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PasteOkay vs Etherpad: live collaboration or a quiet link

Etherpad is a shared room. PasteOkay is a note passed under a door. Both hold text, but only one expects a crowd.

Updated · 4 min read · PasteOkay is our own product, so read this as a vendor comparison. Features were checked in October 2026.

In short

  • Choose PasteOkay when one person writes and a specific person reads, with an expiry and no shared editing state.
  • Choose Etherpad when several people need to type into the same document at the same time.
  • Features and prices were checked in October 2026; verify the current details with each provider.

PasteOkay

Choose PasteOkay when one person writes and a specific person reads, with an expiry and no shared editing state.

  • No shared editing session to manage
  • Expiry, password and browser encryption
  • A simple page that is easy to open on a phone
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Etherpad

Choose Etherpad when several people need to type into the same document at the same time.

  • Real-time multi-cursor editing
  • Self-hostable open-source server
  • Useful for meetings, workshops and live notes
Visit Etherpad

Side by side

PasteOkay and Etherpad compared
Capability PasteOkay Etherpad
Account required No No on many instances
Expiry control 10 minutes to 30 days Instance-dependent
Client-side encryption Yes No in the default setup
Password protection Yes Instance-dependent
Burn after reading Yes No
Real-time collaboration No Yes
Self-hosting Not packaged Yes
Price Free, PRO $5 once Free, hosting costs separate

A dash means the feature is not offered in the standard flow. Plans and limits change; verify the current details with each provider before relying on them.

Live text is a different product

Etherpad shines when a group needs to see each other's cursors and edits in real time. It is a meeting tool, a workshop surface and a lightweight shared notepad. The value is the synchronisation, not the storage.

That synchronisation also means the text exists in a live session with revision tracking, depending on the instance. For a private handoff, those are extra copies and extra state you do not need.

Privacy depends on the operator

The upstream Etherpad project does not encrypt content in the browser by default. A self-hosted instance can be hardened, but a public instance is still a server that can read the pad. PasteOkay encrypts at rest and can encrypt in the browser before upload.

PasteOkay also avoids the shared-room problem. There is no second participant who can accidentally leave the tab open, and no live session that persists after everyone forgets about it.

A note on hosting

If you already run Etherpad, keep it for collaboration. Use PasteOkay for the credential you need to hand to one person during the meeting, with a ten-minute expiry and burn after reading.

Which one should you choose?

Choose PasteOkay if

  • Only one person writes the content
  • The link should expire or be deleted after reading
  • You want encryption without operating a server

Choose Etherpad if

  • Several people must edit simultaneously
  • You need a live shared notepad for a session
  • You control the instance and its retention

Frequently asked questions

Is Etherpad encrypted?

The default Etherpad setup is not end-to-end encrypted. Content is stored on the server, so the operator can read it. PasteOkay encrypts at rest and supports browser encryption.

Can I password protect an Etherpad?

Some instances add authentication or password plugins, but it is not the core model. PasteOkay includes a reader password derived in the browser.

Does Etherpad delete pads automatically?

Retention depends on the instance configuration. Some operators remove idle pads, but there is no sender-chosen expiry like PasteOkay's timer.

Which tool is better for a meeting?

Etherpad, if the point is live collaboration. PasteOkay, if the point is to send one private note to one participant.

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Try the paste that expires

No account. Choose a lifetime, add a password if you need one, and encrypt in your browser when the text should never reach the server in readable form.

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