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Productivity · head to head

Alfred vs Paste

Alfred logo

Alfred

Productivity

Mac launcher and automation tool sold as a one-time Powerpack licence rather than a subscription

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 Alfred has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Alfred there is no official built in AI assistant, so anything AI related depends on a community workflow calling an external API key you supply yourself.; 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: Alfred covers Workflows, Paste covers iCloud sync.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alfred and Paste actually diverge.

Attributes where Alfred and Paste differ
AttributeAlfredPaste
Starting priceFree$29.99/year
Pricing modelOne-time purchasePer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacMac, iOS
CategoryProductivityUtilities

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

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 Alfred

  • Workflows
  • Snippets
  • File actions
  • Universal actions
  • Theming

Only in Paste

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

Both cover

  • Clipboard history

What people use each for

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

Alfred

  • A developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscriptionnot Paste
  • A writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in AInot Paste
  • A long time Alfred user with a large personal library of custom workflows built up over yearsnot Paste
  • A user who prefers paying once per major version over a recurring monthly chargenot Paste

Paste

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

Where each one falls short

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

Alfred

  • There is no official built in AI assistant, so anything AI related depends on a community workflow calling an external API key you supply yourself.
  • The workflow format is older XML and script filters, which is less approachable for a beginner than a modern extension store with typed APIs.
  • It is Mac only, so a user who splits time between Mac and Windows needs a second tool on the other machine.
  • The free tier is quite limited, with no workflows or clipboard history, so most serious users end up paying for the Powerpack anyway.
  • Because upgrades to a new major version are a separate purchase for Single Licence holders, users who skip the Mega Supporter tier can face a further one-time charge every few years.

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

Alfred

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic app and file launching
    • Web searches and system commands
    • No workflows or clipboard history
  • Powerpack Single Licence$34/one-time
    • 1 user on up to 2 Macs
    • Workflows, clipboard history and snippets
    • Free updates within the same major version
  • Powerpack Mega Supporter$59/one-time
    • 1 user on up to 4 Macs
    • Free upgrades to all future major versions
    • Early access to betas

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 Alfred if

  • You need workflows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want snippets.
Alfred review

Choose Paste if

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

Questions people ask

Is Alfred or Paste better?
Neither clearly leads. Alfred 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, Alfred or Paste?
Alfred has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Alfred and $29.99/year for Paste.
Does Alfred or Paste run on more platforms?
Alfred runs on Mac. Paste runs on Mac, iOS.
Can I use Alfred for free?
Yes. Alfred has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paste starts at $29.99/year.
What is Alfred best used for?
Alfred is most often used for a developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscription, a writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in ai, a long time alfred user with a large personal library of custom workflows built up over years, a user who prefers paying once per major version over a recurring monthly charge. Of those, a developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscription and a writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in ai are not what Paste is typically brought in for.
What can Alfred do that Paste cannot?
Alfred covers Workflows, Snippets, File actions, Universal actions. Paste covers iCloud sync, Pinboards, Rich content support, Search and filter. Both handle Clipboard history.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Alfred: Is Alfred a subscription?

No. The Powerpack is a one-time purchase per major version, or a one-time Mega Supporter purchase that includes all future major version upgrades.

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.

Alfred: Does Alfred replace Spotlight?

It can. Alfred can take over the system-wide hotkey and generally returns results faster with more configurable behaviour than Spotlight.

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.

Alfred: Does Alfred have AI features?

Not officially built in. Some community workflows add AI chat or completion by calling an external API with a key you provide.

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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