Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

iCloud Keychain VS KeePassXC

Compare iCloud Keychain VS KeePassXC and see what are their differences

iCloud Keychain logo iCloud Keychain

Keychain is the password management system in macOS, developed by Apple.

KeePassXC logo KeePassXC

KeePass Cross-Platform Community Edition - A community maintained fork of the popular KeePassX...
  • iCloud Keychain Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-29
  • KeePassXC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-17

iCloud Keychain features and specs

  • Convenience
    iCloud Keychain automatically stores and autofills your usernames, passwords, and credit card information across your Apple devices, making it easy to log in to apps and websites without having to remember or manually enter your credentials.
  • Security
    It uses robust encryption to secure your information, ensuring that your data is safe and only accessible by you. Your passwords and other sensitive information are encrypted using your device passcode, making it difficult for unauthorized users to access them.
  • Cross-Device Synchronization
    iCloud Keychain keeps your information synchronized across all your Apple devices, allowing for a seamless experience when switching between devices.
  • Free Service
    iCloud Keychain is included for free with iCloud, meaning users do not have to pay for this password management service.

Possible disadvantages of iCloud Keychain

  • Apple Ecosystem Limitation
    iCloud Keychain is predominantly designed for Apple devices. Users who also use non-Apple devices may find it cumbersome to access their passwords outside the Apple ecosystem.
  • Limited Features
    Compared to other password managers, iCloud Keychain may offer fewer features such as secure password sharing or extensive password audits.
  • Complex Setup for Some Users
    Users who are not tech-savvy might find initial setup or troubleshooting to be complex, particularly when dealing with account recovery or settings changes.
  • Dependence on iCloud Storage
    Being part of the iCloud suite, users relying heavily on iCloud Keychain may need to consider their iCloud storage limits when dealing with a large amount of data or if they use iCloud for other data storage needs.

KeePassXC features and specs

  • Open Source
    KeePassXC is an open-source project, which means that its source code is freely available for inspection, contributing to increased transparency and security.
  • Cross-Platform
    KeePassXC is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing for seamless integration across different devices.
  • Strong Encryption
    KeePassXC uses industry-standard encryption algorithms (such as AES-256) to securely store your passwords, making it highly secure.
  • Offline Storage
    Passwords are stored locally on your device, reducing the risk of breaches that come from cloud storage solutions.
  • Customization
    Users can customize KeePassXC with various plugins and settings to tailor the software to their specific needs.
  • Free of Cost
    KeePassXC is free to use, which is advantageous for users who need a high-quality password manager without incurring any cost.

Possible disadvantages of KeePassXC

  • No Native Cloud Sync
    KeePassXC does not offer built-in cloud sync, requiring users to use third-party storage solutions like Google Drive or Dropbox for synchronization across devices.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Since KeePassXC offers extensive features and customization options, it may be more complex for beginners to learn and use effectively.
  • Manual Updates
    Unlike some password managers that automatically update, KeePassXC requires manual updates, which can be a hassle for some users.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    While there are mobile apps that support KeePassXC databases (e.g., KeePass2Android), there is no official mobile app, and the experience may not be as seamless as desktop use.
  • No Web Integration
    KeePassXC lacks direct browser integration for auto-filling passwords on websites, although browser extensions are available that partially fill this gap.

iCloud Keychain videos

1Password vs iCloud Keychain | PROS & CONS to consider

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How To Use iCloud Keychain! (iPhone & Mac)

KeePassXC videos

Introduction to KeePassXC

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to iCloud Keychain and KeePassXC)
Password Management
7 7%
93% 93
Password Managers
8 8%
92% 92
Security & Privacy
8 8%
92% 92
Free Password Manager
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare iCloud Keychain and KeePassXC

iCloud Keychain Reviews

iCloud Keychain vs LastPass Comparison
Like iCloud Keychain, LastPass suggests strong passwords, stores them (along with all sorts of other data and credentials), and autofills them. However, LastPass’s vault is more focused on keeping credentials organized, as it automatically divides them according to which category they belong to, such as social media, streaming, shopping, and others. Users can also look for...

KeePassXC Reviews

Top 10 Best Password Managers [NEW 2023 Rankings]
KeePassXC is the community fork of KeePassX and every feature provided by it supports cross-platform. KeePassX was previously called as KeePass/L for Linux. It was named so as it was a port of Windows Password Manager KeePass Password Safe.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, KeePassXC seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 237 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

iCloud Keychain mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of iCloud Keychain yet. Tracking of iCloud Keychain recommendations started around Mar 2021.

KeePassXC mentions (237)

  • Your Phone, Your Data: How to Safeguard Your Digital Life When Entering the U.S.
    1. Is Your Password Secure? (IYPS) is a "password strength app that evaluates and rates your password's robustness, estimates crack time, and provides helpful warnings and suggestions for stronger passwords.": https://github.com/StellarSand/IYPS 3. "Password Generator is a simple Android application which generates secure passwords.": https://gitlab.com/vecturagames/passwordgenerator 4. KeePassXC has a "Password... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • 2FA or Not 2FA
    KeepassXC is FOSS, runs locally, is actively maintained, and is multi-platform. https://keepassxc.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Concerns Raised over Bitwarden Moving Further Away from Open-Source
    KeepassXC. https://keepassxc.org/ Recently switched over from a premium Bitwarden account to it. Import from Bitwarden was a breeze. Note that KeepassXC only writes to a local encrypted db file. Syncing that across devices is left to you. I used Syncthing for that. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • The "email is authentication" pattern
    I can save you some of that research. The KeePass family of password managers are open source and based around a shared file format. They save your passwords in an encrypted file on your computer or phone’s local drive. An ecosystem of apps by different people can parse that file format (after you enter your master password), and at least one app can export as CSV or HTML, so migration is not a problem. Since your... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: How do you keep track "Log in with " accounts
    > Do you just use a password manager Yes. I recommend KeePassXC[1] or GoKey[2]. > Log in with Google, Apple No, never! [1] https://keepassxc.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing iCloud Keychain and KeePassXC, you can also consider the following products

KeePass - KeePass is an open source password manager. Passwords can be stored in highly-encrypted databases, which can be unlocked with one master password or key file.

bitwarden - Bitwarden is a free and open source password management solution for individuals, teams, and business organizations.

1Password - 1Password can create strong, unique passwords for you, remember them, and restore them, all directly in your web browser.

Lastpass - LastPass is an online password manager and form filler that makes web browsing easier and more secure.

Dashlane - Dashlane is a secure way to bypass tedious logins, forms, and purchases online. Save all of your information and save time in your online transactions.

KeeWeb - Web and desktop password manager compatible with KeePass.