Codebook vs KeePassXC (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick KeePassXC: it is third in our ranking of password managers, though Codebook grades higher (3.0 against 2.8) on ease of use and platforms.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
KeePassXC grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Codebook
Password manager from Zetetic, free for personal use
Which one is for you
Pick Codebook if
- Fits if you want a free password app for personal use
- Works for households that want shared entries through a family plan
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want automatic sync, as that needs Codebook Cloud from $5 a month
- Not for you if you use it at work, since the free app is non-commercial only
- Watch out: the Cloud price is only 'starting at $5' with no billing basis stated
- Too light for browsers, as there is no extension
- Skip it if you run Linux, where Windows version runs under Wine
Pick KeePassXC if
- Fits if you want your passwords in a local file, with nothing kept on anyone's servers
- Works for moving between Windows, macOS and Linux with SSH keys and one-time codes next to your logins
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want one app on your phone too, as there's no mobile version
- Not for you if you expect sync out of the box, because you place the file in a cloud folder yourself
- Tight if you rely on KeePass 2 plugins, which aren't supported and probably never will be
- Watch out: current downloads need macOS 12 or 64-bit Windows 10 or 11; older systems need legacy builds
How we grade them
| 3.0GPACodebookVery good | 2.8GPAKeePassXCGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree for personal use, and a program anyone can download and run counts as free. Codebook Cloud starts at $5 a month, but you can skip it. | AFree and open source under the GPLv3, with no ads, no subscriptions and no paid tier, where the middle paid password manager here wants $2.99 a month. The team takes donations to cover its costs. |
| Free plan and trial | BA person could live on the free app with manual sync. Business use needs a paid licence. | AThe full desktop app and the KeePassXC-Browser extension both cost nothing. No paid tier, no account and nothing held back. |
| Features | CEntries, an authenticator and password review. Automatic sync and sharing need Cloud, and there is no browser extension. | CThe vault covers encryption with a key file or YubiKey on top of the master password, passkeys, one-time codes, SSH keys, Auto-Type, a health report, an independent audit and an ANSSI certification. But the project names two holes in the basics: no mobile app, and no sync of any kind. |
| Ease of use | BAn installed app that you start using, with no store rating on record. | CNo rating on record, and there are a few steps before it does anything: install it, create the database, pair the browser extension, then put the file in Dropbox, Google Drive or Nextcloud yourself if you want it on a second machine. |
| Platforms and integrations | BMac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with Dropbox and Google Drive sync. No native Linux app, and no browser extension. | CComputers only: Windows, macOS and Linux, with an extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Vivaldi, Brave and Tor Browser. No mobile app at all, with the team pointing you at KeePassDX on Android and Strongbox on iOS. |
| Best for | a free personal vault with manual sync | offline passwords on Windows, Mac and Linux |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Codebook and KeePassXC. How we grade
Price against what you get
Codebook starts at $5 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. KeePassXC has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
Codebook scores higher, and starts $5 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other password managers on the chart, 13 score higher than Codebook for less, and none scores higher than KeePassXC for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- KeePassXC is open source, according to its own site.
- Codebook also covers file sharing.
- KeePassXC also covers passkeys.
At a glance
| Codebook | KeePassXC | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $5 per month (Codebook Cloud sync subscription) | Free |
| Free plan | The Codebook app is free for personal, non-commercial use, with manual sync through Dropbox, Google Drive or desktop Wi-Fi. | 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 | Codebook Cloud is described as free to try; the page does not state the length | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Zetetic, LLC | KeePassXC Team |
| Price read from | zetetic.net | keepassxc.org |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Codebook
- Automatic sync and secure sharing need a paid Codebook Cloud subscription; free sync is manual.
- Business use requires a business license; the free app is for non-commercial use only.
- The Codebook Cloud price is shown only as starting at $5 per month, with no billing basis stated.
- There is no native Linux app; the Windows version runs under Wine, and there is no browser extension.
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
Codebook
- Flexible entries and fields
- Data is organized into categories, entries and fields with labels you define; field labels control behavior, such as opening a URL or dialing a number.
- Encrypted database
- Data is stored with SQLCipher, using AES-256-CBC with HMAC-SHA512 and 256,000 rounds of PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA512 for key derivation, per the vendor.
- Autofill and built-in authenticator
- Fills logins through Password AutoFill on Android, iOS and macOS, and generates TOTP verification codes for sites that use 2-step verification.
- Password review
- Checks passwords against online breaches through HaveIBeenPwned and flags weak ones; a random password generator includes a DiceWare option.
- Codebook Cloud sync and sharing
- The subscription service syncs automatically in the background and shares entries with trusted contacts and Family Plan members.
- Images and PDFs
- Stores image and PDF files, such as scans of passports or insurance policies, alongside password entries.
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
Codebook
Codebook$0
The app on Android, iOS, macOS and Windows for personal use, with manual sync through Dropbox, Google Drive or Wi-Fi.
Codebook Cloud$5
per month, billing basis not shown, starting price
Automatic sync and secure sharing. Zetetic also lists a family plan; its price is not shown on the pages read.
Codebook for Business$5
per user / month, billed annually
Business license covering Codebook Cloud for every user; sold through sales, with volume discounts.
KeePassXC
Free$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Codebook or KeePassXC?
As of Nov 13, 2026, KeePassXC is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $5 a month for Codebook. Codebook starts at $5 per month (Codebook Cloud sync subscription), and KeePassXC is free.
Which has a free plan, Codebook or KeePassXC?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Codebook and KeePassXC have a free plan.
Which platforms do Codebook and KeePassXC run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Codebook lists iOS and Android apps and only KeePassXC lists a Linux app and a browser extension. Both list macOS and Windows apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.