cinderpaste vs PrivateBin
PrivateBin and cinderpaste share the same core idea: encrypt everything in the browser so the server stays zero-knowledge. PrivateBin is the established, self-hosted gold standard; cinderpaste is the polished hosted option you can use in seconds. This is a fair look at where each one shines.
| Feature | cinderpaste | PrivateBin |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Zero-knowledge storage | Yes | Yes |
| Burn after reading | Yes | Yes |
| Password protection | Yes | Yes |
| Account required | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Free (hosted) | Free (self-hosted) |
When to use which
PrivateBin: Choose PrivateBin if you want to run your own server, need discussion threads or file attachments, or must keep everything inside your own infrastructure for compliance. It's mature, battle-tested, and self-hostable — the right tool for teams that want full control.
cinderpaste: Choose cinderpaste when you want the same zero-knowledge guarantee without operating anything. It's a hosted, ready-to-use service with a fast, focused interface, burn after reading, and no setup — ideal when you just need a secure link right now.
Being honest: if self-hosting is your priority, PrivateBin wins. If frictionless, hosted sharing is what you're after, cinderpaste is built for exactly that.