Apple Passwords vs Strongbox

Apple Passwords

• People whose devices are all Apple and who want a password manager at no cost
• Families and housemates who share a handful of logins
• Apple users with a Windows PC who need their passwords in Chrome, Edge or Firefox

Strongbox

• iPhone, iPad and Mac users who keep passwords in KeePass-format files
• People who want to decide where their password database is stored
• Buyers who prefer a one-off lifetime purchase to a subscription

Apple Passwords

• There is no Android or Linux version. On Windows it runs through iCloud for Windows, with extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
• The App Store listing requires iOS 18, iPadOS 18 or visionOS 2 or later, and the Mac guide starts at macOS Sequoia 15.
• A password or passkey can be shared with only one group, and every member needs iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14 or later.
• Exports are unencrypted CSV files, and Wi-Fi passwords and Sign in with Apple accounts cannot be exported.

Strongbox

• Strongbox runs on Apple devices only; using the same database elsewhere takes another KeePass-compatible app.
• The App Store listing does not itemize which features are limited to Pro. It describes the free version as a basic feature set.
• The source code is published for inspection, but the developers say it does not meet the OSI definition of open source and do not accept contributions.
• Prices here are from the US App Store; the listing says an upfront purchase option is also described on the Strongbox website.

Apple Passwords

One place for every credential

Lists app and website passwords, passkeys, verification codes, Wi-Fi passwords and Sign in with Apple accounts, with sorting and search.

AutoFill and iCloud Keychain sync

Logins saved through AutoFill appear in the app automatically and are available on every device signed in to the same Apple Account with Passwords turned on in iCloud settings.

Passkeys

Creates and saves passkeys for sites and apps that support them and signs in with Touch ID or Face ID. Passkeys are stored in iCloud Keychain.

Verification codes

Two-factor verification codes can be set up inside Passwords and filled in automatically without opening the app.

Security recommendations

Alerts you when a saved password has been found in a data leak and recommends changing weak or compromised passwords.

Shared groups

Share passwords, passkeys and Sign in with Apple accounts with a group of contacts. Everyone in the group can change the shared items and add their own.

Strongbox

KeePass and Password Safe formats

Reads and writes the open KeePass (KDB and KDBX 3.1 and 4) and Password Safe 3 formats, so an existing database can be opened and stays portable to other apps.

Your choice of storage

Databases can live in iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive, on a WebDAV or SFTP server, or only on the device, and cloud databases stay usable offline.

Face ID, Touch ID and YubiKey

Unlocks with Face ID or Touch ID, or with a PIN code that has a duress PIN option, and can protect databases with a YubiKey hardware token.

Passkeys and one-time codes

Supports passkeys and generates two-factor TOTP codes, which can be set up from a QR code or entered manually.

Password audit

Checks a database for weak passwords automatically and includes a 'Have I Been Pwned?' check for passwords found in breaches.

Browser AutoFill extension

The Strongbox AutoFill extension for Chrome, Chromium and Firefox fills usernames, passwords and authentication codes from your Strongbox databases.

Apple Passwords

• Free$0

  The full app on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro, with AutoFill, passkeys, verification codes and shared groups.

Strongbox

• Free$0

  The basic feature set of the freemium app. The App Store listing does not itemize which features are reserved for Pro.

• Strongbox Pro (Monthly)$2.99

  per month (US App Store in-app purchase)

  All the Pro features as an auto-renewing monthly subscription. A 3-monthly term is also mentioned in the listing.

• Strongbox Pro (Yearly)$24.99

  per year (US App Store in-app purchase)

  All the Pro features, billed yearly. The listing also shows a yearly entry at $19.99.

• Strongbox Pro (Lifetime)$99.99

  one-time (US App Store)

  A one-off purchase of Pro, either in the app or as the separate Strongbox Pro app, which supports Family Sharing.

• Strongbox Zero$99.99

  one-time (US App Store)

  A separate app for local-only databases, built without any of the networking code.

Apple Passwords

No public discounts listed.

Strongbox

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Pro for a one-off $99.99

  Strongbox Pro (Lifetime) costs $99.99 once, as an in-app purchase or as the separate Strongbox Pro app, which supports Family Sharing. A macOS-only build is listed at $44.99.

• Annual discount

  About 30% less on the yearly plan

  Strongbox Pro is $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year on the US App Store. Twelve monthly payments come to $35.88, so the yearly plan costs about 30% less.