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Utilities · head to head

Paste vs Transmission

Paste logo

Paste

Utilities

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

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Transmission logo

Transmission

Utilities

Free open source BitTorrent client known for a minimal interface and low resource use

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Transmission has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Transmission it has no built in search tab, so finding torrents means using a separate browser tab or search engine, unlike qBittorrent.
  • They diverge on capability: Paste covers Clipboard history, Transmission covers Minimal interface.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Paste and Transmission actually diverge.

Attributes where Paste and Transmission differ
AttributePasteTransmission
Starting price$29.99/yearFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMac, iOSMac, Windows, Linux

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 Paste

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

Only in Transmission

  • Minimal interface
  • transmission-daemon
  • Built in web UI
  • Low resource use
  • Bandwidth limits and scheduling
  • Wide platform and firmware support

What people use each for

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

Paste

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

Transmission

  • A user running torrents on a NAS, Raspberry Pi or router firmware where every bit of CPU and memory mattersnot Paste
  • Someone who wants the simplest possible torrent interface with no extra tabs or configuration to learnnot Paste
  • A user who wants headless remote operation without installing a separate web UI packagenot Paste
  • Anyone replacing a heavier client because Transmission uses noticeably less resource for the same workloadnot Paste

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Transmission

  • It has no built in search tab, so finding torrents means using a separate browser tab or search engine, unlike qBittorrent.
  • Its remote and thin-client capabilities, while functional through the web UI, are less complete than Deluge purpose-built daemon and thin-client separation.
  • The interface deliberately omits advanced features such as RSS automation that qBittorrent includes, so power users may find it too basic.
  • As with any torrent client, legal use depends entirely on the content being downloaded, which the app does not moderate.
  • Development pace has historically been slower than qBittorrent, with fewer new features added per year.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Transmission

Free
  • TransmissionFree
    • Free and open source, no account needed
    • transmission-daemon with built in web UI
    • Low resource use on modest hardware

Which should you pick?

Choose Paste if

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

Choose Transmission if

  • You need minimal interface.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want transmission-daemon.
Transmission review

Questions people ask

Is Paste or Transmission better?
Neither clearly leads. Paste starts at $29.99/year and Transmission at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paste or Transmission?
Transmission has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/year for Paste and Free for Transmission.
Does Paste or Transmission run on more platforms?
Paste runs on Mac, iOS. Transmission runs on Mac, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Transmission for free?
Yes. Transmission has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paste starts at $29.99/year.
What is Paste best used for?
Paste is most often used for someone who regularly copies something on their iphone, such as an address or code, and needs it moments later on their mac, a user organising reusable snippets like email signatures or boilerplate text into named pinboards, a team member already paying for setapp who wants paste included rather than purchased separately, anyone who has outgrown a local-only clipboard manager because they now work across multiple apple devices. Of those, someone who regularly copies something on their iphone, such as an address or code, and needs it moments later on their mac and a user organising reusable snippets like email signatures or boilerplate text into named pinboards are not what Transmission is typically brought in for.
What can Paste do that Transmission cannot?
Paste covers Clipboard history, iCloud sync, Pinboards, Rich content support. Transmission covers Minimal interface, transmission-daemon, Built in web UI, Low resource use.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Transmission: Is Transmission free?

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

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.

Transmission: Why is Transmission popular on NAS devices?

Because it runs as a lightweight daemon with low CPU and memory use and a built in web UI, which suits always-on, low powered hardware.

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.

Transmission: Does Transmission have search built in?

No. Unlike qBittorrent, finding torrents requires a separate search tool outside the app.

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