PastePal alternatives: 4 open-source picks
These 4 PastePal alternatives replace it for $0, led by CopyQ, Stirling PDF and Flameshot. All 4 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Tabs, search, rules, ignored apps, and encrypted storage; the interface is very Linux even on a Mac.
Web app with 50+ PDF operations — merge, split, sign, OCR, redact — all processed locally on your server.
licenseMIT
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Powerful cross-platform screenshot tool with annotations and pin-to-screen.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
AirDrop for every device — share files across platforms in the browser, peer-to-peer.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: Stirling PDF · Flameshot · PairDrop
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
the usual suspects · recommended everywhere, rejected here
MaccyA lovely basic history, but collections and sensitive-item rules are not the product.
PasteBarCollections and protected boards are real; the CC BY-NC license makes it a personal-use answer, not a small-team one.
how to choose a PastePal alternative
Easiest to get running
CopyQ — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
Stirling PDF, with 60,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 4, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
what you give up by leaving PastePal
- native Apple apps, iCloud sync, rich content support, and polish
- years of OS-version edge cases
- large extension ecosystem
- cross-device sync
- commercial support and rapid compatibility fixes
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
PastePal alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CopyQ | open source | one-click install | macos, windows, linux | 12,100 | 2026-07 |
| Stirling PDF | MIT | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 60,000 | 2026-08 |
| Flameshot | GPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 27,000 | 2026-08 |
| PairDrop | GPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 6,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for PastePal
People still pay for PastePal because small utilities are technically reproducible, but customers pay for polish and immediate fixes when an OS update breaks a daily habit. The recurring cost buys permissions, accessibility APIs, sandboxing, signing, notarization, OS regressions, updates, backups, and support, not just the visible interface.
questions about switching from PastePal
Is there an open-source alternative to PastePal?
Yes: CopyQ, Stirling PDF, Flameshot and 1 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace PastePal?
Our verdict is YES. Stirling PDF (60k stars), Flameshot (27k stars), CopyQ (12k stars) are mature open-source replacements for PastePal — self-host in one command and stop paying. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/pastepal.
What is the easiest open-source PastePal alternative to set up?
CopyQ — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source PastePal alternative?
By GitHub stars, Stirling PDF (60,000). Flameshot is next with 27,000.
