KeePass vs KeeWeb (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, KeeWeb grades higher than KeePass: 3.2 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
KeeWeb grades higher on ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
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 KeeWeb if
- Fits if you already keep a KeePass file and want a nicer window onto it
- Works for people who store the file in their own cloud or server
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want phone apps, as mobile browsers can only view and copy
- Watch out: there is no browser extension or autofill on the site
- Not for you if you want hosted sync, since KeeWeb does not host vaults
- Tight if you want paid support: it is one named author funded by donations
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAKeePassGood | 3.2GPAKeeWebVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 whole app is free with no trial or limits, which the site states. |
| 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. | AFree outright, with no plan, no cap and no account to open. |
| 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. | CKeePass compatibility, tags, history and multiple files. It lists no autofill or extension. |
| 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. | BYou open a KeePass file and go, though a file and a sync location come first. No store rating on record. |
| 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. | BWeb, Mac, Windows and Linux, with sync through Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive or your own server. No native phone apps. |
| Best for | a free password file you keep yourself on Windows | a free KeePass file editor in your browser or desktop |
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 KeeWeb. How we grade
Price against what you get
KeePass has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. KeeWeb has no paid plan and scores 2.7.
KeeWeb scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other password managers on the chart, none scores higher than KeePass for less, and none scores higher than KeeWeb 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
In commonFree planWindowsLinuxmacOSOpen sourceWorks offlinePassword manager
At a glance
| KeePass | KeeWeb | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free and open source under the GPL, for personal and company use, with no fees. The author accepts donations. | The whole app is free, with no trial, demo version or limits, according to the site. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Dominik Reichl | Antelle |
| Price read from | keepass.info | keeweb.info |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
KeeWeb
- There are no native iOS or Android apps; mobile browsers can view details and copy passwords only.
- Sync depends on your own Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive or server storage; KeeWeb does not host vaults.
- No browser extension or autofill is listed on the site.
- It is a project with one named author and donation funding, not a company with paid support.
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.
KeeWeb
- KeePass file compatibility
- Works with KeePass databases, so a vault can be opened here and in other KeePass-compatible apps.
- Cloud and server sync
- Opens files from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive or your own server and syncs changes across devices automatically.
- Offline access
- Files are saved for offline use, including ones opened from Dropbox, and changes sync when the connection returns.
- Multiple files and one search
- Open several database files at once and search all entries from a single box, with regular-expression and field filters.
- History and tags
- Every change goes into entry history that can be rolled back, and entries can be organized with tags and color marks.
- Protected fields and password generator
- Fields can be hidden and are held in memory in a more protected way; the generator takes any length and symbol set.
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.
KeeWeb
KeeWeb$0
Free and open source, with desktop apps for macOS, Windows and Linux and an online web app. Donations are optional.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, KeePass or KeeWeb?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both KeePass and KeeWeb are free to use.
Which has a free plan, KeePass or KeeWeb?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both KeePass and KeeWeb have a free plan.
Which platforms do KeePass and KeeWeb run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only KeeWeb lists a web app. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux 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.