Is KeePassXC better than KeePass?

It depends on your platform. KeePassXC is the better pick on macOS and Linux and for built-in browser integration; original KeePass is the better pick on Windows if you want plugins or the smallest possible footprint. Both are free, open source and secure.

Can KeePass and KeePassXC open the same database?

Yes. Both use the .kdbx database format (KDBX 3.1 and KDBX 4), so one database file can be opened by either program interchangeably — a fact the KeePassXC documentation confirms.

Is KeePassXC a fork of KeePass?

Not directly. KeePassXC is a fork of KeePassX, which was itself a cross-platform rewrite of KeePass. KeePassXC shares the database format with KeePass but shares no code with it — it is written in C++ while KeePass is C#.

Does KeePassXC support KeePass plugins?

No. KeePassXC deliberately has no plugin system, citing the security risk of untested third-party code. Popular plugin functions such as browser integration and TOTP are built in instead. Original KeePass supports a large plugin ecosystem.

Which one should a Windows user download?

Either works well on Windows. Pick original KeePass for plugins, the smallest download (4.4 MB installer, which we measured) and the most conservative release process; pick KeePassXC for a modern interface and first-party browser extensions without plugins.

Is KeePassXC free like KeePass?

Yes. Both are free, open-source software with no paid tier: KeePass under GPL v2 and KeePassXC under GPL v3. Neither requires an account, and neither sells a premium version.

Can I install KeePass and KeePassXC on the same PC?

Yes. They are separate programs and install side by side without conflict, so you can try both against the same database before deciding. Just avoid editing the same .kdbx file in both programs at the same moment — save and close in one before opening it in the other.

Can I switch from KeePass to KeePassXC later?

Yes, at any time. Because both programs read and write the same .kdbx file, switching means installing the other program and opening your existing database — no export or migration needed.

Home › KeePass vs KeePassXC

By Jack Turner, keepasspc.com · Updated 2026-07-14

KeePass vs KeePassXC: which should you actually use?

KeePass and KeePassXC are two independent open-source password managers that share one thing — the encrypted .kdbx database format — and differ in almost everything else: language, platforms, plugins and interface. The short answer: on Windows both are excellent and the choice is about plugins versus built-in features; on macOS or Linux, KeePassXC is the clear pick.

On macOS or Linux? You can stop reading here: get KeePassXC from its official site — original KeePass is Windows-first, and everything below mainly matters to Windows users choosing between the two.

KeePass vs KeePassXC comparison table

Aspect	KeePass 2.61.1	KeePassXC
Written in	C# (.NET Framework)	C++ (Qt)
Native platforms	Windows (Mono elsewhere)	Windows, macOS, Linux
Plugins	Yes — large ecosystem	No, by design
Browser integration	Via third-party plugin (e.g. KeePassHttp successors)	Built in (KeePassXC-Browser extension)
TOTP (2FA codes)	Via plugin	Built in
Database format	KDBX 3.1 / KDBX 4 (native)	KDBX 3.1 / KDBX 4 (same files)
Windows-on-ARM	Native ARM64 library ships in the official ZIP — we verified	ARM builds vary by release
Download size (Windows)	4.4 MB installer / 2.8 MB portable — measured by us	Larger (Qt runtime bundled)
License	GPL v2	GPL v3
Maintainer	Dominik Reichl (original author, since 2003)	Community team

Sources: the official KeePass site, the KeePassXC documentation and FAQ, and our own inspection of the official KeePass 2.61.1 portable build (file inventory on our portable guide).

The differences that actually matter

Platform

KeePass is a Windows-first .NET application. It runs on Linux and macOS through Mono, but without the native look and feel. KeePassXC is a native Qt application on all three desktop platforms — if you live outside Windows, this alone decides it.

Plugins vs built-ins

KeePass ships minimal and grows through plugins: browser integration, TOTP generation, cloud sync and dozens more are community add-ons. KeePassXC takes the opposite position — no plugin system at all, with the most-wanted features (browser extension, TOTP, SSH agent) built in and maintained by the core team. Choose based on whether you prefer a curated built-in set or an extensible base.

Trust model

Both are fully open source and use the same database cryptography (AES-256 or ChaCha20 over KDBX 4). Original KeePass is maintained by its original author with a conservative release cadence; KeePassXC is maintained by a community team with faster feature development. Neither model is inherently safer — our KeePass safety analysis covers the security history of both.

Mobile

Neither project publishes first-party phone apps, and here the shared format is the great equalizer: because both programs write standard .kdbx files, the same independent apps — KeePass2Android and KeePassDX on Android, Strongbox and KeePassium on iOS — open a database created by either desktop program. Your phone genuinely does not care which of the two you picked, so mobile support should not decide this comparison for anyone.

Updates in practice

The maintenance difference shows up in how you update. KeePass on Windows is a small download (4.4 MB installer, which we measured) and updates are quiet and infrequent — the project prioritizes stability over new features. KeePassXC releases more often, with feature releases and fixes landing throughout the year. Neither program updates itself silently; both tell you a new version exists and let you choose when to move — a property people picking a local-first password manager tend to want. Setup itself is covered step by step in our KeePass beginner tutorial.

Verdict: who should pick which

Windows user who wants the leanest tool: original KeePass — download it with verified checksums.
Windows user who wants browser autofill without configuring plugins: KeePassXC.
macOS or Linux user: KeePassXC, no contest.
Undecided: start with either — the shared .kdbx format means you can switch later without losing anything.

KeePass vs KeePassXC FAQ

Is KeePassXC better than KeePass?: It depends on your platform. KeePassXC is the better pick on macOS and Linux and for built-in browser integration; original KeePass is the better pick on Windows if you want plugins or the smallest possible footprint. Both are free, open source and secure.
Can KeePass and KeePassXC open the same database?: Yes. Both use the .kdbx database format (KDBX 3.1 and KDBX 4), so one database file can be opened by either program interchangeably — a fact the KeePassXC documentation confirms.
Is KeePassXC a fork of KeePass?: Not directly. KeePassXC is a fork of KeePassX, which was itself a cross-platform rewrite of KeePass. KeePassXC shares the database format with KeePass but shares no code with it — it is written in C++ while KeePass is C#.
Does KeePassXC support KeePass plugins?: No. KeePassXC deliberately has no plugin system, citing the security risk of untested third-party code. Popular plugin functions such as browser integration and TOTP are built in instead. Original KeePass supports a large plugin ecosystem.
Which one should a Windows user download?: Either works well on Windows. Pick original KeePass for plugins, the smallest download (4.4 MB installer, which we measured) and the most conservative release process; pick KeePassXC for a modern interface and first-party browser extensions without plugins.
Is KeePassXC free like KeePass?: Yes. Both are free, open-source software with no paid tier: KeePass under GPL v2 and KeePassXC under GPL v3. Neither requires an account, and neither sells a premium version.
Can I install KeePass and KeePassXC on the same PC?: Yes. They are separate programs and install side by side without conflict, so you can try both against the same database before deciding. Just avoid editing the same .kdbx file in both programs at the same moment — save and close in one before opening it in the other.
Can I switch from KeePass to KeePassXC later?: Yes, at any time. Because both programs read and write the same .kdbx file, switching means installing the other program and opening your existing database — no export or migration needed.