KeePassXC vs Proton Pass
We give KeePassXC a 3.6 GPA and Proton Pass a 3.8, out of 4.0. KeePassXC grades higher on value for money. Proton Pass grades higher on ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Proton Pass
End-to-end encrypted password manager with email aliases
How we grade them
| 3.6GPAKeePassXCExcellent | 3.8GPAProton PassExcellent | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AIt's free and open source under the GPLv3, with no ads, no subscriptions and no paid tier. Paid password managers typically start at about $2.99 a month. The team takes donations to cover its costs. | BPass Plus is $2.99 a month on the yearly plan, so $35.88 a year. That's a dollar a month under 1Password's usual price and well over Bitwarden Premium at $19.80. Pass Family is the good deal: six people for $4.99 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe full desktop app and the KeePassXC-Browser extension both cost nothing. There's no paid tier and no account, so nothing is held back. | AUnlimited logins on unlimited devices, passkeys, 10 email aliases and alerts for weak and reused passwords. No card, no time limit. Bitwarden's free plan is the only one we'd put beside it. |
| Features | AAn encrypted database with a key file or YubiKey on top of the master password, passkeys, one-time codes, SSH keys, Auto-Type and a password health report. An independent audit was finished in January 2023, and version 2.7.9 holds a certification from France's ANSSI. | ALogins, passkeys, cards, notes and autofill, plus the hide-my-email aliases that are its party trick. Pass Plus adds two-factor codes, sharing by link, Dark Web Monitoring, file attachments and Emergency Access. |
| Ease of use | BNo App Store rating on record, so B is as high as we go. On one computer you install it, make a database and add the browser extension. For a second machine you put the file in Dropbox, Google Drive or Nextcloud yourself. | A4.8 from about 8,500 App Store ratings. A Hacker News commenter moved over from 1Password in about 15 minutes. One wrinkle: on iPhone, a reviewer says it doesn't offer to save a new password as you sign up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, macOS and Linux, with an extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Vivaldi, Brave and Tor Browser. No mobile app: the team points you to KeePassDX on Android and Strongbox on iOS. | AMac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and the web, with extensions for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge and Brave. Paid plans get a command-line tool as well. Whatever you own, it's covered. |
| Best for | offline passwords on Windows, Mac and Linux | a free password manager with email aliases |
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 Proton Pass. How we grade
Where they differ
- KeePassXC is free. Proton Pass starts at $2.99 per month, billed every 12 months ($35.88); $4.99 billed monthly.
- Only Proton Pass lists a web app.
- Only Proton Pass lists iOS and Android apps.
- Proton Pass is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
At a glance
| KeePassXC | Proton Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $2.99 per month, billed every 12 months ($35.88); $4.99 billed monthly |
| 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. | Proton Free: unlimited logins, notes and credit cards on unlimited devices, passkeys, 2 vaults that can be shared with 2 others, 10 hide-my-email aliases and alerts for weak and reused passwords. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | KeePassXC Team | Proton AG |
| Price read from | keepassxc.org | proton.me |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
KeePassXC
- People who want passwords in a local file instead of an online service
- Anyone who uses Windows, macOS and Linux and wants the same app on each
- Developers who keep SSH keys and one-time codes alongside their logins
Proton Pass
- People who want a free password manager with unlimited logins and devices
- Privacy-focused users who want email aliases for sign-ups
- Existing Proton customers, since Pass is part of Proton Unlimited
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.
Proton Pass
- The free plan is limited to 2 vaults, vault sharing with 2 others and 10 hide-my-email aliases.
- The 2FA authenticator, sharing of single items, Dark Web Monitoring and file attachments are listed under Pass Plus, not the free plan.
- No free trial of the paid plans is advertised; Proton offers a 30-day money-back guarantee instead.
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.
Proton Pass
- End-to-end encrypted vaults
- Everything stored is end-to-end encrypted, and Proton says that no one else, not even Proton, can access it.
- Hide-my-email aliases
- Creates email aliases to hand out at sign-up so your real address stays private: 10 on the free plan and unlimited on Pass Plus.
- Passkeys and autofill
- Passkeys are supported on all devices, including on the free plan, and logins autofill on websites and in apps.
- Built-in 2FA authenticator
- Pass Plus can generate two-factor codes inside the password manager instead of in a separate authenticator app.
- Password monitoring
- Free accounts get alerts for weak and reused passwords. Pass Plus adds Dark Web Monitoring that warns when credentials appear in a leak.
- Sharing and Emergency Access
- Free accounts can share a vault with 2 others. Pass Plus raises that to 10 and adds sharing of single items, secure links, file attachments and Emergency Access. Pass Family covers up to 6 users.
Plans
KeePassXC
Free$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
Proton Pass
Proton Free$0
Unlimited logins, notes and cards on unlimited devices, passkeys, a password generator, 2 vaults shared with up to 2 others and 10 hide-my-email aliases.
Pass Plus$2.99
per month, billed every 12 months ($35.88); $4.99 billed monthly
Unlimited aliases, built-in 2FA authenticator, 50 vaults shared with up to 10 others, sharing of single items, Dark Web Monitoring, file attachments and Emergency Access.
Pass Family$4.99
per month, billed every 12 months ($59.88); $6.99 billed monthly
Everything in Pass Plus for up to 6 users, with an admin panel for the family.
Proton Unlimited$9.99
per month, billed every 12 months ($119.88); $12.99 billed monthly
Pass bundled with Proton Mail, Calendar, VPN and Drive in one subscription.
Ways to pay less
KeePassXC
No public discounts listed.
Proton Pass
- Annual discount
40% off Pass Plus on the yearly plan
Proton's pricing page lists Pass Plus at $2.99 a month when billed every 12 months ($35.88), against $4.99 billed monthly.
