The KeePass Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about KeePass in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
KeePass
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source password manager for Windows with plugins
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among password managers, read from KeePass’s own pages.
Made by Dominik Reichl · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from KeePass’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on KeePass’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 4 of the 17 other password managers we grade
KeePass is a free, open-source password manager for Windows written by Dominik Reichl. It keeps all passwords in a single encrypted database file locked with a master key, runs from a USB stick without installation and can be extended with plugins. Version 2.x also runs on Linux and macOS through Mono, and contributed ports cover Android and iOS.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about KeePass, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, and this one asks something of you.
- 1
Best for a free password file you keep yourself on Windows
It's a Windows program first: Linux and macOS run it through Mono, and the phone apps are unofficial ports.
- 2
It is free
KeePass has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under the GPL, for personal and company use, with no fees. The author accepts donations.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, Linux and macOS.
- 4
Encrypted database file
All entries live in one database file encrypted with AES-256 or ChaCha20. The complete database is encrypted, including user names and notes, not only the passwords.
- 5
Master password, key file or both
A database opens with a master password, a key file or the two combined. KeePass 2.x can also lock a database to the current Windows user account.
- 6
Auto-Type
Types an entry's details into dialogs and web forms with a customizable sequence, and a global hot key finds the matching entry while KeePass runs in the background.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 4 of 17
That is against the other password managers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
KeePass is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
KeePass at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Dominik Reichl, since 2003
- Category
- Password Managers
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free password file you keep yourself on Windows
KeePass keeps your passwords in one encrypted file on your own computer, with no account and no company holding them, and it's free and open source. It's a Windows program first: Linux and macOS run it through Mono, and the phone apps are unofficial ports. There's no sync service, so keeping that file in step across devices is your job, and Windows Hello or two-factor codes need other people's plugins.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the GPL, for personal and company use alike, where paid password managers here start at $2.49 a month and sit at $2.99 in the middle. The author takes donations and that's it. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Everything is free: both editions, the installer, the portable ZIP and the full source code. No paid tier, no account and no cap to walk into. |
| Features | C | The database side covers AES-256 or ChaCha20, a master password, key file or both, Auto-Type to fill logins, and import from 35-odd formats. But its own FAQ shows the holes. No hosted sync, no passkeys on record, and Windows Hello unlock and two-factor codes come from other people's plugins. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and this one asks something of you. On Windows it runs without being installed, but Auto-Type sequences are yours to set up, half the conveniences are plugins, and a second device means keeping copies of the file in step by hand. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Computers only. Windows officially, with Linux and macOS running version 2.x through Mono, and the Android and iOS apps are unofficial ports by other people. No hosted sync, no browser extension and no integrations listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who KeePass is for
- Fits if you're on Windows and want a free password manager with no account
- Works for carrying passwords on a USB stick, since it runs from one and creates no registry keys
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want passwords on your phone without fuss, as the mobile apps are unofficial ports
- Not for you if you expect sync to just happen, because there's no hosted service
- Too light for people who want Windows Hello or two-factor codes built in, since those need plugins
- Tight if you're on a Mac or Linux, where it runs through Mono rather than as a native app
- Watch out: KeePass 1.x is in maintenance only, and no passkeys or browser extension are on record
Good to know
Good for
- Windows users who want a free password manager that needs no account
- People who carry their password database on a USB stick
- Technical users who want to extend a password manager with plugins
Worth knowing
- The official program is built for Windows. On Linux and macOS it runs through Mono, and the Android and iOS apps are unofficial contributed ports.
- There is no hosted sync service: you keep copies of the database in step yourself, for example through a cloud-storage folder.
- Extras such as Windows Hello unlock, one-time-password keys and additional ciphers rely on third-party plugins.
- KeePass 1.x is in maintenance only; the site says to use 2.x if in doubt.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
KeePass is free to use.
The author takes donations and that's it.
Free
$0
Both editions, KeePass 1.x and 2.x, as an installer or a portable ZIP package, with the full source code.
The free plan
Free and open source under the GPL, for personal and company use, with no fees. The author accepts donations.
Read from keepass.info on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free, open-source password manager for Windows with plugins. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, password manager.
No hosted sync, no passkeys on record, and Windows Hello unlock and two-factor codes come from other people's plugins.
- Encrypted database file
- All entries live in one database file encrypted with AES-256 or ChaCha20. The complete database is encrypted, including user names and notes, not only the passwords.
- Master password, key file or both
- A database opens with a master password, a key file or the two combined. KeePass 2.x can also lock a database to the current Windows user account.
- Auto-Type
- Types an entry's details into dialogs and web forms with a customizable sequence, and a global hot key finds the matching entry while KeePass runs in the background.
- Portable
- Runs from a USB stick without being installed, creates no registry keys and keeps its settings inside its own directory.
- Plugins
- A plugin architecture lets other developers add functions such as extra import and export formats, more encryption algorithms and additional key sources.
- Synchronization and import
- KeePass 2.x merges changes made in several copies of a database, including files reached over FTP, HTTP or WebDAV, and imports more than 35 formats out of the box.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
KeePass is made by Dominik Reichl, and has been around since 2003.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
4/17
Other password managers it is graded above
KeePass's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 4 of the 17 other password managers we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 12 of 17) and worst on features (C, above 0).
KeePass has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 18 password managers we grade, cut by the letter each got. KeePass’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 12 of 17
- AFree plan and trialAbove 12 of 17
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 17
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 17
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 17
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 18 password managers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. KeePass is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
KeePass is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 8 of the 17 other password managers grade higher.
What you could not
- A password vault, the last thing anyone should make for themselves.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. KeePass’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
KeePassXC, Strongbox, Bitwarden, Enpass and Proton Pass
The 5 tools KeePass is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
KeePassXC
Free
Free, open-source offline password manager for desktop.
- Only KeePassXC lists a browser extension.
- KeePassXC also covers passkeys.
- 3.0GPA
Strongbox
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
KeePass-compatible password manager for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Only KeePass lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Strongbox lists an iOS app.
- Only Strongbox lists a browser extension.
- 3.8GPA
Bitwarden
Free plan · from $1.65/mo
Open-source password manager with a free plan and self-hosting.
- Only Bitwarden lists a web app.
- Only Bitwarden lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Bitwarden lists a browser extension.
- 2.6GPA
Enpass
Free plan · from $23.99/yr
Password manager that keeps vaults in your own cloud storage.
- Only Enpass lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Enpass lists a browser extension.
- KeePass is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Proton Pass
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
End-to-end encrypted password manager with email aliases.
- Only Proton Pass lists a web app.
- Only Proton Pass lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Proton Pass lists a browser extension.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is KeePass free?
Yes. KeePass is free to use.
How much does KeePass cost?
KeePass lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does KeePass work on?
KeePass is available on Windows, Linux and macOS.
Does KeePass have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. KeePass is listed for Windows, Linux and macOS.
Does KeePass have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. KeePass is listed for Windows, Linux and macOS.
Is KeePass open source?
Yes. KeePass is open source, according to its own site.
Does KeePass work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes KeePass?
KeePass is made by Dominik Reichl. It dates from 2003.
What are the alternatives to KeePass?
The closest alternatives to KeePass in our directory are KeePassXC, Strongbox, Bitwarden, Enpass and Proton Pass.
How does KeePass compare with other password managers?
KeePass's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 4 of the 17 other password managers we grade, and level with 5.
Is KeePass good value for money?
ToolGPA grades KeePass A for value for money. KeePass has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of KeePass?
KeePass is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from KeePass’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from KeePass's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-27.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Dominik Reichl. Prices change, so check keepass.info before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- KeePass, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/keepass
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "KeePass: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/keepass
Know someone choosing between password managers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/keepass/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded password managers after KeePass, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Password Managers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 18 password managers we grade, compared
- Bitwarden Insider's GuideOpen-source password manager with a free plan and self-hosting3.8 GPA
- Apple Passwords Insider's GuideApple's free password and passkey app for iPhone, iPad and Mac3.4 GPA
- RoboForm Insider's GuidePassword manager and form filler with a single-device free plan3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what KeePass’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. KeePass is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Dominik Reichl. Prices and plans change: check keepass.info before you buy.