KeePassXC vs Safe (SafeInCloud) (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick KeePassXC: it is third in our ranking of password managers, though Safe (SafeInCloud) grades higher (3.0 against 2.8) on features, ease of use and platforms.
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 and the free plan.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Safe (SafeInCloud)
Password and passkey manager that keeps the vault in your own storage
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 Safe (SafeInCloud) if
- Fits if you want your vault in your own Dropbox, iCloud or OneDrive
- Works for people who use a phone and a computer
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: prices are set inside the app, so the ones shown may differ from what you see
- Watch out: the site does not list what the free version limits
- Watch out: the App Store lists more than one price for the same subscription names
- Skip it if you want a family or lifetime price on the page, as those are shown only in the app
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAKeePassXCGood | 3.0GPASafe (SafeInCloud)Very 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. | B$23.99 a year on the US App Store, inside the cheaper quarter of password managers. The App Store also lists $29.99 a year and $4.99 a month. |
| 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. | CFree to download with a 14-day Premium trial, but the site does not list what the free version limits. |
| 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. | BPasswords, passkeys, an authenticator, breach checks, autofill, biometric login, multiple vaults and imports. No gap is shown 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. | A4.8 from about 2,700 App Store ratings, with nothing to configure beyond choosing where the vault is stored. |
| 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. | BAndroid, iOS, Windows and Mac, with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud and WebDAV. No web app or browser extension is listed. |
| Best for | offline passwords on Windows, Mac and Linux | a vault kept in your own cloud storage |
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 Safe (SafeInCloud). 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. Safe (SafeInCloud) starts at $2 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.3.
Safe (SafeInCloud) 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 1 scores higher than Safe (SafeInCloud) 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 is open source, according to its own site.
- Safe (SafeInCloud) can be bought with a one-time purchase.
At a glance
| KeePassXC | Safe (SafeInCloud) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $23.99 per year (Individual subscription, as the App Store lists it) |
| 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. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day free trial of Premium |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | KeePassXC Team | SafeInCloud SAS |
| Price read from | keepassxc.org | apps.apple.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.
Safe (SafeInCloud)
- Prices are set in the app, so the figures here come from the US App Store listing and may differ from what you see.
- The site does not list what the free version limits, so check the app before relying on it.
- A 6-person family license (about 30% more than individual) and a lifetime license exist; prices are shown only in the app.
- The App Store listing carries more than one price for the same subscription names.
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.
Safe (SafeInCloud)
- Vault in your own storage
- Backs up automatically to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud or WebDAV (cloud or NAS), not to the vendor's servers.
- Passwords and passkeys
- Stores passkeys next to passwords and syncs both across your devices, with AES-256 encryption and PBKDF2.
- Built-in authenticator
- Generates one-time codes for services that support two-factor login, so no separate authenticator app is needed.
- Breach and password checks
- Checks logins against known data breaches using Have I Been Pwned, and flags weak or reused passwords.
- Autofill and biometric login
- Fills logins in apps and browsers, and unlocks with a fingerprint or Face ID.
- Multiple vaults and imports
- Keep separate vaults for personal, family and work use, and import data from other password managers.
Plans
KeePassXC
Free$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
Safe (SafeInCloud)
Individual subscription$23.99
per year; the App Store also lists $29.99 a year and $4.99 a month
Premium for one person; the app is free to download and the exact free-version limits are not listed on the site.
Ways to pay less
KeePassXC
No public discounts listed.
Safe (SafeInCloud)
- Lifetime license
Lifetime license instead of a subscription
The site says a one-time lifetime license is available as an alternative to subscriptions; its price is shown in the app.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, KeePassXC or Safe (SafeInCloud)?
As of Nov 12, 2026, KeePassXC is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $2 a month when paid by the year for Safe (SafeInCloud). KeePassXC is free, and Safe (SafeInCloud) starts at $23.99 per year (Individual subscription, as the App Store lists it).
Which has a free plan, KeePassXC or Safe (SafeInCloud)?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only KeePassXC has a free plan. Safe (SafeInCloud) does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do KeePassXC and Safe (SafeInCloud) run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only KeePassXC lists a Linux app and a browser extension and only Safe (SafeInCloud) lists iOS and Android apps. Both list macOS and Windows 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.