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Utilities · head to head

Paste vs Ventoy

Paste logo

Paste

Utilities

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

From
$29.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ventoy logo

Ventoy

Utilities

Multiboot USB creator that boots ISO files copied onto an ordinary partition

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Ventoy 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.; Ventoy the repository ships prebuilt binaries that are difficult to reproduce from source, so several Linux distributions refuse to package it and security teams in regulated organisations will usually reject it.
  • They diverge on capability: Paste covers Clipboard history, Ventoy covers In-place ISO boot.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Paste and Ventoy actually diverge.

Attributes where Paste and Ventoy differ
AttributePasteVentoy
Starting price$29.99/yearFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMac, iOSWindows, 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 Ventoy

  • In-place ISO boot
  • Persistent overlays
  • Plugin configuration
  • Secure Boot support
  • Multi-format boot
  • Non-destructive install

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

Ventoy

  • Field technicians who need one stick carrying several Windows and Linux installers plus a rescue environmentnot Paste
  • Labs that reimage machines weekly and want to swap a single ISO rather than rewrite the drivenot Paste
  • Testing a new distribution release without destroying the existing set of imagesnot Paste
  • Unattended installation runs where answer files sit beside the ISOs on the same partitionnot 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.

Ventoy

  • The repository ships prebuilt binaries that are difficult to reproduce from source, so several Linux distributions refuse to package it and security teams in regulated organisations will usually reject it.
  • Development depends on one maintainer, so a period of inactivity leaves compatibility fixes for new distribution releases unaddressed with no second party able to cut a release.
  • Secure Boot works only after enrolling the Ventoy certificate through MokManager at the machine, which is a manual step at every device and is blocked outright on locked-down corporate firmware.
  • A small number of images still fail to boot in place and need workarounds, so a technician can discover mid-job that the one ISO they need is the one that does not work.
  • The data partition is exFAT by default, which means no file permissions and no journal, so a stick pulled during a copy can corrupt the whole image set rather than one file.

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

Ventoy

Free
  • VentoyFree
    • Full feature set with no paid edition
    • GPLv3 licence
    • Windows and Linux installers

Which should you pick?

Choose Paste if

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

Choose Ventoy if

  • You need in-place iso boot.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux.
  • You also want persistent overlays.
Ventoy review

Questions people ask

Is Paste or Ventoy better?
Neither clearly leads. Paste starts at $29.99/year and Ventoy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paste or Ventoy?
Ventoy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.99/year for Paste and Free for Ventoy.
Does Paste or Ventoy run on more platforms?
Paste runs on Mac, iOS. Ventoy runs on Windows, Linux.
Can I use Ventoy for free?
Yes. Ventoy 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 Ventoy is typically brought in for.
What can Paste do that Ventoy cannot?
Paste covers Clipboard history, iCloud sync, Pinboards, Rich content support. Ventoy covers In-place ISO boot, Persistent overlays, Plugin configuration, Secure Boot support.

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.

Ventoy: Can I still use the USB stick for ordinary file storage?

Yes. The data partition mounts as normal removable storage and files that are not bootable images are simply ignored by the menu.

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.

Ventoy: Do I need to reinstall Ventoy when a new distribution version comes out?

No. Delete the old ISO and copy the new one. You only rerun the installer to upgrade Ventoy itself.

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.

Ventoy: Is it safe to use in a company that audits open source?

Often not. The unreproducible prebuilt binaries in the repository are a genuine audit finding and have blocked approval at organisations with supply chain review.

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