Kee Vault vs KeePassXC (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick KeePassXC: it is third in our ranking of password managers, and it grades higher too, 2.8 against 2.6.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Kee Vault grades higher on platforms. KeePassXC grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Kee Vault
Open-source password manager with a free Android and iOS app
Which one is for you
Pick Kee Vault if
- Fits if you want a free, account-free password app on your phone
- Works for KeePass users who add a synced vault later
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you want sync, as the free app does not sync or pair with the browser extension
- Watch out: the vault is capped at 10 MB and attached files at about 250 KB each
- Watch out: no refunds on partly used subscriptions, per the pricing page
- Skip it if you want a desktop app, since only web, phones and extensions are listed
- Pricey if you read £20 as fixed: the page says the price was written in 2023
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
| 2.6GPAKee VaultGood | 2.8GPAKeePassXCGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B£20 a year works out near $2 a month, around the category's cheaper-quarter line, and the free app costs nothing. | 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 | BThe free app has biometric unlock, autofill, offline use, one-time codes and KDBX export, with no account. A person could live on it, but it does not sync. | AThe full desktop app and the KeePassXC-Browser extension both cost nothing. No paid tier, no account and nothing held back. |
| Features | CAutofill, OTP, Argon2 and KDBX. The free app does not sync to a server or work with the browser extension, and attachments are capped around 250 KB. | 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 | CYou install and start, but sync and the extension need a subscription and linking. 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 | BWeb, iPhone, Android and browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome and Edge, with KeePass compatibility. No desktop app. | 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 KeePass-style phone vault | 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: Kee Vault and KeePassXC. How we grade
Price against what you get
Kee Vault starts at about $2.23 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. KeePassXC has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
Kee Vault scores higher, and starts $2.23 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other password managers on the chart, 9 score higher than Kee Vault 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 also covers passkeys.
At a glance
| Kee Vault | KeePassXC | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | £20 per year (Supporter subscription) | Free |
| Free plan | Free Android and iOS app with biometric unlock, autofill, offline use, one-time passwords and KDBX export, no account needed. | 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 | 30-day free trial of the Supporter subscription | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Kee Vault Ltd | KeePassXC Team |
| Price read from | kee.pm | keepassxc.org |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Kee Vault
- The free app does not sync to a remote server or work with the desktop browser extension.
- The vault is limited to 10 MB and attached files to about 250 KB each.
- The pricing page does not offer refunds on partly used subscriptions.
- Its pricing page says the £20 price was written in 2023 and may vary by where you buy.
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
Kee Vault
- Argon2 protection
- The site says it uses Argon2 for stronger protection than PBKDF2-based managers and raises protection automatically for weak main passwords.
- Works offline
- Entries can be viewed and edited without a network connection.
- Mobile autofill and biometrics
- Android and iOS apps fill passwords in browsers and apps and unlock with a fingerprint or face.
- One-time passwords
- Stores TOTP codes for two-factor sign-in alongside passwords, notes, PINs and card details.
- KDBX import and export
- Encrypted standard-format KDBX files can be imported, and the vault can be exported in that format.
- KeePass link
- The browser extension can also connect to KeePass Password Safe 2 through the KeePassRPC plugin.
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
Kee Vault
Free app£0
Kee Vault 2 on Android and iOS; no account, no remote storage or desktop browser integration.
Supporter£20
per year
Remote backup and sync, the desktop browser extension, and use on any modern device or browser.
KeePassXC
Free$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Kee Vault or KeePassXC?
As of Nov 13, 2026, KeePassXC is cheaper to start with: it is free, against about $2.23 a month for Kee Vault. Kee Vault starts at £20 per year (Supporter subscription), and KeePassXC is free.
Which has a free plan, Kee Vault or KeePassXC?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Kee Vault and KeePassXC have a free plan.
Which platforms do Kee Vault and KeePassXC run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Kee Vault lists a web app and iOS and Android apps and only KeePassXC lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps. Both list a browser extension. 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.