KeePass vs KeePassDX (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, KeePass and KeePassDX share a 2.8 GPA, both have a free plan and their prices can't be set side by side, so the choice depends on which platforms you need.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
KeePassDX
Open-source Android app for local KeePass password and passkey vaults
Free plan · from $10 one-time
Which one is for you
Pick KeePass if
- Fits if you're on Windows and want a free password manager with no account
- Works for carrying passwords on a USB stick, since it runs from one and creates no registry keys
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want passwords on your phone without fuss, as the mobile apps are unofficial ports
- Not for you if you expect sync to just happen, because there's no hosted service
- Too light for people who want Windows Hello or two-factor codes built in, since those need plugins
- Tight if you're on a Mac or Linux, where it runs through Mono rather than as a native app
- Watch out: KeePass 1.x is in maintenance only, and no passkeys or browser extension are on record
Pick KeePassDX if
- Fits if you use Android and already keep a KeePass database
- Works for people who want a vault in a single local file
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use an iPhone, Mac or Windows PC, as it is Android only
- Not for you if you want built-in sync, since you move the database file yourself
- Too light for teams, as there is no sharing or admin console
- Watch out: the $10 price comes from the Google Play listing, while the project's site mentions only tips and donations
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAKeePassGood | 2.8GPAKeePassDXGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source under the GPL, for personal and company use alike, where paid password managers here start at $2.49 a month and sit at $2.99 in the middle. The author takes donations and that's it. | AThe full app is free with no ads, and the project says no security feature is held back. A $10 one-time Pro on Google Play is optional support. |
| Free plan and trial | AEverything is free: both editions, the installer, the portable ZIP and the full source code. No paid tier, no account and no cap to walk into. | AEverything is free to use, with nothing locked behind a plan. |
| Features | CThe database side covers AES-256 or ChaCha20, a master password, key file or both, Auto-Type to fill logins, and import from 35-odd formats. But its own FAQ shows the holes. No hosted sync, no passkeys on record, and Windows Hello unlock and two-factor codes come from other people's plugins. | CLocal KeePass database, passkeys, one-time codes, autofill, biometric unlock and attachments. There is no sync, team sharing or admin console. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record, and this one asks something of you. On Windows it runs without being installed, but Auto-Type sequences are yours to set up, half the conveniences are plugins, and a second device means keeping copies of the file in step by hand. | C4.3 on Google Play from about 5,150 ratings. You also have to move or sync the database file yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | CComputers only. Windows officially, with Linux and macOS running version 2.x through Mono, and the Android and iOS apps are unofficial ports by other people. No hosted sync, no browser extension and no integrations listed. | CAndroid only, with no iPhone, Mac or Windows version from this project. |
| Best for | a free password file you keep yourself on Windows | a free KeePass vault on Android |
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: KeePass and KeePassDX. How we grade
Where they differ
- KeePassDX also covers passkeys.
In commonFree planOpen sourceWorks offlineLocal-firstPassword manager
At a glance
| KeePass | KeePassDX | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $10 one-time for the Pro support version |
| Free plan | Free and open source under the GPL, for personal and company use, with no fees. The author accepts donations. | The full app is free and ad-free; the project says no security feature is reserved for a paid version. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Dominik Reichl | Kunzisoft |
| Price read from | keepass.info | play.google.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
KeePass
- The official program is built for Windows. On Linux and macOS it runs through Mono, and the Android and iOS apps are unofficial contributed ports.
- There is no hosted sync service: you keep copies of the database in step yourself, for example through a cloud-storage folder.
- Extras such as Windows Hello unlock, one-time-password keys and additional ciphers rely on third-party plugins.
- KeePass 1.x is in maintenance only; the site says to use 2.x if in doubt.
KeePassDX
- Android only; there is no iPhone, Mac or Windows version from this project.
- There is no built-in sync service, so you move or sync the database file yourself.
- There is no team sharing or admin console, because the vault is a single local file.
- The $10 price comes from a Google Play listing seen on the app's page; the project's own site only mentions tips and donations.
Key features
KeePass
- Encrypted database file
- All entries live in one database file encrypted with AES-256 or ChaCha20. The complete database is encrypted, including user names and notes, not only the passwords.
- Master password, key file or both
- A database opens with a master password, a key file or the two combined. KeePass 2.x can also lock a database to the current Windows user account.
- Auto-Type
- Types an entry's details into dialogs and web forms with a customizable sequence, and a global hot key finds the matching entry while KeePass runs in the background.
- Portable
- Runs from a USB stick without being installed, creates no registry keys and keeps its settings inside its own directory.
- Plugins
- A plugin architecture lets other developers add functions such as extra import and export formats, more encryption algorithms and additional key sources.
- Synchronization and import
- KeePass 2.x merges changes made in several copies of a database, including files reached over FTP, HTTP or WebDAV, and imports more than 35 formats out of the box.
KeePassDX
- Local KeePass database
- Opens .kdb and .kdbx files (versions 1 to 4) using AES, Twofish, ChaCha20 and Argon2, so it works with KeePass and KeePassXC files.
- Passkeys and one-time codes
- Stores passkeys and private keys in the vault and generates HOTP and TOTP codes for two-factor logins.
- Autofill and Magikeyboard
- Fills forms through Android autofill, or through a built-in keyboard that types entries into any field.
- Biometric unlock
- Unlock the database with fingerprint or face recognition instead of typing the master key every time.
- Works offline
- No internet connection is required. You choose where the database file is stored and backed up.
- Password generator and attachments
- Creates passwords and keeps file attachments inside the encrypted database, with custom icons for entries.
Plans
KeePass
Free$0
Both editions, KeePass 1.x and 2.x, as an installer or a portable ZIP package, with the full source code.
KeePassDX
Free$0
Every main feature, including autofill, passkeys, OTP codes and the Magikeyboard, with no ads.
Pro$10
one-time, on Google Play
A support version of the app that adds optional visual styles; security and encryption are the same as in the free app.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, KeePass or KeePassDX?
As of Nov 12, 2026, KeePass is free, and KeePassDX starts at $10 one-time for the Pro support version.
Which has a free plan, KeePass or KeePassDX?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both KeePass and KeePassDX have a free plan.
Which platforms do KeePass and KeePassDX run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only KeePass lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps and only KeePassDX lists an Android app. 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.