KeePass vs KeePassXC
A detailed comparison to help you choose between KeePass and KeePassXC.
KeePass Classic offline password manager for Windows. | KeePassXC Offline, open-source password manager. | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 (224 reviews) | 4.6 (216 reviews) |
| Pricing Model | free | free |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Best for users managing multiple passwords securely | Best for users managing multiple passwords securely |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | — | — |
KeePass
Pros
- + Free and GPL-licensed software
- + Offline-first: vault is a local encrypted file
- + Supports AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption
- + KDBX 4 supports Argon2id key derivation
- + Built-in database sync/merge in KeePass 2.x
- + Advanced Auto-Type plus obfuscation option
Cons
- - No first-party cloud sync; you must manage syncing
- - Some protocols require plugins like IOProtocolExt
- - Endpoint malware can still capture credentials
- - Audit information often applies to KeePassXC, not KeePass
KeePassXC
Pros
- + Local-first: no mandatory cloud account
- + KeePass KDBX compatibility across many clients
- + Documented browser integration for autofill
- + Supports SSH agent integration (Pageant/OpenSSH on Windows)
- + Published audits and ANSSI CSPN certification
- + Free pricing model
Cons
- - No built-in cloud sync or team sharing
- - Linux sandboxed browsers often unsupported for extension
- - Unlocked vault data exists in system memory
- - Some edge-case vulnerabilities require prompt updates
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