Pasteable vs Alfred
Pasteable vs Alfred
the Mac launcher with clipboard history
Alfred is a Mac institution — a launcher, workflow engine, and clipboard history rolled into one. The clipboard manager is part of the Powerpack paid tier and works well for local Mac history. But Alfred is Mac-only, clipboard is a secondary feature, and there is no cross-device sync, AI search, or mobile companion.
Pasteable
Free · Pro $6/mo or $60/yr · $80 founder lifetime
Cross-platform · E2E sync · AI search
Alfred
Free / Powerpack £34+
the Mac launcher with clipboard history
Where Alfred is genuinely good
- Mature, deeply integrated Mac launcher with workflows and snippets.
- Clipboard history is fast and keyboard-first (Powerpack feature).
- Huge community of workflows and themes built over many years.
Where Pasteable pulls ahead
- Clipboard is the product — deep history, file sync, and a web app.
- Runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux from one account, plus a web app for your phone today — iPhone and Android apps are in store review.
- End-to-end encrypted sync across all those devices.
- On-device semantic search finds clips by meaning, not just exact text.
- No launcher license needed — the clipboard manager is free to start.
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | Pasteable | Alfred |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Mac · Windows · Linux · Web · iOS & Android soonMac · Windows · Linux · Web · iOS & Android soon | Mac onlyMac only |
| Price model | Free · Pro $6/mo or $60/yr · $80 founder lifetimeFree · Pro $6/mo or $60/yr · $80 founder lifetime | Free, Powerpack £34+Free, Powerpack £34+ |
| Local-first storage | ||
| End-to-end encrypted sync | Alfred has no cloud sync for clips. | |
| AI semantic search | ||
| Snippets + OS text expansion | PowerpackPowerpack Alfred’s snippet auto-expansion is part of the paid Powerpack. | |
| Sensitive blur / password-manager skip | PartialPartial | |
| Mobile keyboard with synced clips | Coming soon (in store review)Coming soon (in store review) | |
| Web app access | ||
| File & image copy sync | Local images onlyLocal images only | |
| Open source |
Comparisons reflect publicly documented features as of 2026 and are updated as products change.
Where Alfred falls short
- Mac only — no Windows, Linux, iOS, or Android.
- No cross-device clipboard sync at all.
- Clipboard is a secondary feature of a launcher, not the focus.
- Powerpack is a one-time £34+ license per Mac; no mobile companion.
The honest verdict
Alfred is a superb Mac launcher — if you want a launcher. If what you want is a clipboard manager that follows you to every device, encrypts your sync end-to-end, and searches by meaning, Pasteable does that without requiring a launcher license.
Common questions
Can I use Alfred and Pasteable together?+
Yes. Alfred is a launcher; Pasteable is a clipboard manager. They do not conflict. Many users run Alfred for launching and Pasteable for cross-device clipboard history.
Does Pasteable have workflows like Alfred?+
No — Pasteable is a clipboard manager, not a launcher. If you need workflows, keep Alfred. If you need your clipboard on Mac, Windows, Linux, and the web with semantic search, that is Pasteable.
Try Pasteable free
Local-first clipboard history today. Add cross-device sync, AI search, and text expansion whenever you want.
v3.2.16
Pasteable for iPhone and Android is in App Store and Play Store review right now. Join the waitlist and we’ll email you the moment it’s live — or use the web app in your phone’s browser today.