Plain Text Paste vs Arc Search
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Plain Text Paste
Effortlessly remove text formatting when copying and pasting. This utility allows you to convert rich text to plain text, ensuring consistent formatting across all your applications. You can also view and edit the clipboard content.
- Copy as plain text
- Remove formatting from clipboard
- View and edit clipboard text
- Automatic formatting removal
- Split view support
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Copy as plain text right within your favourite apps!* Are you tired of pasting text into an app such as Mail, only to find that the text is too large or the wrong color? Using Plain Text Paste, you can now copy as plain text*, or remove formatting from the current clipboard content. All formatting (colors, fonts, and sizes) is automatically removed from the text in the clipboard. You can even view and edit the plain text currently in the clipboard with simple customizations such as removing newlines and uppercasing! How it works (easy way): 1. Highlight text 2. Tap "Share..." if available (if not, use steps below) 3. Tap "Copy Plain Text" 4. Paste the unformatted text into any app you wish Or (classic way): 1. Copy text from any app 2. Open Plain Text app 3. The text in the clipboard is automatically converted to plain text 4. Paste the unformatted text into any app you wish Take control of your clipboard by viewing and editing text, and clearing all formatting using Plain Text Paste. Notes: * The "copy within app" feature is not available in all apps. Please use "classic way" instead (see above). Disclaimer: App does not show original rich text. For illustrative purposes only. Second screenshot is showing the "Smart Copy" app to illustrate the "copy within app" feature.
Arc Search
This AI-powered mobile browser prioritizes speed and clarity, offering intelligent summarization and ad-free browsing. It adapts to your search style with voice commands and hands-free options, while maintaining a clutter-free, private online experience.
- AI-powered search summarization
- Voice search and hands-free browsing
- Ad-free and tracker-blocking experience
- Automatic tab archiving
- Reader mode for focused content
- Cross-device syncing
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Arc Search is the modern, AI-enabled mobile browser you’ve been waiting for —focused on getting you to an answer faster, and without all the clutter of the internet. SEARCH YOUR WAY Arc adapts to your needs — use traditional text search, go hands-free with VOICE SEARCH and CALL ARC, or let our features BROWSE FOR ME and PINCH TO SUMMARIZE take the heavy lifting out of your search journey. With intuitive AI summarization, Arc Search condenses webpages into concise insights, delivering the perfect answer to any question you have – no more endless scrolling or information overload. AD FREE, DISTRACTION FREE BROWSING Enjoy an ad-free, distraction-free web experience that's clutter-free (and great for ADHD) with: - Always-on blocking of ads, trackers, GDPR popups, and banners - Automatic archiving of inactive tabs to maintain tidiness - A reader mode that minimizes distractions (great for ADHD) - A minimalist user interface that subtly complements any website PRIVACY FIRST BROWSING We're passionate about the internet but not at the cost of compromising your privacy. Arc Search ensures your online activities remain yours alone with advanced private browsing modes, secure tabs, and comprehensive data protection. ARC, EVERYWHERE Seamlessly sync your Spaces, Pinned Tabs, and Today Tabs across all devices with ARC SYNC. Whether you're on iPhone, iPad, Windows, or Mac, Arc keeps you connected. Access Arc Search quickly with home screen widgets, ensuring you're never more than a tap away from getting what you need from the internet. IN THE DETAILS From the keyboard-ready start to the ~easter egg~ fidget spinner logo (also great for ADHD), Arc Search delights with its clean UI and thoughtful touches. ABOUT THE BROWSER COMPANY Arc Search, crafted with care by The Browser Company, is more than just a browser—it represents a step forward towards a better internet. The Browser Company, based in New York, is a team of friendly individuals committed to improving how we use the internet. After all, the web browser, a tool we use daily for hours, has remained largely unchanged in the past 15 years. This realization led us to develop Arc, a browser that is not just faster but also more personal, focused, and creative. Arc embodies a vision of simplicity, eliminating tab overwhelm and internet clutter to create a more efficient online experience, keeping pace with our increasingly online lives. GO DOWN THE ARC RABBIT HOLE - Download Arc for your desktop and sync your browsing experience across devices: http://arc.net/ - Learn about our mission and team behind Arc: https://thebrowser.company/ - Privacy Policy: https://arc.net/privacy - Terms of Use: https://start.arc.net/terms-of-use
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Arc Search at Free against Plain Text Paste's $2.99. Arc Search also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Arc Search is free to download; Plain Text Paste costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Arc Search holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Arc Search has 25K ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 83% and 83% positive.
Plain Text Paste ships an update every 5 months, Arc Search every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Plain Text Paste | Arc Search |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (26 ratings) | 4.9 (25K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 82.6% of reviews | 82.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 26 | 25K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 225 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Lukas Rossi | The Browser Company of New York Inc. |
Customer experience
Plain Text Paste
Arc Search
Bugs and requests
Plain Text Paste
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Arc Search
Reported bugs
5 issues- Cannot go past the icon choosing screen in the onboarding process
- Swipe gesture navigation issues
- Images not loading properly in background tabs
- Hyperlink to apps holding onto the page
- Inconsistent reader mode support compared to Safari
Requested features
16 requests- Dark mode option
- Ability to save photos from summary
- Better tab management
- Sync with desktop Arc browser
- iPad app
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- Incognito mode
- Integrated VPN
- Access to profiles and bookmarks from desktop
- Ability to ask follow-up questions on generated pages
- Longer/shorter summary options
- Link previews
- History section
- Ability to save downloads to Files app
- Support for iCloud Private Relay
- Widgets
- Notifications
In-app purchases
Plain Text Paste
No in-app purchases
Arc Search
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Plain Text Paste free?
Is Arc Search free?
Which has better reviews, Plain Text Paste or Arc Search?
Do Plain Text Paste or Arc Search have ads?
Which is updated more often, Plain Text Paste or Arc Search?
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