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Utilities · head to head

Google Lens vs Paste

Google Lens logo

Google Lens

Utilities

Visual search that identifies objects, text, plants, products and translates text from the camera

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 Google Lens has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Lens product identification results are commercially influenced, since Lens surfaces shopping listings that connect to Google's ads and shopping business rather than purely neutral matches.; 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: Google Lens covers Object and plant identification, Paste covers Clipboard history.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Lens and Paste actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Lens and Paste differ
AttributeGoogle LensPaste
Starting priceFree$29.99/year
Pricing modelFree, bundled into other Google appsPer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebMac, 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 Google Lens

  • Object and plant identification
  • Text translation
  • Text copy and search
  • Shopping match
  • Homework help
  • Search inside Google Photos

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.

Google Lens

  • Translating a restaurant menu or street sign in real time while travellingnot Paste
  • Identifying a plant or insect from a photo taken outdoorsnot Paste
  • Finding where to buy an item of clothing or furniture seen in a photonot Paste
  • Copying text out of a photographed document or whiteboard instead of retyping itnot Paste

Paste

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

Where each one falls short

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

Google Lens

  • Product identification results are commercially influenced, since Lens surfaces shopping listings that connect to Google's ads and shopping business rather than purely neutral matches.
  • Accuracy on plant, animal and object identification varies significantly and is not reliable enough for anything safety-critical such as identifying a poisonous plant or mushroom.
  • It requires camera or photo library access, and photographed content passes through Google's recognition systems, which is a consideration for sensitive documents.
  • It is bundled into other Google products rather than a discrete standalone app on iOS, so discoverability and access differ by platform.
  • Translation quality is inconsistent for handwriting, stylised fonts and less common languages compared with clearly printed text in major languages.

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

Google Lens

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited scans
    • No subscription tier exists

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 Google Lens if

  • You need object and plant identification.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want text translation.
Google Lens review

Choose Paste if

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

Questions people ask

Is Google Lens or Paste better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Lens 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, Google Lens or Paste?
Google Lens has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Lens and $29.99/year for Paste.
Does Google Lens or Paste run on more platforms?
Google Lens runs on iOS, Android, Web. Paste runs on Mac, iOS.
Can I use Google Lens for free?
Yes. Google Lens has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paste starts at $29.99/year.
What is Google Lens best used for?
Google Lens is most often used for translating a restaurant menu or street sign in real time while travelling, identifying a plant or insect from a photo taken outdoors, finding where to buy an item of clothing or furniture seen in a photo, copying text out of a photographed document or whiteboard instead of retyping it. Of those, translating a restaurant menu or street sign in real time while travelling and identifying a plant or insect from a photo taken outdoors are not what Paste is typically brought in for.
What can Google Lens do that Paste cannot?
Google Lens covers Object and plant identification, Text translation, Text copy and search, Shopping match. Paste covers Clipboard history, iCloud sync, Pinboards, Rich content support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Lens: Is Google Lens a separate app I need to download?

On Android it is usually built into the camera and Google app; on iOS it lives inside the Google app or Google Photos rather than as a standalone download.

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.

Google Lens: Does Google Lens cost anything?

No, it is free with no subscription tier.

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.

Google Lens: Are shopping results in Lens neutral?

No, product identification links to Google Shopping listings, which include paid placements alongside organic matches.

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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