KeePassXC vs Strongbox

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

Strongbox

• iPhone, iPad and Mac users who keep passwords in KeePass-format files
• People who want to decide where their password database is stored
• Buyers who prefer a one-off lifetime purchase to a subscription

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.

Strongbox

• Strongbox runs on Apple devices only; using the same database elsewhere takes another KeePass-compatible app.
• The App Store listing does not itemize which features are limited to Pro. It describes the free version as a basic feature set.
• The source code is published for inspection, but the developers say it does not meet the OSI definition of open source and do not accept contributions.
• Prices here are from the US App Store; the listing says an upfront purchase option is also described on the Strongbox website.

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.

Strongbox

KeePass and Password Safe formats

Reads and writes the open KeePass (KDB and KDBX 3.1 and 4) and Password Safe 3 formats, so an existing database can be opened and stays portable to other apps.

Your choice of storage

Databases can live in iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive, on a WebDAV or SFTP server, or only on the device, and cloud databases stay usable offline.

Face ID, Touch ID and YubiKey

Unlocks with Face ID or Touch ID, or with a PIN code that has a duress PIN option, and can protect databases with a YubiKey hardware token.

Passkeys and one-time codes

Supports passkeys and generates two-factor TOTP codes, which can be set up from a QR code or entered manually.

Password audit

Checks a database for weak passwords automatically and includes a 'Have I Been Pwned?' check for passwords found in breaches.

Browser AutoFill extension

The Strongbox AutoFill extension for Chrome, Chromium and Firefox fills usernames, passwords and authentication codes from your Strongbox databases.

KeePassXC

• Free$0

  The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.

Strongbox

• Free$0

  The basic feature set of the freemium app. The App Store listing does not itemize which features are reserved for Pro.

• Strongbox Pro (Monthly)$2.99

  per month (US App Store in-app purchase)

  All the Pro features as an auto-renewing monthly subscription. A 3-monthly term is also mentioned in the listing.

• Strongbox Pro (Yearly)$24.99

  per year (US App Store in-app purchase)

  All the Pro features, billed yearly. The listing also shows a yearly entry at $19.99.

• Strongbox Pro (Lifetime)$99.99

  one-time (US App Store)

  A one-off purchase of Pro, either in the app or as the separate Strongbox Pro app, which supports Family Sharing.

• Strongbox Zero$99.99

  one-time (US App Store)

  A separate app for local-only databases, built without any of the networking code.

KeePassXC

No public discounts listed.

Strongbox

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Pro for a one-off $99.99

  Strongbox Pro (Lifetime) costs $99.99 once, as an in-app purchase or as the separate Strongbox Pro app, which supports Family Sharing. A macOS-only build is listed at $44.99.

• Annual discount

  About 30% less on the yearly plan

  Strongbox Pro is $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year on the US App Store. Twelve monthly payments come to $35.88, so the yearly plan costs about 30% less.