Comparison
Bitwarden vs KeePassXC
Cloud-synced convenience against fully offline control — both open source, both free, two very different philosophies.
Choose Bitwarden if
Choose Bitwarden if you want passwords on every device without thinking about file sync — the encrypted cloud does the work.
Bitwarden Trust Report ›Choose KeePassXC if
Choose KeePassXC if you want zero dependence on any server: maximum control, in exchange for managing sync yourself.
KeePassXC Trust Report ›| Model | ||
| Sync | Built-in Encrypted cloud sync | Manual You move the file |
| Account required | Yes | — No account, no server |
| Self-hosting | Optional | N/A Nothing to host |
| Security & transparency | ||
| Source model | Open source AGPL-3.0 | Open source GPL-3.0 |
| Attack surface | Server + client | Local only One encrypted file |
| Trackers in app | 0 | 0 |
The bottom line
Choose Bitwarden if
Choose Bitwarden if you want passwords on every device without thinking about file sync — the encrypted cloud does the work.
Choose KeePassXC if
Choose KeePassXC if you want zero dependence on any server: maximum control, in exchange for managing sync yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Bitwarden and KeePassXC?
Cloud-synced convenience against fully offline control — both open source, both free, two very different philosophies. In short: choose Bitwarden if choose Bitwarden if you want passwords on every device without thinking about file sync — the encrypted cloud does the work. Choose KeePassXC if choose KeePassXC if you want zero dependence on any server: maximum control, in exchange for managing sync yourself.
Is Bitwarden or KeePassXC cheaper?
At our last review, Bitwarden is listed at “Free · Premium $1.65/mo” and KeePassXC at “Free”. Pricing is recorded as published by each developer and re-checked when the report is refreshed.
Which of Bitwarden and KeePassXC supports more platforms?
Bitwarden runs on Windows · macOS · Linux · iOS 15+ · Android. KeePassXC runs on macOS 12+ · Windows 10+ · Linux.
Are Bitwarden and KeePassXC both safe to use?
Both carry an independent Altapp Trust Report. Bitwarden: 8/9 of nine checks verified, last full review Jul 17, 2026. KeePassXC: 8/9 of nine checks verified, last full review Jul 17, 2026. Each covers source verification, data and permissions, and known risks. Altapp publishes no score of its own — the count is a tally of what could be independently confirmed.