KeePassXC vs Passky (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 2.4.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
KeePassXC grades higher on value for money and the free plan. Passky grades higher on platforms. 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.
Passky
Open-source password manager with a self-host option
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 Passky if
- Fits if you want an open-source manager with a cheap paid tier
- Works for people on Android, Windows, Mac or Linux
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use an iPhone or iPad, as no iOS app is listed
- Tight if you store over 100 passwords on the free plan
- Too light for businesses: no plan beyond bulk license keys is listed
- Watch out: Premium bills yearly at $24, and the pricing page lists no team features
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAKeePassXCGood | 2.4GPAPasskyFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | BPremium is $2 a month billed yearly, inside the cheapest quarter of password managers. Bulk is $1.60 for 5 or more keys. |
| 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. | CA free plan with hardware and software two-factor sign-in, but capped at 100 passwords, which many people pass. |
| 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. | CTwo-factor sign-in, import and export, self-hosting and themes. There's no team plan or sharing named on the pricing page. |
| 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 rating on record. Apps to install on each device, and a self-host option for those who want it. |
| 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, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and a browser extension. No iPhone or iPad app is listed. |
| Best for | offline passwords on Windows, Mac and Linux | a free, open-source password manager with a self-host option |
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 Passky. 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. Passky starts at $2 a month and scores 2.3.
Passky scores higher, and starts $2 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 6 score higher than Passky 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
- Passky is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- KeePassXC also covers passkeys.
At a glance
| KeePassXC | Passky | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $2 per month, billed annually ($24) |
| 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. | Up to 100 stored passwords, software and hardware two-factor sign-in, and the self-host option. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | KeePassXC Team | Rabbit Company LLC |
| Price read from | keepassxc.org | passky.org |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
Passky
- The free plan stops at 100 stored passwords.
- The download page lists an Android app but no iPhone or iPad app.
- The pricing page lists no business or team plan beyond bulk license keys.
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.
Passky
- Two-factor sign-in
- Software authenticator apps and hardware keys such as a YubiKey can both be used for sign-in, and the pricing page lists them under the free plan.
- Import and export
- Passwords can be imported from other major password managers and exported again to move to a different one.
- Self-hosting
- Passky Server can be run on your own hardware, and the site encourages it over its free public servers.
- Apps on most platforms
- Desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, an Android app, a web vault, and extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge and several other browsers.
- Themes and languages
- The interface is translated into 25 languages through community contributions, and users can pick or build a theme.
Plans
KeePassXC
Free$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
Passky
Free$0
Core features, up to 100 passwords, software and YubiKey two-factor sign-in, and the self-host option.
Premium$2
per month, billed annually ($24)
Everything in Free, with unlimited passwords and the self-host option.
Bulk$1.6
per month, for 5 or more license keys
Premium at 20% off when you buy at least 5 license keys.
Ways to pay less
KeePassXC
No public discounts listed.
Passky
- Other savings
20% off bulk license keys
The pricing page lists a Bulk plan at $1.6 per month, 20% below Premium, when at least 5 license keys are bought.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, KeePassXC or Passky?
As of Nov 13, 2026, KeePassXC is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $2 a month for Passky. KeePassXC is free, and Passky starts at $2 per month, billed annually ($24).
Which has a free plan, KeePassXC or Passky?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both KeePassXC and Passky have a free plan.
Which platforms do KeePassXC and Passky run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Passky lists a web app and an Android app. 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.