i3 VS Paste App

Compare i3 VS Paste App and see what are their differences

Rating: 0 reviews
Pricing: Open source

Rating: 0 reviews
Pricing: Paid Free trial $29.99 / Annually

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Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, i3 should be more popular than Paste App. It has been mentioned 93 times since March 2021.

social mentions: 93 vs 27
Window Manager popularity: 100% vs 0%
alternatives listed: 183 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

	i3	Paste App
Website	i3wm.org	pasteapp.io
Pricing	Open source	Paid Free trial $29.99 / Annually Official pricing
Platforms	—	MacOS iOS
Company	—	Startup from Demark · 1 - 9 employees
Listed in	Window Manager Linux Open Source Utilities +1	Clipboard Manager Mac Productivity Note Taking +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

i3 6 features

Paste App 5 features

Efficient Window Management
i3 allows for highly efficient window management using a tree data structure, making it easy to snap windows into grids and manage multiple applications simultaneously.
Lightweight
i3 is deliberately simplistic and lightweight, which allows it to run efficiently on older hardware or systems with limited resources.
Customizability
Users can extensively customize keybindings and behavior through a plain text configuration file. This allows for a personalized workflow.
Keyboard-Centric
i3 is designed to be used primarily through keyboard shortcuts, which can lead to increased productivity for advanced users.
Scriptability
i3 supports various scripting languages through its IPC (Inter-process Communication) interface, enabling automation of complex workflows.
Community and Documentation
i3 has strong community support and extensive documentation, making it easier for new users to learn and troubleshoot issues.

Possible disadvantages

Steep Learning Curve
New users may find i3 difficult to learn and configure, especially if they are accustomed to traditional desktop environments.
Lack of GUI Configuration Tools
i3 relies heavily on manual edits to text files for configuration, lacking user-friendly graphical interfaces for setup and customization.
Limited Out-of-the-Box Features
i3 does not come with many built-in features available in more comprehensive desktop environments, such as app launchers or system tray support, requiring additional setups.
Compatibility Issues
Some applications may not play well with tiling window managers like i3, requiring workarounds or alternative software choices.
Minimal Default Appearance
Without customization, i3 offers a very minimalistic and barebones visual experience, which may not be appealing to all users.

Visual Organization
Paste App allows users to visually organize their presentations with ease, using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
Collaboration Features
The app provides robust collaboration tools, allowing multiple users to work on the same presentation in real time.
Template Library
Users have access to a comprehensive library of templates, making it easier to start a new presentation quickly and with a professional look.
Cross-Device Synchronization
Presentations are synchronized across all your devices, allowing you to work seamlessly from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Simple and Clean Design
The app features a minimalistic design which enhances ease of use and ensures presentations are uncluttered and visually appealing.

Possible disadvantages

Limited Advanced Features
While user-friendly, the app may lack some advanced features that power users find in more complex presentation software like PowerPoint or Keynote.
Subscription Cost
Paste App requires a subscription, which may be a barrier for some users who are looking for a free solution.
Learning Curve
Although designed to be user-friendly, there may still be a learning curve for users who are accustomed to more traditional presentation tools.
Internet Dependency
Some features of the app rely on an active internet connection, which could be a limitation in environments with unstable connectivity.
Compatibility Issues
There may be compatibility issues when importing or exporting files to and from other presentation software, which could hinder collaboration with users on different platforms.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Paste App

Overall verdict

Yes, i3 is considered a very good window manager for users who appreciate its minimalist and efficient approach. Its lightweight design keeps resource usage low, which can improve performance on less powerful machines.

Why this product is good

i3wm is known for its simplicity, speed, and efficient use of screen space, making it a popular choice among power users and developers who prefer a keyboard-driven workspace. Its tiling feature allows for the seamless organization of multiple windows, enhancing productivity and multitasking. Furthermore, it is highly customizable, allowing users to tailor their workspace to their specific needs.

Recommended for

i3wm is recommended for advanced users, developers, and anyone who prefers a keyboard-centric interface. It is ideal for users who like to customize their environment extensively and are comfortable with configuring software via text files. New users with a willingness to learn may also find it rewarding.

Overall verdict

Overall, Paste App is considered a good choice for users seeking an advanced clipboard manager that is both feature-rich and easy to use. It is particularly praised for its reliability and the convenience it adds to managing copied content.

Why this product is good

Paste App is well-regarded for its user-friendly interface and efficient pasteboard management, which makes it easy to organize and access your copied items. Users appreciate its seamless integration with macOS and iOS, real-time iCloud sync, and robust search features. Its ability to categorize and manage multiple copied items helps enhance productivity significantly.

Recommended for

Users who frequently copy and paste information and need an organized way to manage it.
Professionals such as writers, developers, or researchers who deal with large amounts of text and data.
Anyone looking for a seamless clipboard management solution across Apple devices.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

i3 5 videos + Add

Paste App 3 videos + Add

30k Miles with the BMW i3 - End of Lease Review

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100

Paste App

100% 100%

Window Manager

0% 0%

13% 13%

Productivity

87% 87%

100% 100%

Linux

0% 0%

Mac

100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using i3 and Paste App. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

i3 no reviews yet

Paste App no reviews yet

Top 13 Best Tiling Window Managers For Linux In 2022
www.hubtech.org · May 2022

Sway is a tiling Wayland i3-compatible window manager that dynamically arranges app windows to rationally maximise desktop space. It is free, open-source, and lightweight. By default, it arranges windows in a grid and...
Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020
www.journaldev.com · Jan 2021

i3-wm is one of my most loved standalone window managers, qualifying it to easily fit under the desktop environment list! The configuration is just very easy, and you can change everything that you see on screen. This...
13 Best Tiling Window Managers for Linux
www.tecmint.com · Jun 2020

Sway is a free, open-source, and lightweight tiling Wayland i3-compatible window manager that automatically arranges app windows to logically maximize desktop space. It arranges windows into a grid by default and...

Best clipboard manager for Mac
www.igeeksblog.com · Sep 2022

Paste has a unique interface as it can be accessed from the menubar, but when you click on the icon, a list of clippings swipe up from the bottom of your Mac screen. From the bottom list, you can copy and paste the...
8 Best Clipboard Managers for Mac in 2023
techpp.com · Jan 2022

Paste is one of the most popular clipboard managers for Mac. It lets you store everything you copy on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, so you can find it any time you want. Some of the things you can copy with the Paste...

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

i3 93 mentions

Paste App 27 mentions

My journey to "I use arch btw"
In my case, I decided to go with a compositor instead of desktop environment. I have already used others windows tilling managers such as i3wm. This time, I want something that has more features out-of-the-box. - Source: dev.to / 15 days ago
Why I traded my custom "Opinionated Linux" for Omarchy
I've been using Omarchy as my main setup since June 26, 2025, the day DHH released the first version. Before that I had my own custom Opinionated Linux, mclovin-ARCHived: an Arch + i3wm installer set up exactly the way I liked. It was... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
Omarcacca
Then few years back, in 2015, I got shown i3wm and used it on my ubuntu-netinstall until 2020, then I switched to Budgie and my personal laptop has been using that ever since. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago

Show HN: We added a way to jump from clipboard search back to original context
Try it yourself: https://pasteapp.io. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
Paste Clipboard Manager for Mac and iOS – 10% Off for 10-Year Anniversary
Link: https://pasteapp.io Thanks to everyone here who’s supported us, shared feedback, or recommended Paste over the years. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
The One Productivity Tool You Didn't Know You Can't Live Without
Paste (Mac) - This is what I use in my day-to-day. I recommend it only if you already have a Setapp license, as it can be a little pricy on its own. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago

Alternatives to i3 and Paste App

When comparing i3 and Paste App, you can also consider the following products.

Sway
Sway is a drop-in replacement for the i3 window manager, but for Wayland instead of X11.

Compare Sway to i3 or Paste App:

Sway vs i3 Sway vs Paste App
Maccy
Lightweight open-source clipboard manager for macOS

Compare Maccy to i3 or Paste App:

Maccy vs i3 Maccy vs Paste App
dwm
dwm is a dynamic window manager for X. It manages windows in tiled, monocle and floating layouts. All of the layouts can be applied dynamically, optimising the environment for the application in use and the task performed.

Compare dwm to i3 or Paste App:

dwm vs i3 dwm vs Paste App
Pastebot
Queue up multiple clippings to paste in sequence. Pastebot is always running and only a keyboard shortcut away to command copy & paste. Play. Download or. Download a Free Trial Runs on macOS El Capitan 10.

Compare Pastebot to i3 or Paste App:

Pastebot vs i3 Pastebot vs Paste App
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Openbox
Openbox is a highly configurable, next generation window manager with extensive standards support.

Compare Openbox to i3 or Paste App:

Openbox vs i3 Openbox vs Paste App
Clipy
Clipy is a clipboard extension for macOS.

Compare Clipy to i3 or Paste App:

Clipy vs i3 Clipy vs Paste App