Alternatives to KeePass
The original open source KDBX password safe
KeePass ranks #14 of 14 in Password managers, with an Alt Score of 45. It is licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later, donationware from Free and available on Windows, macOS and Linux. 13 of 14 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Technical users and privacy-conscious individuals who want full local control over their password data rather than trusting a cloud-based vendor — common among IT professionals, developers, and Windows power users.
A single encrypted .kdbx database file protected by a master password (and optional key file), using AES-256, ChaCha20, or Twofish encryption. It stores logins, notes, and other secrets locally with no cloud sync by default, supports a plugin ecosystem for extra functionality like browser autofill or cloud backup, and its open-source code is publicly auditable. The core app is Windows-native, with numerous community-built ports (KeePassXC, KeePassDX, MacPass, etc.) for other platforms.
You create a database file secured by a master password, then add and organize entries (username, password, URL, notes) inside it; unlocking the database with the master key gives access to copy credentials into other apps or browsers as needed.
Why people leave KeePass
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Password managers checklist (18 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Password managers checklist | KeePass | Psono | Keeper | Proton Pass | Zoho Vault | RoboForm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| E2E encryption (zero-knowledge) | ||||||
| Passkey support | ||||||
| TOTP / 2FA codes storage | ||||||
| Browser autofill | ||||||
| Secure sharing | ||||||
| Emergency access | ||||||
| Breach monitoring | ||||||
| Hardware key support (FIDO2) | ||||||
| Offline vault access | ||||||
| Self-hostable server | ||||||
| Family / team vaults | ||||||
| Password health report | ||||||
| CLI | ||||||
| Third-party security audit published |
Every fact and feature listed for KeePass is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Starts at Free verified 2026-07-08
KeePass free and you have full access to its source code!
https://keepass.info/features.html -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux verified 2026-07-08
Supported operating systems: Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / 11, Mono (Linux, MacOS, BSD, ...).
https://keepass.info/download.html -
Status active verified 2026-07-08
Inferred from current release + 2026 copyright; no explicit status label.
KeePass 2.61.1
https://keepass.info/download.html -
Pricing model Donationware verified 2026-07-08
No paid tier; product fully free, development donation-supported.
Donations to KeePass support the development of the project.
https://keepass.info/donate.html -
License GPL-2.0-or-later verified 2026-07-08
The program is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 or later.
https://keepass.info/help/v2/license.html -
E2E encryption (zero-knowledge) Yes verified 2026-07-08
Local vault file, no server; page doesn't use the term 'zero-knowledge'.
The complete database is encrypted, not only the password fields.
https://keepass.info/features.html -
Passkey support No verified 2026-07-08
Only via third-party plugin, not built into core KeePass.
KeePassPasskey ... Stores/retrieves passkeys in/from KeePass.
https://keepass.info/plugins.html -
TOTP / 2FA codes storage Yes verified 2026-07-08
'Copy Time-Based OTP', 'Show Time-Based OTP'
https://keepass.info/help/base/placeholders.html -
Browser autofill No verified 2026-07-08
Browser integration is plugin-only; core offers OS-level Auto-Type, not a native extension.
Kee connects your web browser to KeePass. It requires KeePassRPC.
https://keepass.info/plugins.html -
Secure sharing No verified 2026-07-08
There are no per-group or per-entry access control lists (ACLs).
https://keepass.info/help/base/multiuser.html -
Emergency access No verified 2026-07-08
No trusted-contact emergency access feature documented.
There are no per-group or per-entry access control lists (ACLs).
https://keepass.info/help/base/multiuser.html -
Breach monitoring No verified 2026-07-08
Breach checking is plugin-only, not built into core KeePass.
Breach/Leak Checkers ... HaveIBeenPwned
https://keepass.info/plugins.html -
Hardware key support (FIDO2) Partial verified 2026-07-08
Only YubiKey HMAC-SHA1 challenge-response via plugin; not FIDO2/WebAuthn, not in core.
YubiKey challenge-response authentication is supported ... provided by the KeeChallenge plugin.
https://keepass.info/plugins.html -
Offline vault access Yes verified 2026-07-08
A password database consists of only one file that can be transferred from one computer to another easily.
https://keepass.info/features.html -
Self-hostable server No verified 2026-07-08
a centralized Internet server currently is out of range
https://keepass.info/help/base/faq.html -
Family / team vaults Partial verified 2026-07-08
Single shared database with one master key, no per-user permissions.
multiple users working with one database, which is typically stored on a shared network drive
https://keepass.info/help/base/multiuser.html -
Password health report Partial verified 2026-07-08
Per-entry strength estimate, not a consolidated health report.
For estimating the quality/strength of a password, KeePass ... has a built-in list of common passwords and checks for patterns.
https://keepass.info/help/base/faq_tech.html -
CLI Yes verified 2026-07-08
Command Line Options. Command line options to automate KeePass tasks.
https://keepass.info/help/base/cmdline.html
FAQ
Yes. Proton Pass, Zoho Vault and RoboForm have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Psono, Proton Pass and Padloc — every license claim links its source.