web UInot Paste
  • A user building a home media automation stack that expects a proper thin-client API rather than only a browser interfacenot Paste

Paste

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

Where each one falls short

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

Deluge

  • It has no built in search tab, so finding torrents needs a separate tool, the same gap Transmission has against qBittorrent.
  • The default GTK client interface looks and feels less polished than qBittorrent fuller desktop application.
  • Getting the most out of Deluge, particularly plugins and remote daemon setup, requires more manual configuration than either rival.
  • As with any torrent client, legal use depends entirely on the content being downloaded, which the app does not moderate.
  • Plugin quality and maintenance varies since many are community contributed rather than officially supported.

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

Deluge

Free
  • DelugeFree
    • Free and open source, no account needed
    • Daemon and thin-client architecture included
    • Plugin system for extended features

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 Deluge if

  • You need daemon and thin-client split.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want plugin system.
Deluge review

Choose Paste if

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

Questions people ask

Is Deluge or Paste better?
Neither clearly leads. Deluge 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, Deluge or Paste?
Deluge has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Deluge and $29.99/year for Paste.
Does Deluge or Paste run on more platforms?
Deluge runs on Mac, Windows, Linux. Paste runs on Mac, iOS.
Can I use Deluge for free?
Yes. Deluge has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paste starts at $29.99/year.
What is Deluge best used for?
Deluge is most often used for a user running a seedbox or dedicated home server who wants full torrent control from a separate lightweight client, someone who wants to organise a large torrent collection with labels and plugin-based automation, a nas owner who wants a low resource daemon with genuine remote control rather than only a web ui, a user building a home media automation stack that expects a proper thin-client api rather than only a browser interface. Of those, a user running a seedbox or dedicated home server who wants full torrent control from a separate lightweight client and someone who wants to organise a large torrent collection with labels and plugin-based automation are not what Paste is typically brought in for.
What can Deluge do that Paste cannot?
Deluge covers Daemon and thin-client split, Plugin system, Web UI, Label organisation. Paste covers Clipboard history, iCloud sync, Pinboards, Rich content support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Deluge: Is Deluge free?

Yes, entirely, and it is open source with no paid tier or ads.

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.

Deluge: What makes Deluge different from qBittorrent and Transmission?

Its daemon and thin-client architecture, which lets a lightweight client fully control a Deluge daemon running on a separate machine, a feature neither rival natively matches.

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.

Deluge: Does Deluge have built in search?

No. Like Transmission, it relies on a separate search tool rather than an integrated search tab.

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.

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