KeePass vs Bitwarden: offline file or cloud vault?

KeePass vs Bitwarden comparison table

Sources: keepass.info, bitwarden.com, and our own measurements of the official KeePass 2.61.1 files (checksums here).

The real difference: who holds your vault

Every other difference follows from one design decision. KeePass never transmits anything: your database is a file, and the only copies that exist are the ones you make. That means no breach of a vendor can expose even your encrypted vault — but it also means backups, sync and device access are entirely your job. Bitwarden inverts this: the vault lives on a server encrypted with keys only you hold, so a server breach yields ciphertext, and in exchange sync and recovery become effortless.

A practical middle path many KeePass users take: keep the .kdbx file inside an end-to-end-encrypted or self-controlled sync folder (Syncthing, Nextcloud, OneDrive). You keep file-level control and gain multi-device access — at the cost of a little setup, which our KeePass tutorial walks through. Bitwarden's answer to the same instinct is official self-hosting: you can run the server yourself and keep the convenience while owning the infrastructure, which is more work than either default but exists for people who want it.

What daily use actually feels like

The day-to-day difference is bigger than any table row. Bitwarden lives in your browser: the extension detects login forms, offers to fill and save credentials, and the same vault appears in its official iOS and Android apps with no setup beyond signing in. KeePass lives beside the browser: you fill logins with Auto-Type or the clipboard, browser integration requires a plugin, and phones use independent .kdbx-compatible apps — KeePass2Android or KeePassDX on Android, Strongbox or KeePassium on iOS. It works well, but you assemble it yourself; our tutorial shows the exact flow.

The other daily-life difference is recovery. Forget your Bitwarden master password and account-recovery paths may exist depending on your settings; forget your KeePass master password and there is nothing to reset — the encryption is the only gatekeeper. That's a feature in the threat model and a real risk in practice, which is why our safety analysis treats backups and passphrase choice as the two user-side risks that dominate everything else. Switching later is low-cost in both directions: Bitwarden imports .kdbx exports directly, and KeePass imports Bitwarden's JSON/CSV exports, so neither choice locks you in.

Verdict: pick by how you live

• Phone + laptop + desktop, non-technical: Bitwarden. The built-in sync and official apps are worth more than file-level control.
• One Windows PC, or comfortable managing files: KeePass — download it with verified checksums.
• Privacy-first, no third-party servers ever: KeePass, with your own sync if needed.
• Want KeePass’s model with a modern cross-platform app: consider KeePassXC — same database format, native on every desktop OS.

KeePass vs Bitwarden FAQ

Is KeePass or Bitwarden better?

Bitwarden is better for most people who use several devices, because sync, apps and browser extensions work out of the box. KeePass is better if you want a fully offline, file-based vault with no vendor involved. Both are free and open source.

Is Bitwarden really free?

Yes, Bitwarden has a genuinely usable free tier with unlimited passwords and devices; premium features cost from around $10 per year (per Bitwarden’s published pricing). KeePass has no paid tier at all — every feature is free forever.

Does KeePass sync between devices like Bitwarden?

Not by itself. KeePass stores a local .kdbx file; to sync it you place that file in a folder synced by Dropbox, OneDrive, Syncthing or similar, or use a sync plugin. Bitwarden syncs automatically through its servers or a self-hosted instance.

Which is safer, KeePass or Bitwarden?

Both are considered secure and both are open source. The difference is the threat model: KeePass has no server to breach because your vault never leaves your device unless you move it; Bitwarden protects server-stored vaults with end-to-end zero-knowledge encryption. Offline storage removes an attack surface but makes you responsible for backups. Details in our KeePass safety analysis.

Can I migrate from KeePass to Bitwarden (or back)?

Yes, in both directions. Bitwarden’s web vault imports .kdbx exports directly, and Bitwarden can export JSON/CSV that KeePass imports. Migration takes minutes either way.

Do KeePass and Bitwarden work offline?

KeePass is offline by design — the database is a local file, so nothing ever requires a connection. Bitwarden apps keep a locally cached copy of your vault, so you can view items offline, but syncing changes requires reaching its server (or your self-hosted one).

Is KeePass cheaper than Bitwarden?

KeePass costs nothing, ever — there is no paid tier to upgrade to. Bitwarden is also free for its core features; you only pay (from roughly $10 per year) for premium extras. If price is the deciding factor, both effectively cost zero for a single user.

Does KeePass have mobile apps like Bitwarden?

Not first-party ones. Bitwarden has official iOS and Android apps. KeePass relies on independent compatible apps — KeePass2Android and KeePassDX on Android, Strongbox and KeePassium on iOS — which open the same .kdbx database.