The KeePassXC Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about KeePassXC 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.
KeePassXC
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source offline password manager for desktop
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among password managers, read from KeePassXC’s own pages.
Made by KeePassXC Team · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02Insider tipsWhat most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
- 03What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 04What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 05Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from KeePassXC’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on KeePassXC’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
KeePassXC is a free, open-source password manager for Windows, macOS and Linux that keeps usernames, passwords, attachments and notes in an encrypted database file on your own computer. Nothing is stored on the project's servers; to use a database on several machines you put the file in a sync service of your choice. A companion browser extension fills logins, and the app also handles one-time codes, passkeys and SSH keys.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about KeePassXC, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for offline passwords on Windows, Mac and Linux
It stops at the desktop: there's no phone app and no sync, so both are yours to sort out with other apps and a cloud folder.
- 2
It is free
KeePassXC has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux, with a browser extension too.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
Passkeys
Supports passkeys through the browser integration; the user guide covers creating a new passkey and logging in with one.
- 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
KeePassXC is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
KeePassXC at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, Browser extension
- Made by
- KeePassXC Team
- Category
- Password Managers
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for offline passwords on Windows, Mac and Linux
KeePassXC is a free, open-source password manager that keeps your vault in a file on your own computer, with the same app on Windows, macOS and Linux and a browser extension that fills logins in. It stops at the desktop: there's no phone app and no sync, so both are yours to sort out with other apps and a cloud folder. KeePass 2 plugins don't work, and current builds need macOS 12 or 64-bit Windows 10.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full desktop app and the KeePassXC-Browser extension both cost nothing. No paid tier, no account and nothing held back. |
| Features | C | The 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. |
| Ease of use | C | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Computers 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. |
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 KeePassXC is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Tips
Insider tips
What most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
7
Things most people miss, each from its own help pages
The things about KeePassXC that are easy to miss until they cost you: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches at renewal or when you leave. Each one is from KeePassXC’s own pages, linked beside it.
Read on Oct 17, 2026. Read from KeePassXC's user guide (backups, merging, importing, exporting and keyboard shortcuts) and its FAQ on 17 October 2026. Not tried out: these tips are what its own pages say.
- 1
Setting
Have it copy your database every time it saves
Next to the save options in Tools → Settings, give it a backup destination and KeePassXC copies the old file just before each save. A name like {DB_FILENAME}-{TIME}.bak.kdbx keeps a dated copy each time. Database → Save Database Backup does one on demand.
keepassxc.org - 2
Easy to miss
Dropbox made a conflicted copy? Merge it, don't pick one
Since sync is up to your cloud folder, two machines can save at once. Database → Merge From Database pulls the other file in: matching entries keep the newest version, with the older one moved to history, and new entries are added. Its guide says it's made for exactly these conflict files.
keepassxc.org - 3
Privacy
Sync the database, but carry the key file by hand
The FAQ says to sync only the .kdbx file and move a key file to your other computers another way, like a USB stick. Keep a backup of it too: lose the key file and you lose the database. A YubiKey is the same, so program a spare with the same secret.
keepassxc.org - 4
Privacy
Keep your one-time codes in a second database
KeePassXC will happily hold 2FA codes next to the passwords, but its FAQ agrees that undermines two-factor when both sit in one file. Still better than no 2FA, it says, but for the full benefit put the TOTP secrets in a separate database with a different password.
keepassxc.org - 5
Easy to miss
Coming from 1Password, Bitwarden or Proton Pass? Import it whole
Database → Import opens a wizard that reads a 1Password .1pux or vault, a Bitwarden export, a Proton Pass export or a plain CSV, into a new database or one you have open. Most of those export files aren't encrypted, so the guide says to securely delete them straight after.
keepassxc.org - 6
Shortcut
Ctrl+B for the username, Ctrl+C for the password, Ctrl+T for the code
With an entry picked, Ctrl+B copies the username, Ctrl+C the password, Ctrl+T the one-time code and Ctrl+Y the password and code together. Ctrl+Shift+V types it into the last window, and Ctrl+L locks the database. Use Cmd instead of Ctrl on a Mac.
keepassxc.org - 7
Leaving
A CSV export leaves your attachments and extra fields behind
The guide says CSV exports skip attachments, advanced attributes, Auto-Type settings and custom icons, and XML skips attachments. Every export is unencrypted, so don't leave it lying around. HTML is meant for printing a paper backup, then deleting the file.
keepassxc.org
Part 03 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
KeePassXC is free to use.
The team takes donations to cover its costs.
Free
$0
The full desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus the KeePassXC-Browser extension.
The 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.
Read from keepassxc.org on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 04 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux and Browser extension
Free, open-source offline password manager for desktop. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, password manager, passkeys.
But the project names two holes in the basics: no mobile app, and no sync of any kind.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Firefox
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Vivaldi
- Brave
- Tor Browser
- YubiKey
- OnlyKey
Who makes KeePassXC
KeePassXC is made by the KeePassXC Team, a group of open-source developers who release it free under the GPLv3, as a fork of KeePassX. It has no paid plans: donations through PayPal, Patreon, GitHub Sponsors and other services cover costs such as servers, build tools and code-signing certificates.
- Based
- An international teamkeepassxc.org
- Ownership
- Community project. An open-source project released under the GPLv3 by the KeePassXC Team, whose members its team page lists by their GitHub names. Its pages name no company behind it.keepassxc.org
- Funding
- Paid for by donations, according to its donate page: PayPal, Patreon, GitHub Sponsors for three of its developers, SEPA and Wero transfers, LiberaPay, Open Collective and cryptocurrencies. It says the money covers its server, development tools, build agents, code-signing certificates and macOS developer fees.keepassxc.org
- Founders and leaders
- droidmonkey, Member of the KeePassXC Teamkeepassxc.org
- phoerious, Member of the KeePassXC Teamkeepassxc.org
- varjolintu, Member of the KeePassXC Teamkeepassxc.org
- hifi, Member of the KeePassXC Teamkeepassxc.org
- Lately
- KeePassXC 2.8.0 (Beta 1) released · Sep 23, 2026
- KeePassXC 2.7.12 released · Mar 10, 2026
- KeePassXC 2.7.11 released · Nov 24, 2025
- About KeePassXC’s Code Quality Control · Nov 9, 2025
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 05 · 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
KeePassXC'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).
KeePassXC 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. KeePassXC’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. KeePassXC 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
KeePassXC 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.
- Passkeys, which rest on security you cannot improvise.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge among them.
What this rests on. KeePassXC’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 06 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
KeePass, Strongbox, Bitwarden, Enpass and Proton Pass
The 5 tools KeePassXC is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
KeePass
Free
Free, open-source password manager for Windows with plugins.
- 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 KeePassXC lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Strongbox lists an iOS app.
- KeePassXC is open source, according to its own site.
- 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.
- Bitwarden is self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 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.
- KeePassXC is open source, according to its own site.
- Enpass can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 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.
- Proton Pass is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
Part 07 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 KeePassXC free?
Yes. KeePassXC is free to use.
How much does KeePassXC cost?
KeePassXC lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does KeePassXC work on?
KeePassXC is available on macOS, Windows and Linux. It also has a browser extension.
Does KeePassXC have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. KeePassXC is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does KeePassXC have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. KeePassXC is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is KeePassXC open source?
Yes. KeePassXC is open source, according to its own site.
Does KeePassXC 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.
What does KeePassXC integrate with?
KeePassXC's listing names Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Vivaldi, Brave, Tor Browser, YubiKey and OnlyKey.
Who makes KeePassXC?
KeePassXC is made by KeePassXC Team. An open-source project released under the GPLv3 by the KeePassXC Team, whose members its team page lists by their GitHub names.
What are the alternatives to KeePassXC?
The closest alternatives to KeePassXC in our directory are KeePass, Strongbox, Bitwarden, Enpass and Proton Pass.
How does KeePassXC compare with other password managers?
KeePassXC's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 4 of the 17 other password managers we grade, and level with 5.
Is KeePassXC good value for money?
ToolGPA grades KeePassXC A for value for money. KeePassXC has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of KeePassXC?
KeePassXC 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 KeePassXC’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 KeePassXC's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-01-23.
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 KeePassXC Team. Prices change, so check keepassxc.org before you buy.
Part 08 · 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
- KeePassXC, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/keepassxc
- 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, "KeePassXC: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/keepassxc
Know someone choosing between password managers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/keepassxc/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded password managers after KeePassXC, 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 KeePassXC’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. KeePassXC is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by KeePassXC Team. Prices and plans change: check keepassxc.org before you buy.