KeePassXC vs Psono (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 2.6.
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, the free plan and ease of use. Psono grades higher on features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Psono
Open-source password manager that a company runs on its own servers
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 Psono if
- Fits if you want to run your own team vault on your own server
- Works for small teams of up to 10 that want business features free
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you do not want to run and update a server
- Tight if you want the paid Business version, which has a 25-user minimum
- Watch out: professional support and SLAs are quoted on request, with no listed price
- Watch out: the SaaS tab of the price page could not be read, so hosted prices are not recorded
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAKeePassXCGood | 2.6GPAPsonoGood | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | CThe free editions are self-hosted, so a C. The Business version is $3 per user a month with a 25-user minimum, which is $75 a month for one person's floor. |
| 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. | BAn open-source edition with unlimited users, and the business edition free for up to 10 users. Both are self-hosted. |
| 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. | BClient-side encryption, team sharing, enterprise sign-in and a gateway for SSH, RDP and VNC. The 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. | DNo store rating on record. The free editions mean running and updating the server yourself. |
| 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. | AWeb, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and an extension, with LDAP, SAML, OIDC, SSH and RDP. |
| Best for | offline passwords on Windows, Mac and Linux | an open-source team vault with a free self-hosted edition |
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 Psono. 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. Psono starts at $3 a month for each person and scores 2.7.
Psono scores higher, and starts $3 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 9 score higher than Psono 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
- Psono is self-hostable, according to its own site.
At a glance
| KeePassXC | Psono | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $3 per user / month, billed annually (minimum 25 users) |
| 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. | Open-source edition with unlimited users, or the business edition free for up to 10 users, both self-hosted. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | KeePassXC Team | esaqa GmbH |
| Price read from | keepassxc.org | psono.com |
| 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.
Psono
- The free editions are self-hosted, so you run and update the server yourself.
- The Business version has a 25-user minimum; its price is shown for the On Premise edition.
- Professional support and service-level agreements are quoted on request, not sold at a listed price.
- The page's SaaS tab could not be read, so hosted prices are not recorded here.
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.
Psono
- Client-side encryption
- Vault data is encrypted in the client before it is sent to the server, then stored encrypted on the server.
- Self-hosted or SaaS
- Run every component on your own servers, or use a hosted edition. The pricing section is split into On Premise and SaaS tabs.
- Open source
- The complete codebase is public, so the security design can be audited independently.
- Team sharing and enterprise sign-in
- Share entries in encrypted form. The business editions add LDAP, SAML and OIDC single sign-on, audit logging and policies.
- Gateway for SSH, RDP and VNC
- The business editions include a gateway for opening remote sessions to servers and desktops.
- Apps on every platform
- Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari, desktop builds, Android and iOS apps, a web client and a command-line tool.
Plans
KeePassXC
Free$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
Psono
Open Source$0
Free community edition with unlimited users, password sharing, a generator and multifactor login. You host it yourself.
Free business version$0
Full feature set, including SSO, audit logging, policies and the SSH/RDP/VNC gateway, free for up to 10 users.
Business version$3
per user / month, billed annually, min. 25 users
Everything in the free business version for larger companies, with an optional extended support package quoted on request.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, KeePassXC or Psono?
As of Nov 12, 2026, KeePassXC is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $3 a month for each person for Psono. KeePassXC is free, and Psono starts at $3 per user / month, billed annually (minimum 25 users).
Which has a free plan, KeePassXC or Psono?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both KeePassXC and Psono have a free plan.
Which platforms do KeePassXC and Psono run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Psono 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.