KeePassXC vs Password Safe (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick KeePassXC: it is third in our ranking of password managers, though Password Safe grades higher (3.0 against 2.8) on ease of use.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
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 Password Safe if
- Fits if you want a small, free vault on a Windows PC
- Works for people who prefer a local file to a cloud service
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want sync between devices, as none is hosted
- Skip it if you use a Mac, since only Windows and Linux builds are offered
- Too light for browser autofill, which the home page does not describe
- Watch out: the phone apps listed are separate projects, not the vendor's
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAKeePassXCGood | 3.0GPAPassword SafeVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | AFree open-source software with no paid plans, and the site only takes donations. |
| 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. | ANothing is locked: no plan, no cap and no account. |
| 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. | CA master-password vault with autotype, backups and two-factor. No hosted sync and browser autofill is not described on the home 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. | BAn installed desktop app with nothing to set up and no store rating on record. |
| 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. | CWindows and Linux only; the phone apps listed are separate projects. No integrations list. |
| Best for | offline passwords on Windows, Mac and Linux | a free local password list on Windows |
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 Password Safe. 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. Password Safe has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
Password Safe scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other password managers on the chart, none scores higher than KeePassXC for less, and none scores higher than Password Safe 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
- KeePassXC also covers passkeys.
In commonFree planWindowsLinuxOpen sourcePassword manager
At a glance
| KeePassXC | Password Safe | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| 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, open-source software with no paid plans; the site accepts donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | KeePassXC Team | Password Safe project |
| Price read from | keepassxc.org | pwsafe.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.
Password Safe
- The site offers Windows and Linux builds only; phone apps listed are separate projects.
- It is a local application with no hosted sync service described on the site.
- Browser autofill is not described on the home page.
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.
Password Safe
- Master-password vault
- One master password unlocks an encrypted list of user names and passwords, so only one needs to be remembered.
- Autotype
- A user quoted on the site praises autotype for entering credentials, and the project documents it in its guide.
- Automatic backups
- A user quoted on the site credits the automatic backup with saving their data.
- Two-factor authentication
- The site has a page on two-factor authentication among its main sections.
- Disk-on-key use
- The site has a section for running it from a USB drive.
Plans
KeePassXC
Free$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
Password Safe
Free$0
The complete application for Windows, with Linux packages linked from the site.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, KeePassXC or Password Safe?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both KeePassXC and Password Safe are free to use.
Which has a free plan, KeePassXC or Password Safe?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both KeePassXC and Password Safe have a free plan.
Which platforms do KeePassXC and Password Safe run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only KeePassXC lists a macOS app and a browser extension. Both list 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.