Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

KeePass VS KeePassXC

Compare KeePass VS KeePassXC and see what are their differences

KeePass logo 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.

KeePassXC logo KeePassXC

KeePass Cross-Platform Community Edition - A community maintained fork of the popular KeePassX...
  • KeePass Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-09
  • KeePassXC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-17

KeePass features and specs

  • Open Source
    KeePass is open-source software, which means its source code is publicly available for review. This ensures transparency and allows for independent security audits.
  • Free
    KeePass is completely free to use. There are no subscription fees or one-time purchase costs, making it accessible to everyone.
  • Strong Encryption
    KeePass uses strong encryption algorithms (AES-256, ChaCha20) to securely store passwords, making it very difficult for unauthorized users to access the stored data.
  • Cross-platform Availability
    KeePass supports multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, and has a variety of compatible third-party apps for mobile platforms like Android and iOS.
  • Offline Storage
    KeePass stores the password database locally on your device rather than in the cloud, reducing the risk of remote hacks or breaches.
  • Customizable
    KeePass offers a high degree of customization through plugins and extensions, allowing users to tailor its functionality to their specific needs.
  • Portable
    KeePass can be run from a USB stick without installation, making it a portable option for users who need password management on the go.

Possible disadvantages of KeePass

  • User Interface
    The user interface of KeePass is considered by some to be outdated and not as intuitive as more modern password managers.
  • Manual Syncing
    KeePass does not have built-in cloud synchronization, requiring users to manually sync their password database across multiple devices.
  • Learning Curve
    Being a highly customizable tool with various features, KeePass can have a steep learning curve for new users who are not tech-savvy.
  • No Native Mobile Apps
    While there are third-party apps available for mobile devices, KeePass does not offer official mobile applications, which may lead to inconsistencies in user experience.
  • Limited Customer Support
    As an open-source project, KeePass does not offer professional customer support. Users must rely on community forums and documentation for help.
  • Reliance on Plugins
    Many advanced features require the use of third-party plugins, which may vary in quality and security, potentially introducing risks.

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.

KeePass videos

Keepass vs Lastpass vs No Password Manager

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to use KeePass
  • Review - KeePass Password Safe - Is It Really Safe To Use It (Quick Review) 2019

KeePassXC videos

Introduction to KeePassXC

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to KeePass and KeePassXC)
Security & Privacy
65 65%
35% 35
Password Management
59 59%
41% 41
Password Managers
60 60%
40% 40
Security
71 71%
29% 29

User comments

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Reviews

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

KeePass Reviews

9 Best KeePass Alternatives
KeePass isn’t the only open-source password manager available—there’s also Bitwarden. It doesn’t offer all of the technical benefits that KeePass does, but it’s much easier to use, and a better solution for many users.
Best KeePass Alternatives (Better Password Managers)
Are you in search of the best KeePass alternatives? KeePass is an open-source password manager. On top of that, it’s free. But since you’re looking for alternative password managers, there’s a high chance you didn’t like its UI.
The Best Password Managers To Keep Your Data Safe In 2022
If you want maximum control for zero cost, open source KeePass - and more specifically, the alternative clients that use the same secure standard - constitute our favourite free password manager. You can store your encrypted password database files anywhere you want, and if the official KeePass app looks a little clunky (spoiler: it is, a bit), there are plenty of highly...
Source: www.wired.co.uk
Top 5 Bitwarden Password Manager Alternatives
KeePass is one of the oldest open-source password managers on the market. Designed mainly for Windows users, This Bitwarden alternative delivers great security features such as full encryption for the entire database. It also supports auto-typing, which helps you auto fill login/password information. You can easily import passwords from other managers.
10 Best Free Password Manager to Secure Your Password For 2019
KeePass free password manager that uses the AES-256 and Twofish algorithm to encrypt its password databases. All you need is just to remember a single password to unlock your password database.
Source: gbhackers.com

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

KeePassXC might be a bit more popular than KeePass. We know about 237 links to it since March 2021 and only 207 links to KeePass. 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.

KeePass mentions (207)

  • Ask HN: How To: Store and share passwords in a company?
    Https://keepass.info and share the database file on a shared folder or sync it somehow. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: Why do people use Password Managers?
    And the best part is there are solutions already that do this: https://keepass.info/ Does it work on Android or iOS? - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Why do people use Password Managers?
    The key difference here being that this is two way hashing so passwords can be decrypted. In reality, there are a lot of attack vectors like MITM, event logging or sometimes straight up storing data in plaintext. Through these hackers can generally get passwords of all users of these services. So, why don't people use local password managers? Just a txt file encrypted with "master password" should be pretty... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Google-hosted malvertising leads to fake Keepass site that looks genuine
    When you're at a point where you're relying on a display name to make security-critical decisions, you've already lost. Character substitutions like ķeepass or ƙeepass or keypass are at least possible to spot if you know the name of the product, but not the full URL. But there are many ways to create lookalike domains that don't change the product name: https://keepass.org https://keepass.net https://keepass.info... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Google announces passwordless by default: Make the switch to passkeys
    > People love to hate on passwords but the reality is that for many circumstances (threat models) they are the best compromise. You can make them more than strong enough (take 32+ bytes out of /dev/random and encode however you like, nobody will ever brute force that in this universe) and various passwords managers solve the problem of re-use (never reuse a password). > And it comes with the benefit that you... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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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 / 19 days ago
  • 2FA or Not 2FA
    KeepassXC is FOSS, runs locally, is actively maintained, and is multi-platform. https://keepassxc.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month 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 / 6 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 / 8 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 / 8 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

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.

RoboForm - Never have to remember or type your passwords again with RoboForm the world's top password manager. Download Free today for all of your computers and devices!