Secure transfer · Comparison
PasteOkay vs magic-wormhole: terminal encryption or a browser link
magic-wormhole is cryptography you drive from a shell. PasteOkay is encryption a non-technical recipient can use. Both avoid trusting the server with the key.
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 the recipient is a person with a browser and you need a link that persists for a chosen window.
- Choose magic-wormhole when both sides have a terminal and you want a direct, short-lived, end-to-end encrypted transfer.
- Features and prices were checked in October 2026; verify the current details with each provider.
PasteOkay
Choose PasteOkay when the recipient is a person with a browser and you need a link that persists for a chosen window.
- No installation on either side
- A normal https link that works on a phone
- Expiry, password and a readable paste page
magic-wormhole
Choose magic-wormhole when both sides have a terminal and you want a direct, short-lived, end-to-end encrypted transfer.
- End-to-end encryption with a short code phrase
- Transfers files as well as text
- No account and no permanent server-side copy
Side by side
| Capability | PasteOkay | magic-wormhole |
|---|---|---|
| Account required | No | No |
| Recipient installs software | No | Yes |
| Client-side encryption | Yes | Yes |
| File transfer | No | Yes |
| Expiry control | 10 minutes to 30 days | Session-based, short-lived |
| Works on a phone | Yes | Possible, but terminal-first |
| Persistent link | Yes | No |
| Price | Free, PRO $5 once | Free and open source |
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.
Two very different handoffs
magic-wormhole gives two machines a shared secret through a short code phrase, then transfers the payload directly with end-to-end encryption. The relay helps the peers find each other but cannot read the content. It is elegant and designed for people comfortable with a terminal.
PasteOkay gives one person a URL. There is nothing to install, the link opens on a phone and the text is rendered for reading. The key, when browser encryption is enabled, travels in the fragment and never reaches the server.
Persistence is the trade-off
A wormhole transfer is a live session. If the recipient is not there, the transfer waits or fails. That is good for security and awkward for asynchronous work across time zones.
A PasteOkay link waits until its expiry. The sender can create it now and the recipient can open it tomorrow, provided the chosen lifetime is long enough and the password is communicated separately.
Which one to carry
Keep magic-wormhole for machine-to-machine transfers and for cases where installing a client is acceptable. Use PasteOkay when the human on the other end should not have to learn a command.
Which one should you choose?
Choose PasteOkay if
- The recipient will not install a command-line tool
- The link must work later, not only during a live session
- You want a readable page and an expiry countdown
Choose magic-wormhole if
- Both sides have a terminal and the tool installed
- You need to transfer a file
- A short-lived live session is the right model
Frequently asked questions
Is magic-wormhole end-to-end encrypted?
Yes. The peers derive keys from the code phrase and the relay cannot read the payload. PasteOkay achieves a similar property for text by placing the key in the URL fragment, which browsers do not transmit.
Does PasteOkay transfer files?
No. It is a text paste service. Use magic-wormhole or a file host when the payload is binary.
Can I use magic-wormhole on a phone?
There are clients, but the workflow is terminal-first and less convenient than opening a link. PasteOkay is designed for mobile browsers.
Which is better for a one-time password?
magic-wormhole if both people are at a terminal and the transfer can happen live. PasteOkay if the recipient needs a link they can open whenever they see the message.
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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.