KeePassXC vs Padloc (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
KeePassXC grades higher on value for money. Padloc grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Padloc
Open-source, end-to-end encrypted password manager with team plans
Which one is for you
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
Pick Padloc if
- Fits if you want a free vault across every platform
- Works for small teams that want shared vaults and directory sync
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you store files, as encrypted storage is 1 GB on Premium and Family, 5 GB on Team and 20 GB on Business
- Watch out: shared vaults are capped at 20 on Team and 50 on Business
- Watch out: the page does not say whether Team and Business prices are per user
- Skip it if you want customization, as it is Enterprise only, with no published price
- Watch out: the free plan lists encrypted file storage but not its size
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAKeePassXCGood | 2.8GPAPadlocGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | CPremium is $34.90 a year, about $2.91 a month, level with the middle of password managers. Family is $59.50 a year. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe full desktop app and the KeePassXC-Browser extension both cost nothing. No paid tier, no account and nothing held back. | AFree means unlimited vault items and devices, shared vaults, multi-factor login, a security report and built-in one-time codes. The file storage size is not given. |
| Features | 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. | BEnd-to-end encryption, shared vaults, an authenticator, a security report, markdown notes and directory sync. Listing shows no gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | 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. | CNo store rating on record. You make an account and move your passwords in. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | BWeb, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and a browser extension, but no API or integrations list. |
| Best for | offline passwords on Windows, Mac and Linux | a password vault with a free plan |
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: KeePassXC and Padloc. How we grade
Price against what you get
KeePassXC has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Padloc starts at $2.91 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7.
Padloc scores higher, and starts $2.91 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other password managers on the chart, none scores higher than KeePassXC for less, and 8 score higher than Padloc 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
- Padloc is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- KeePassXC also covers passkeys.
- Padloc also covers notes and Markdown.
At a glance
| KeePassXC | Padloc | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $3.49 per month, or $34.90 per year (Premium) |
| Free plan | 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: unlimited vault items and devices, shared vaults, multi-factor login, a security report, built-in one-time codes and markdown notes. |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial on paid plans |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | KeePassXC Team | MaKleSoft UG |
| Price read from | keepassxc.org | padloc.app |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Padloc
- Encrypted file storage is capped by plan: 1 GB on Premium and Family, 5 GB on Team and 20 GB on Business.
- Shared vaults are capped on Team (20) and Business (50); the page does not say whether prices are per user.
- Enterprise has no published price, and customization is only offered there.
- The pricing page lists encrypted file storage on the free plan but does not give its size.
Key features
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.
Padloc
- More than passwords
- Stores credit cards, banking details, rich-text notes with markdown, license keys and documents alongside logins.
- End-to-end encryption
- Data is encrypted before it leaves your device, and the vendor says neither it nor anyone else can read it.
- Shared vaults
- Share vaults with family, coworkers or clients. Team and Business plans add groups for permission management.
- Built-in authenticator
- Generates one-time passwords for two-factor logins inside the app, and supports multi-factor login to the account.
- Security report
- A report on stored logins, included on every plan, including the free one.
- Directory sync
- Team, Business and Enterprise plans support directory sync and automatic provisioning of users.
Plans
KeePassXC
Free$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
Padloc
Free$0
Unlimited items and devices, shared vaults, encrypted file storage, one-time codes and a security report.
Premium$3.49
per month ($34.90 billed per year)
For one person: adds advanced multi-factor options and up to 1 GB of encrypted file storage.
Family$5.95
per month ($59.50 billed per year)
Shares data between up to 5 users, with up to 5 shared vaults and 1 GB of file storage.
Team$3.49
per month ($34.90 billed per year); per-user basis not shown
Up to 20 shared vaults, up to 10 groups, directory sync and 5 GB of file storage.
Business$6.99
per month ($69.90 billed per year); per-user basis not shown
Up to 50 shared vaults, up to 20 groups, directory sync and 20 GB of file storage.
EnterpriseCustom
Price on request: unlimited vaults, groups and file storage, plus customized appearance and features.
Ways to pay less
KeePassXC
No public discounts listed.
Padloc
- Annual discount
Yearly billing costs 10 months
On the plans shown, the yearly price is ten times the monthly price, such as $34.90 a year against $3.49 a month.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, KeePassXC or Padloc?
As of Nov 12, 2026, KeePassXC is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $2.91 a month when paid by the year for Padloc. KeePassXC is free, and Padloc starts at $3.49 per month, or $34.90 per year (Premium).
Which has a free plan, KeePassXC or Padloc?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both KeePassXC and Padloc have a free plan.
Which platforms do KeePassXC and Padloc run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Padloc lists a web app and iOS and Android apps. Both list macOS, Windows and Linux apps and 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.