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Utilities · head to head

Paste vs Truecaller

Paste logo

Paste

Utilities

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

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Truecaller logo

Truecaller

Utilities

Caller ID and spam blocking app that identifies unknown numbers by crowdsourcing users' contact books

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Truecaller 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.; Truecaller its caller ID database is built from other users uploading their contact books, which means a person's name and number can be listed without them ever installing or consenting to Truecaller directly.
  • They diverge on capability: Paste covers Clipboard history, Truecaller covers Caller ID.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Paste and Truecaller actually diverge.

Attributes where Paste and Truecaller differ
AttributePasteTruecaller
Starting price$29.99/yearFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthFree tier plus subscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMac, iOSiOS, Android

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 Truecaller

  • Caller ID
  • Spam blocking
  • Call recording
  • SMS spam filtering
  • Truecaller for Business
  • Premium profile controls

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 Truecaller
  • A user organising reusable snippets like email signatures or boilerplate text into named pinboardsnot Truecaller
  • A team member already paying for Setapp who wants Paste included rather than purchased separatelynot Truecaller
  • Anyone who has outgrown a local-only clipboard manager because they now work across multiple Apple devicesnot Truecaller

Truecaller

  • Someone wanting to identify unknown numbers calling from delivery services, banks or scam operationsnot Paste
  • A user who wants unknown-sender SMS automatically filtered out of the main inboxnot Paste
  • A small business wanting its verified name and logo to show when it calls customersnot Paste
  • A person who wants to check whether their own number is unexpectedly listed and request removalnot 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.

Truecaller

  • Its caller ID database is built from other users uploading their contact books, which means a person's name and number can be listed without them ever installing or consenting to Truecaller directly.
  • Removing a number requires actively finding and using the unlisting tool; it is opt-out, not opt-in, so most people never realise they need to do this.
  • The free tier is ad-supported, and ads appear on the call screen itself, which some users find intrusive during otherwise mundane phone use.
  • Call recording availability depends on local law and has been restricted or removed in some regions and OS versions, so it cannot be relied on everywhere.
  • Regulatory and app-store scrutiny of the contact-upload model has led to restrictions or bans in some countries, so availability and feature set are not consistent globally.

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

Truecaller

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Caller ID and spam blocking
    • Ad-supported
    • Limited profile privacy controls
  • Premium$2.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • See who viewed your profile
    • Priority spam list updates

Which should you pick?

Choose Paste if

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

Choose Truecaller if

  • You need caller id.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want spam blocking.
Truecaller review

Questions people ask

Is Paste or Truecaller better?
Neither clearly leads. Paste starts at $29.99/year and Truecaller at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paste or Truecaller?
Truecaller has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/year for Paste and Free for Truecaller.
Does Paste or Truecaller run on more platforms?
Paste runs on Mac, iOS. Truecaller runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Truecaller for free?
Yes. Truecaller 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 Truecaller is typically brought in for.
What can Paste do that Truecaller cannot?
Paste covers Clipboard history, iCloud sync, Pinboards, Rich content support. Truecaller covers Caller ID, Spam blocking, Call recording, SMS spam filtering.

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.

Truecaller: How does Truecaller know who is calling me from an unsaved number?

It matches the number against a database built largely from other users' uploaded contact lists, plus spam reports from its user base.

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.

Truecaller: Can I remove my number from Truecaller if I never installed it?

Yes, Truecaller provides an unlisting search and removal tool at truecaller.com/unlisting, though you must find and use it yourself.

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.

Truecaller: Does Truecaller read my messages or call content?

Truecaller states it does not access call or message content, only caller ID and spam-reporting metadata.

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