The Strongbox Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Strongbox 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.
Strongbox
The Insider’s Guide
KeePass-compatible password manager for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among password managers, read from Strongbox’s own pages.
Made by Phoebe Code Limited · 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 Strongbox’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Strongbox’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
3.0
GPA, above 10 of the 17 other password managers we grade
Strongbox is a native password manager for iPhone, iPad and Mac that works with the open KeePass and Password Safe database formats. Databases are stored where you choose: in iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive, on a WebDAV or SFTP server, or only on the device. The app is free with a basic feature set, and Pro features are sold as a subscription or a one-off lifetime purchase.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Strongbox, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You do pick where the database lives first, but it's a choice from a list, and cloud databases keep working offline.
- 1
Best for KeePass password files on iPhone, iPad and Mac
It's Apple only, so Windows, Linux or Android need a different app for the same file.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.08 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $2.99 per month or $24.99 per year (Pro, US App Store in-app price).
- 3
There is a free plan
The app is free with a basic feature set on iPhone, iPad and Mac. The developer says most people find the free version adequate; Pro features are an optional upgrade.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and macOS, with a browser extension too.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 3.0 GPA, above 10 of 17
That is against the other password managers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Strongbox you would be making a password vault, the last thing anyone should make for themselves. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Strongbox at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $2.99 per month or $24.99 per year (Pro, US App Store in-app price)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Optional 90-day free trial of all the Pro features
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS, Browser extension
- Made by
- Phoebe Code Limited
- Category
- Password Managers
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 4,070 ratings
The report card
Best for KeePass password files on iPhone, iPad and Mac
Strongbox opens KeePass password files on iPhone, iPad and Mac with Face ID, fills logins in, and stores the file wherever you choose, from iCloud to your own server. It's Apple only, so Windows, Linux or Android need a different app for the same file. The App Store listing never says what Pro adds over the free version, it shows two different yearly prices, and the code isn't open source by the OSI definition.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Pro is $24.99 a year on the US App Store, about $2.08 a month, inside the lowest-priced quarter of this category. Monthly is $2.99, the category's middle. Lifetime at $99.99 is four years of the yearly price, and the listing never itemizes what Pro includes. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The app is free with what Strongbox calls a basic feature set, and the developer reckons most people find that enough, so you could live on it. The catch is that the App Store listing never says which features are held for Pro. There's an optional 90-day trial. |
| Features | B | Nothing the category expects is missing: KeePass and Password Safe files read and written, Face ID, Touch ID or a YubiKey to unlock, a duress PIN, passkeys, two-factor codes, a Have I Been Pwned check and a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox. Storage is yours to pick, which also means yours to arrange. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.73 from about 4,100 App Store ratings, the top band here. You do pick where the database lives first, but it's a choice from a list, and cloud databases keep working offline. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Apple only: iPhone, iPad and Mac. It stores to iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, WebDAV or SFTP, but on Windows, Linux or Android you'd need a different KeePass app to open the same file. |
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 Strongbox is for
- Fits if your passwords already live in a KeePass file and you want them on an iPhone and a Mac
- Works for keeping the file where you choose, including on the device and nowhere else
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you also use Windows or Android, as Strongbox itself is Apple only
- Not for you if you want sharing and sync handled for you, because storage is yours to arrange
- Tight if you need to know what's free before you start, since the App Store listing doesn't say what Pro holds back
- Pricey if you go lifetime, at $99.99, four years of the $24.99 yearly price
- Watch out: the code is published but isn't open source by the OSI definition, and yearly Pro is listed at both $24.99 and $19.99
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.08
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Strongbox has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.99 per month or $24.99 per year (Pro, US App Store in-app price).
The catch is that the App Store listing never says which features are held for Pro.
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.
The free plan
The app is free with a basic feature set on iPhone, iPad and Mac. The developer says most people find the free version adequate; Pro features are an optional upgrade.
Trying it first
Optional 90-day free trial of all the Pro features
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on apps.apple.comAnnual 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.
Stated on apps.apple.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Strongbox Pro (Yearly)”, against $24.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺899,99 | $18.30 | 27% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 1,290.00 | $20.53 | 18% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 399ribu | $22.31 | 11% less |
| Canada | $34.99 | $24.60 | about the same |
| Australia | $39.99 | $27.92 | 12% more |
| Germany | 24,99 € | $28.00 | 12% more |
| South Africa | R499.99 | $30.24 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £24.99 | $33.04 | 32% more |
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, iOS and Browser extension
KeePass-compatible password manager for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, one-time purchase, password manager, passkeys.
Storage is yours to pick, which also means yours to arrange.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
- Browser extension
What it works with
- iCloud
- Dropbox
- OneDrive
- Google Drive
- WebDAV
- SFTP
- YubiKey
- Have I Been Pwned
Strongbox is made by Phoebe Code Limited.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
10/17
Other password managers it is graded above
Strongbox's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 10 of the 17 other password managers we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 10 of 17) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $2.08 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.59 for the category: 4 of the 13 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 18 password managers we grade, cut by the letter each got. Strongbox’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 7 of 17
- BFree plan and trialAbove 8 of 17
- BFeaturesAbove 8 of 17
- AEase of useAbove 10 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. Strongbox 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
To replace Strongbox you would be making a password vault, the last thing anyone should make for themselves. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $24.99 a year.
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 and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, iCloud, Dropbox and OneDrive among them.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Strongbox’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, KeePass, Enpass, Apple Passwords and 1Password
The 5 tools Strongbox 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 Strongbox lists an iOS app.
- Only KeePassXC lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Strongbox can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
KeePass
Free
Free, open-source password manager for Windows with plugins.
- Only Strongbox lists an iOS app.
- Only Strongbox lists a browser extension.
- Only KeePass lists Windows and Linux apps.
- 2.6GPA
Enpass
Free plan · from $23.99/yr
Password manager that keeps vaults in your own cloud storage.
- Only Enpass lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- 3.4GPA
Apple Passwords
Free
Apple's free password and passkey app for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Only Apple Passwords lists a Windows app.
- Strongbox can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Apple Passwords is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
1Password
Free trial · from $3.99/mo
Password manager for individuals, families and businesses.
- Strongbox has a free plan. 1Password does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only 1Password lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Strongbox can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
16
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 Strongbox free?
Strongbox has a free plan. The app is free with a basic feature set on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
How much does Strongbox cost?
Strongbox lists 5 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Strongbox work on?
Strongbox is available on iOS and macOS. It also has a browser extension.
Does Strongbox offer any discounts?
Strongbox publicly lists the following: Lifetime Pro for a one-off $99.99; About 30% less on the yearly plan.
How is Strongbox rated?
Strongbox's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4,070 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Strongbox have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Strongbox is listed for iOS and macOS.
Does Strongbox have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Strongbox is listed for iOS and macOS.
Is Strongbox open source?
Strongbox is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Strongbox 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 Strongbox integrate with?
Strongbox's listing names iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, WebDAV, SFTP, YubiKey and Have I Been Pwned.
Does Strongbox have a free trial?
Yes. Optional 90-day free trial of all the Pro features.
Who makes Strongbox?
Strongbox is made by Phoebe Code Limited.
What are the alternatives to Strongbox?
The closest alternatives to Strongbox in our directory are KeePassXC, KeePass, Enpass, Apple Passwords and 1Password.
How does Strongbox compare with other password managers?
Strongbox's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 10 of the 17 other password managers we grade, and level with 1.
Is Strongbox good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Strongbox B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.08 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.59 for the category: 4 of the 13 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Strongbox?
To replace Strongbox you would be making a password vault, the last thing anyone should make for themselves.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Strongbox’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 Strongbox's own App Store listings and its README on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-05.
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 Phoebe Code Limited. Prices change, so check strongboxsafe.com before you buy.
- apps.apple.com/us/app/strongbox-password-manager/id897283731
- apps.apple.com/us/app/strongbox-pro/id1481853033
- apps.apple.com/us/app/strongbox-zero/id1581589638
- apps.apple.com/us/app/strongbox-pro-non-universal/id1500040999?mt=12
- raw.githubusercontent.com/strongbox-password-safe/Strongbox/master/README.md
- chromewebstore.google.com/detail/strongbox-autofill/mnilpkfepdibngheginihjpknnopchbn
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
- Strongbox, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/strongbox
- 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, "Strongbox: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/strongbox
Know someone choosing between password managers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/strongbox/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded password managers after Strongbox, 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 Strongbox’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. Strongbox is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Phoebe Code Limited. Prices and plans change: check strongboxsafe.com before you buy.