Pasteguard
Mask PII and secrets before they reach ChatGPT, Claude, or any AI API.
If you routinely paste customer data into cloud AI tools, PasteGuard is a practical, open-source guardrail. It catches 30+ data types across chat, APIs, and coding agents, but you'll need Docker comfort and patience with a beta browser extension. For compliance-focused teams, it's a solid choice without the telecom bill.
Verified 2d ago · liveness 67/100 · cite: rightaichoice.com/tools/pasteguard
- Teams handling sensitive client or customer data in AI chat
- Developers using coding agents with production credentials
- Compliance officers enforcing GDPR, DORA, or internal AI data policies
- Consulting and legal firms needing to use cloud AI without data exposure
- Users needing a fully offline AI solution
- Teams that require zero data leaving their network
- Non-technical users who cannot run a local Docker proxy or install a browser extension
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- Real pros & cons from real users
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Skip PasteGuard if you need a fully offline AI solution, require zero data leaving your network, or lack the technical ability to run a local Docker proxy and install a browser extension.
The free live dashboard is limited to 6 requests per hour; heavy usage requires self-hosting via Docker, which means you maintain the infrastructure.
PasteGuard is $0 for the open-source version, making it a cost-effective choice for small teams and developers who can self-host. Compared to commercial DLP tools that charge per seat, PasteGuard removes the per-request cost, but you trade off convenience and support. For teams that need enterprise features like SSO or managed hosting, you'll need to look at paid alternatives like Guardrails AI or private AI gateways.
In short
Pasteguard — Mask PII and secrets before they reach ChatGPT, Claude, or any AI API. Best for Teams handling sensitive client or customer data in AI chat, Developers using coding agents with production credentials, Compliance officers enforcing GDPR, DORA, or internal AI data policies. Free to use.
What people actually say about Pasteguard — is it worth it?
We ran a structured research pass across product reviews, community discussions, and post-purchase forum threads to surface the patterns vendors won't publish themselves. Below: the recurring strengths, the hidden costs people mention most, and the cohort that consistently regrets adopting this tool.
38 mentions across 3 sources (Hacker News, YouTube, GitHub) · researched Aug 1, 2026.
- +Free and open-source (Apache 2.0) with a local-first architecture.
- +Automatically detects over 30 types of PII and secrets.
- +Preserves AI context by replacing data with placeholders like [[EMAIL_1]].
- +Supports multiple AI providers: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and coding agents.
- +Self-hostable via Docker with a single command.
- −Reliability issues: 400 errors with Claude Code and long-context DOMException.
- −Docker startup crashes reported by some users.
- −Limited community support and sparse documentation for integrations.
- −Configuring with LibreChat and other tools requires manual setup.
- −Experimental browser extension may be flaky.
- • Cost of running your own server or Docker host.
- • Time spent configuring and debugging integrations.
Viability Score
How well maintained and how widely used is Pasteguard? Built from what the vendor actually publishes (docs, changelog, tutorials, integrations, pricing), whether the site is live, and how much real users discuss it. How we calculate this
Last calculated: August 2026
How we score →Key Features
- Detects 30+ PII types (names, emails, phones, credit cards, IBANs, VAT, etc.)
- Detects secrets: API keys, SSH keys, JWTs, passwords, connection strings
- Placeholder replacement like [[PERSON_1]], [[EMAIL_1]]
- Placeholder restoration in responses where supported
- Browser extension for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini (beta)
- Keyboard shortcut ⌘⇧K for manual masking selected text
- OpenAI-compatible HTTP proxy (base URL http://localhost:3000/openai/v1)
- Anthropic-compatible HTTP proxy (base URL http://localhost:3000/anthropic)
- Coding agent masking for .env and config files
- Local-first architecture, no telemetry
- Self-hosted via Docker on localhost or server
- Live request dashboard with scan time, masked %, PII types
- Mask mode and Route mode for handling sensitive requests
- Multi-language detection (EN, IT, ES, FR shown in dashboard)
About Pasteguard
PasteGuard is a local-first privacy proxy that automatically masks personally identifiable information (PII) and secrets before text reaches AI providers like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. It detects over 30 types of private data—names, emails, phone numbers, credit cards, IBANs, EU VAT numbers, IPs, locations, API keys, SSH keys, JWTs, passwords, connection strings, private keys, and bearer tokens—and replaces them with placeholders like [[PERSON_1]] or [[EMAIL_1]]. The AI model still understands context and responds accurately, while the original sensitive values never leave your machine. PasteGuard covers three primary ways teams use AI: browser chat, apps and APIs, and coding agents. The experimental browser extension for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini masks text before it hits the provider, with a keyboard shortcut (⌘⇧K) for manual masking. For applications and internal AI products, PasteGuard exposes OpenAI-compatible and Anthropic-compatible endpoints—you just set your base URL to the local proxy. For coding agents like Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, and Windsurf, it masks environment files and code context, protecting API keys, passwords, and connection strings from leaking into prompts. Setup is a single Docker command; PasteGuard runs locally or self-hosted, is fully open-source under Apache 2.0, and collects no telemetry. The live dashboard shows real-time request stats: scan time, masked percentage, detected PII types, model, and language per request. Two privacy modes are supported: Mask mode replaces sensitive data with placeholders and optionally restores them in responses where supported; Route mode keeps sensitive requests on a local LLM and only forwards non-sensitive ones to the cloud. PasteGuard is provider-agnostic—it works with any AI API endpoint—and is positioned for teams that need to comply with GDPR, DORA, or internal AI policies without resorting to manual redaction or local-only AI. It's a practical layer between your workflows and cloud AI.
Behind the Verdict
When you can't paste raw names, emails, or API keys into ChatGPT or Claude, PasteGuard sits in the middle and swaps them for placeholders. The AI still gets the context, you get the original values back where supported, and nothing sensitive leaves your machine. That's a concrete win for regulated industries or anyone with strict client-confidentiality rules. We'd reach for this when Docker is already part of your workflow. A single command starts the proxy, then you point your apps, SDKs, or coding agents at the local endpoint. The OpenAI-compatible and Anthropic-compatible URLs make it drop-in for most tools—just change the base URL. The browser extension is still labeled beta, so don't bet your whole compliance posture on it today. Where it bites: you need technical chops. This isn't a SaaS dashboard; it's a self-hosted proxy. You'll manage your own deployment, updates, and availability. And the browser extension works only for ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini—other web UIs are unprotected unless they hit the proxy. Also, don't mistake Mask mode for encryption; placeholders are masking, and Route mode is the stronger option for sensitive traffic. Compared to alternatives like Enterprise GPT with its built-in redaction or vendor-specific DLP, PasteGuard is vendor-neutral and cheaper—it's free open source. But you're trading convenience for control. If you want a fully managed solution with SSO and support, this isn't it. If you want an auditable, self-hosted privacy layer that works across providers, it's hard to beat the price tag. In practice, we've seen teams use it for internal copilots, support-drafting tools, and code agents that touch production credentials. The dashboard gives you a fast look at what got masked and what's still leaking. Start with a dry run on
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Real-world workflow fit
Concrete scenarios for the personas Pasteguard actually fits — and what changes day-one when you adopt it.
You handle customer tickets and paste sensitive info into ChatGPT for drafting replies.
Outcome: PasteGuard automatically masks names and emails, so you can draft replies without exposing customer data.
You use Claude Code to refactor code and need to protect API keys in your .env file.
Outcome: PasteGuard masks secrets before they reach the coding agent, preventing credential leaks in prompts.
Your team uses cloud AI for analysis but faces GDPR/DORA data restrictions.
Outcome: PasteGuard masks PII before it reaches the provider, helping you comply without losing AI context.
Use Cases
- Mask customer names and emails before pasting support tickets into ChatGPT.
- Redact API keys from .env files when using Claude Code or Cursor for code review.
- Protect patient health information (PHI) before submitting clinical data to a medical AI API.
- Filter credit card numbers from chat conversations when using Gemini for customer service.
- Avoid leaking JWT tokens while debugging authentication issues with a coding agent.
Models Under the Hood
as of 2026-08-26
Limitations
- The browser extension is experimental and may not restore placeholders in all AI responses.
- The free live dashboard limits to 6 requests per hour; higher usage via self-hosted Docker.
- Custom PII patterns may require manual configuration.
- Route mode can still send non-sensitive data to the cloud.
as of 2026-08-25
Verification history
We have re-verified Pasteguard 7 times since . Each pass re-reads the vendor's own pages and re-checks every listed field against that evidence; passes where nothing had changed are marked as such.
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
Showing the 6 most recent of 7 verification passes.
Free to cite with attribution — this page re-verifies continuously.
12-month cost
Project the real annual outlay, including the implied monthly cost when only an annual tier is published.
Vendor list price only. Add-on usage, seat overages, and contract minimums are surfaced under Hidden costs & gotchas.
Plans compared
For each published Pasteguard tier: who it actually fits, and what it adds vs. the previous tier. Cross-reference the cost calculator above for projected annual outlay.
Open Source
$0/mo
Ideal for
Solo developers and small teams comfortable with Docker and self-hosting who need a free, auditable privacy layer.
What this tier adds
Starting tier: free, includes all features (browser extension, proxy, coding agent masking, dashboard) with no telemetry, under Apache 2.0.
Where the pricing makes sense
The company stage and team size where Pasteguard's pricing actually pencils out — and where peers do it cheaper.
PasteGuard is $0 for the open-source version, making it a cost-effective choice for small teams and developers who can self-host. Compared to commercial DLP tools that charge per seat, PasteGuard removes the per-request cost, but you trade off convenience and support. For teams that need enterprise features like SSO or managed hosting, you'll need to look at paid alternatives like Guardrails AI or private AI gateways.
Setup time & first value
How long it actually takes to get something useful out of Pasteguard — broken out by persona, not the marketing-page minute.
For Docker users, setup takes under a minute: run a single command and open localhost:3000. For browser extension users, install from the site and enable auto-masking in a few clicks. Coding agent setup involves setting the base URL to the local proxy.
Switching to or from Pasteguard
How to bring data in from common predecessors and how to get it back out — written for the switcher, not the buyer.
- →From manual redaction: PasteGuard automates masking, reducing human error and saving time.
- →From local-only AI: Keep the context of cloud models while masking sensitive data, improving output quality.
- ↗To a commercial DLP gateway: If you need enterprise features like SSO, managed hosting, or advanced policy controls, consider a paid solution.
- ↗To a fully offline AI: If your compliance requires zero data leaving your network, switch to a local model entirely.
Integrations
Resources & Guides
- Documentationpasteguard.com
Docs · Pasteguard
Full product docs from pasteguard.com
- Quickstartpasteguard.com
Quickstart · Pasteguard
Get up and running fast from pasteguard.com
- Documentationpasteguard.com
Installation · Pasteguard
Full product docs from pasteguard.com
- Documentationpasteguard.com
Configuration · Pasteguard
Full product docs from pasteguard.com
Tutorials & Learning
Official links
Tools that pair well with Pasteguard
Common stack mates teams adopt alongside Pasteguard, with the specific reason each pairing earns its keep.
Vorlon
Runtime data security for AI agents and SaaS apps — block, mask, and restrict in real time.
Clawshell
Open-source OS-level runtime security that confines AI agents from leaking secrets, built for OpenClaw and Hermes Agent.
Orca Security
Agentless CNAPP for multi-cloud security with AI-driven risk prioritization.
Featured Head-to-Head Comparisons
Pasteguard vs Audioeye
If you need enterprise ADA/WCAG compliance with legal backup and are willing to pay, AudioEye is the clear choice. If your goal is to safely use cloud AI without exposing private data, Pasteguard's free, open-source, local-first approach is far more practical and cost-effective. They solve completely different problems—choose based on your primary need.
Pasteguard vs Sublime Security
These tools serve completely different purposes: Sublime Security is an enterprise-grade email security platform for detecting advanced phishing and BEC attacks, while Pasteguard is a free privacy proxy that masks PII before sending data to AI services. Choose Sublime if you need AI-driven email defense with low false positives; choose Pasteguard if you want to safely use cloud AI tools with sensitive data. They complement each other but don't compete directly.
Pasteguard vs Push Security
Choose Push Security if you're an enterprise security team facing browser-based attacks (AiTM, session hijacking, shadow AI) and need real-time visibility across all browsers. Choose PasteGuard if you're a developer or small team that simply wants to mask PII before it reaches AI services like ChatGPT or coding agents, with a free, local-first, open-source tool. They target different problems: Push is for defense-in-depth against sophisticated threats; PasteGuard is for privacy compliance in AI usage.
Alternatives to Pasteguard
View allVorlon
Runtime data security for AI agents and SaaS apps — block, mask, and restrict in real time.
Clawshell
Open-source OS-level runtime security that confines AI agents from leaking secrets, built for OpenClaw and Hermes Agent.
Orca Security
Agentless CNAPP for multi-cloud security with AI-driven risk prioritization.
Frequently Asked Questions
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