6 self-hosted options
Open-source alternatives to Pastebin
The best open-source alternatives to Pastebin are PrivateBin, Opengist and ByteStash.
About Pastebin: A site for sharing snippets of text and code via short links.
Every option below is free to self-host and ranked by GitHub stars, so you can move off Pastebin without giving up the features you rely on.
Top picks
- Rank 1:
PrivateBin
PrivateBin/PrivateBin
Minimalist pastebin/discussion board where the server has zero knowledge of hosted data.
PastebinsPHP - Rank 2:
Opengist
thomiceli/opengist
Pastebin powered by Git.
PastebinsGoDocker - Rank 3:
ByteStash
jordan-dalby/ByteStash
Pastebin and file storage service with a simple web interface. Supports syntax highlighting, optional user authentication and public sharing.
PastebinsTypeScriptDocker
Why switch
Why teams move off Pastebin
Self-hosting is not only about saving money. These are the reasons people make the switch.
Own your data
Your data lives on a server you control, not on Pastebin's infrastructure. No surprise policy changes and no lock-in.
No per-seat pricing
Open-source alternatives to Pastebin are free to run for as many users as your server can handle. A small VPS often costs less than a single subscription.
Customize and extend
Read the code, add plugins, connect it to your own tools and automate it through open APIs. When you need a feature, you can build it or fund it.
Full ranking
All 6 Pastebin alternatives
Ranked by GitHub stars. Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.
- 1
PrivateBin
Minimalist pastebin/discussion board where the server has zero knowledge of hosted data.
Pastebins - 2
Opengist
Pastebin powered by Git.
PastebinsDocker - 3
ByteStash
Pastebin and file storage service with a simple web interface. Supports syntax highlighting, optional user authentication and public sharing.
PastebinsDocker - 4
Wastebin
Lightweight, minimal and fast pastebin with an SQLite backend.
PastebinsDocker - 5
rustypaste
Minimal file upload/pastebin service.
Pastebins - 6
Yopass
Secure sharing of secrets, passwords and files.
PastebinsDocker
What is the best open-source alternative to Pastebin?
PrivateBin is the most popular open-source alternative to Pastebin, with 8,651 GitHub stars. Opengist and ByteStash are also strong choices. Compare features, license and recent activity to find the best fit for your team.
Is there a free alternative to Pastebin?
Yes. All 6 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can run a Pastebin replacement without per-user fees. You only pay for the server, and a small VPS is usually enough for personal use or a small team.
Can I self-host an alternative to Pastebin?
Yes. Opengist, ByteStash and Wastebin ship a Docker image, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose in a few minutes. Your data then stays on hardware you control.
How do I migrate from Pastebin?
Start by exporting your data from Pastebin, then check the import options of the app you pick, since many projects ship importers for popular formats. Run both side by side for a week before you switch so nothing is lost.