Bitwarden vs KeePassXC
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Bitwarden
Open-source password manager with a free plan and self-hosting
Where they differ
- Bitwarden starts at $1.65 per month, billed annually at $19.80 (Premium). KeePassXC is free.
- Only Bitwarden lists a web app.
- Only Bitwarden lists iOS and Android apps.
- Bitwarden is self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
At a glance
| Bitwarden | KeePassXC | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $1.65 per month, billed annually at $19.80 (Premium) | Free |
| Free plan | Free for 1 user: unlimited logins, passkeys, notes, cards and identities on unlimited devices, a password generator and text-only Send. No file attachments or integrated authenticator. | Free and open source under the GPLv3 license, with no ads, no subscriptions and no paid tier. The team accepts donations to cover its expenses. |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial of the Families, Teams and Enterprise plans, started from the sign-up pages the pricing page links to | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Bitwarden, Inc. | KeePassXC Team |
| Price read from | bitwarden.com | keepassxc.org |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Bitwarden
- People who want a free password manager on unlimited devices
- Users who prefer open-source software or want to self-host
- Organizations that want per-user pricing with SSO and SCIM available
KeePassXC
- People who want passwords in a local file instead of an online service
- Anyone who uses Windows, macOS and Linux and wants the same app on each
- Developers who keep SSH keys and one-time codes alongside their logins
Worth knowing
Bitwarden
- The free plan leaves out file attachments, the integrated authenticator, vault health reports and emergency access.
- Individual plans share items with only one other Bitwarden user; unlimited sharing starts with Families.
- Listed prices are based on annual subscriptions, and taxes are not included.
- SSO integration and enterprise policies require the Enterprise plan.
KeePassXC
- There is no mobile app. The team points to third-party KeePass-compatible apps such as KeePassDX on Android and Strongbox on iOS.
- Cloud sync is not built in: you place the database file in a service such as Dropbox, Google Drive or Nextcloud yourself.
- KeePass 2 plugins are not supported, and the team says they probably never will be.
- The current downloads target macOS 12 or later and 64-bit Windows 10 or 11; older systems need legacy builds.
Key features
Bitwarden
- Unlimited free vault
- The free plan stores unlimited logins, passkeys, notes, cards and identities and works on unlimited devices through browser, mobile and desktop apps.
- Open source
- Bitwarden's code is open source, and the company describes its security as independently verified.
- Passkeys, autofill and generator
- Stores and manages passkeys alongside passwords, autofills logins across devices and generates strong passwords and usernames.
- Bitwarden Send
- Shares sensitive information through a link that disappears. Free accounts can send text only; file sharing comes with paid plans.
- Self-hosting
- Bitwarden can be deployed on premises or in a private cloud. Families and Enterprise organizations can be moved to a self-hosted server.
- Business controls
- Teams adds event logs, directory synchronization and SCIM provisioning. Enterprise adds policies, SSO integration and granular access control.
KeePassXC
- Offline encrypted database
- Passwords live in a local KDBX file encrypted with AES-256 or Twofish. A key file or a YubiKey can be added to the master password to strengthen the key.
- Browser extension
- KeePassXC-Browser links the desktop app to Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Chromium, Vivaldi, Brave and Tor Browser and fills usernames, passwords and TOTP codes.
- Passkeys
- Supports passkeys through the browser integration; the user guide covers creating a new passkey and logging in with one.
- Auto-Type
- Types passwords into other applications. The user guide covers global and entry-level Auto-Type and configurable typing sequences.
- One-time codes and password generator
- Stores TOTP secrets and generates the codes, creates random passwords and word-based passphrases, and reports on password health.
- Audit and certification
- An independent security audit was completed in January 2023, and version 2.7.9 received a first-level security certification (CSPN) from France's ANSSI.
Plans
Bitwarden
Free$0
1 user. Unlimited passwords and passkeys on unlimited devices, a password and username generator, and two-step login.
Premium$1.65
per month, billed annually at $19.80
Adds the integrated authenticator, 5 GB of encrypted file attachments, emergency access, security reports and priority support.
Families$3.99
per month for up to 6 users, billed annually at $47.88
6 premium accounts with unlimited sharing and collections, plus shared organization storage.
Teams$4
per user / month, billed annually
Secure credential sharing for a team, event logs, directory synchronization and SCIM provisioning.
Enterprise$6
per user / month, billed annually
Everything in Teams, plus enterprise policies, passwordless SSO integration, granular access control and self-hosting.
KeePassXC
Free$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
Ways to pay less
Bitwarden
- Other savings
Free Families plan for Enterprise users
Bitwarden's pricing page states that the Enterprise plan includes a free Families plan for all of its users.
KeePassXC
No public discounts listed.
