Best 10 Pastebin Alternatives in 2026: Free and Private Picks

Introduction

PrivateBin is the best overall pick among pastebin alternatives. It's a self-hosted, zero-knowledge tool, so the server can't read what you paste. This list covers 10 options: hosted services, self-hosted tools, account-based platforms and no-account sites.

Why people look for Pastebin alternatives

People usually switch for a few practical reasons:

• Privacy and encryption for sensitive snippets
• Ads, or sites that require an account
• The wish to self-host and control the data
• Version history, multi-file snippets or Markdown support

Team and developer workflows also tend to fit better inside tools they already use, such as git platforms. This list makes no claims about Pastebin's current policies or features.

Quick comparison table

Read the table left to right. Pick the need in "Best for", then check the platform and whether an account is needed. Pricing is "not specified" where our source information doesn't give it.

1. GitHub Gist

Best for: developers who want versioned, forkable snippets.

Gist is built on git, so every snippet carries a full history. Gists can be public or secret, and you need a GitHub account to create them. What sets it apart from a plain paste site is version history and forking. It works on the web and through an API.

2. Pastebin.pl

Best for: people who just want a web-based paste service.

Pastebin.pl is a web paste service. Our source information gives few details beyond that, so we won't guess at features, limits or policies.

Standout feature: to be confirmed. Check the site for its current options before relying on it.

3. PrivateBin

Best for: privacy-focused users and teams who can host their own.

PrivateBin is open source and self-hosted. Its standout feature is zero-knowledge client-side encryption, so the server can't read the pastes.

That's the main difference from Pastebin, where the service can see paste content. The cost is that you run the server yourself.

4. Hastebin

Best for: fast, minimal pasting with no account.

Hastebin is an open-source tool from Toptal. Speed and simplicity are the whole point: paste, share, done.

The trade-off is fewer features than Pastebin. It works on the web and has an API.

5. Rentry

Best for: Markdown notes and text pages shared by link.

Rentry lets you write Markdown pages with custom URLs and edit codes, and it needs no account. The edit code is how you change a page later, and it's the standout feature.

It's web only, so don't expect a self-hosted option.

6. dpaste

Best for: clean snippet sharing without ads or tracking.

dpaste is a simple, long-running snippet site with syntax highlighting, expiring pastes and an API.

Its standout feature is the lack of ads and tracking, which matters if that's why you left Pastebin.

7. Ubuntu Pastebin

Best for: quick pastes in Ubuntu and Linux community support settings.

Ubuntu Pastebin is run by Ubuntu and offers syntax highlighting plus expiry options. The expiry choices are its standout feature in an otherwise basic tool.

Honestly, it's basic and community-oriented, and it's web only.

8. 0bin

Best for: self-hosters who want client-side encryption.

0bin is open source and can be self-hosted. Its standout feature is that the server stays blind to paste content.

That puts it in the same space as PrivateBin. We haven't tested either, so we won't call a winner. Compare their setup and documentation.

9. Ghostbin

Best for: basic pasting, if the site is still available.

Ghostbin is a web paste service. Our source information gives few details, so check that the site is currently up before using it. If it's down, skip it.

Confirm one feature on the live site before relying on it.

10. GitLab Snippets

Best for: teams already on GitLab.

GitLab Snippets supports multiple files, versioning and public, internal or private visibility. That mix of multi-file snippets and visibility controls is the standout.

You need a GitLab account. It works on the web and through an API.

How we picked these tools

We looked at privacy, account requirements, self-hosting, API access and ease of use.

The list is based on published product information. We did no hands-on testing, so there are no ratings or scores, and no placements are sponsored.

The mix covers hosted paste sites, self-hosted tools and git-platform snippet features.

Frequently asked questions

Which alternative is best for private or encrypted pastes?

PrivateBin and 0bin both use client-side encryption, so the server can't read your pastes. Both can be self-hosted.

Which options need no account?

Hastebin and Rentry need no account. GitHub Gist and GitLab Snippets do require one.

Which suit developers who want version history, can be self-hosted, or offer an API?

GitHub Gist and GitLab Snippets offer version history. PrivateBin and 0bin can be self-hosted. Gist, Hastebin, dpaste and GitLab Snippets all have APIs.

The verdict

PrivateBin is the strongest overall pick on merit, thanks to zero-knowledge encryption and self-hosting. GitHub Gist is the runner-up for versioned code sharing. For simple, no-account use, choose dpaste or Hastebin.

Need privacy? PrivateBin. Need history? Gist. Need speed? Hastebin.