KeePassium 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 they share a 2.8 GPA.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
KeePassium grades higher on features. KeePassXC grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
KeePassium
KeePass-compatible password manager for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Which one is for you
Pick KeePassium if
- Fits if you keep a KeePass database and use Apple devices
- Works for people who want to sync through their own cloud storage
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Windows or Android, as it is Apple only
- Tight if you keep more than one database, since the free version allows one
- Watch out: YubiKey support and password audit need Premium or Pro
- Watch out: prices on the maker's site are in euros, and the US App Store lists Premium at $19.99
- Watch out: with Intune, Password AutoFill is not supported and the managed edition runs on iOS only
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
| 2.8GPAKeePassiumGood | 2.8GPAKeePassXCGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BPremium is EUR 19.99 a year, inside the cheapest quarter of password managers. Pro is a EUR 79.99 lifetime licence, under two years of the typical subscription. | 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 | AFree forever for one database, with synchronization, AutoFill, Face ID or Touch ID, one-time codes and attachments. One database is a cap few people reach. | AThe full desktop app and the KeePassXC-Browser extension both cost nothing. No paid tier, no account and nothing held back. |
| Features | BKeePass database support, sync through your own storage, AutoFill, one-time codes, YubiKey, backups and history. Password audit and YubiKey are paid. | 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 | CNo store rating on record. You set up the storage that holds your database. | 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 | CiOS and macOS only, with no Windows, Android or web version. | 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 | KeePass vaults on iPhone, iPad and Mac | 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: KeePassium and KeePassXC. How we grade
Price against what you get
KeePassium starts at about $1.86 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.
KeePassium scores higher, and starts $1.86 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other password managers on the chart, 5 score higher than KeePassium 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
- KeePassium can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- KeePassXC also covers passkeys.
At a glance
| KeePassium | KeePassXC | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | €19.99 per year (Premium) | Free |
| Free plan | Free forever: one database, synchronization, Password AutoFill, Face ID or Touch ID unlock, OTP codes and file attachments. | 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 | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | KeePassium Labs | KeePassXC Team |
| Price read from | keepassium.com | keepassxc.org |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
KeePassium
- Apple platforms only: there is no Windows, Android or web version.
- The free version is limited to one database; YubiKey support and password audit need Premium or Pro.
- Prices on the maker's site are in euros; the US App Store listing shows Premium at $19.99.
- With Intune, Password AutoFill is not supported, and the managed edition runs on iOS only.
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
KeePassium
- KeePass database support
- Reads kdb, kdbx3 and kdbx4 files using AES, ChaCha20, Twofish and Argon2, so databases move between KeePass apps.
- Sync with your own storage
- Works with offline files and with online databases, including two-way sync with almost any provider in the Files app.
- AutoFill and biometrics
- Fill logins in apps and websites with Password AutoFill, and unlock with Face ID or Touch ID.
- OTP codes and attachments
- Keeps time-based one-time codes, custom fields, custom icons and attached files inside the database.
- YubiKey support
- Premium can protect a database with a YubiKey over NFC or Lightning, using challenge-response that matches KeePassXC.
- Backups and history
- Each entry keeps its history, deleted entries go to a recycle bin, and each database is copied before saving.
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
KeePassium
Free$0
One database with sync, AutoFill, biometric unlock, OTP codes and attachments; donations are optional.
Premium€19.99
per year (price shown in euros)
Unlimited databases, YubiKey support, quick AutoFill, password audit and field references, on iOS and macOS.
Pro€79.99
one-time, lifetime license (price shown in euros)
The Premium features as a lifetime license, covering iOS and macOS with one purchase.
Business & Intune€36
per user / year (price shown in euros)
For managed environments: MDM configuration and Microsoft Intune support; volume discounts apply.
KeePassXC
Free$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, KeePassium or KeePassXC?
As of Nov 12, 2026, KeePassXC is cheaper to start with: it is free, against about $1.86 a month for KeePassium. KeePassium starts at €19.99 per year (Premium), and KeePassXC is free.
Which has a free plan, KeePassium or KeePassXC?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both KeePassium and KeePassXC have a free plan.
Which platforms do KeePassium and KeePassXC run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only KeePassium lists an iOS app and only KeePassXC lists Windows and Linux apps and a browser extension. Both list a macOS 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.