KeePass vs KeePassXC: Same Database, Different Programs (2026)

KeePass and KeePassXC look like the same program. They share a name, they share a database format, and they exist for the same reason: keeping passwords in an encrypted file that you control. But they are separate projects with different codebases, different maintainers, and different design decisions. If you are choosing between them, here is what actually differs.

The relationship between the two

KeePass is the original. Dominik Reichl started it in 2003, and it remains a solo-maintainer project written in C# targeting the .NET framework. Its native platform is Windows. It runs on Linux and macOS through Mono, a compatibility layer that reimplements parts of .NET, but the experience on those platforms is noticeably less polished.

KeePassXC started as a fork of KeePassX (itself a Linux port of KeePass), rewritten in C++ using the Qt framework. It is maintained by a small team of contributors and runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux without any compatibility layer. The first stable release was in 2017.

Both programs use the KDBX database format (versions 3.x and 4.x). A .kdbx file created in one can be opened in the other. This is the single most important fact about the relationship: your data is not locked to either program.

Platform support

On Windows, both work well. On macOS and Linux, KeePassXC is meaningfully better because it does not depend on Mono. The Mono-based KeePass on macOS can have rendering issues, slow startup, and missing system integration (no native file dialogs, no keychain integration).

Mobile apps are the same for both, because they read the .kdbx file directly. Strongbox (iOS), KeePassium (iOS), and KeePassDX (Android) work with databases created by either program.

Browser integration

This is one of the biggest practical differences.

KeePassXC has built-in browser integration through KeePassXC-Browser, a first-party extension available for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and Brave. It communicates with the desktop app over a local socket using a protocol that the KeePassXC team maintains. Setup takes under a minute: install the extension, click "Connect," and approve the connection in KeePassXC.

KeePass does not include browser integration in the base program. You need a third-party plugin, the most common being KeePassRPC (used with the Kee browser extension) or KeePassHTTP (older, now deprecated in favour of KeePassRPC). These plugins are maintained by separate developers, and their update cycle is independent of KeePass itself.

The practical consequence: with KeePassXC, browser fill is a first-party feature that ships with the application and is tested against each release. With KeePass, it depends on a plugin that may lag behind after a KeePass update.

Auto-type

Both programs support auto-type, which types your username and password into the active window by simulating keystrokes.

KeePass has a flexible auto-type system with a custom sequence syntax. You can define per-entry sequences like {USERNAME}{TAB}{PASSWORD}{ENTER} and more complex patterns involving delays, key combinations, and window title matching. KeePass's auto-type is its strongest feature for power users.

KeePassXC supports auto-type with the same core syntax, and it works on all three desktop platforms. The implementation is native to each OS rather than running through Mono. On Linux, KeePassXC supports both X11 and Wayland (the latter through a portal), while KeePass through Mono has limited Wayland compatibility.

For most users, both work. For users with complex auto-type sequences or unusual window-matching needs, KeePass's longer history means it has more edge cases covered.

Plugin ecosystem

KeePass supports plugins written in .NET. The official plugin page lists dozens: TOTP generators, cloud sync adapters, import/export formats, UI themes, and more. If you need a specific integration that neither program offers natively, KeePass's plugin ecosystem is larger.

KeePassXC does not support plugins. Its development philosophy is to include important features in the core application rather than delegating them to third-party code. TOTP (time-based one-time passwords), SSH agent integration, YubiKey/OnlyKey support, and browser integration are all built in.

This is a design trade-off, not a deficiency. A plugin ecosystem gives you flexibility but introduces dependencies on third-party maintainers. A monolithic application gives you a tested, cohesive feature set but limits extensibility.

Encryption and security

Both programs use the same encryption for the database file:

• AES-256 or ChaCha20 for encrypting the database contents.
• Argon2d or Argon2id for deriving the encryption key from your master password (KDBX 4.x). Older KDBX 3.x databases use AES-KDF.
• Optional key file and/or hardware key (YubiKey challenge-response) in addition to the master password.

Neither program sends your database or your master password to any server. Both are fully offline. The database file is the vault, and you choose where to store it: a local drive, a USB stick, or a cloud folder that you sync yourself.

The security model is identical. The question is not which is more secure, but which you trust more in terms of code quality and maintenance. Both are open source and auditable. KeePassXC publishes its code on GitHub with a visible commit history and contributor list. KeePass publishes its source code on its own site.

User interface

KeePass's interface reflects its Windows/.NET heritage: a menu bar, a tree of groups on the left, an entry list on the right, and a details pane below. On Windows it looks at home. On macOS and Linux through Mono, it looks like a Windows application running in a compatibility layer, because that is exactly what it is.

KeePassXC's interface uses Qt and follows the conventions of each operating system. On macOS, it has a native-looking toolbar and respects system font rendering. On Linux, it matches your desktop theme. On Windows, it looks like a modern Qt application.

Neither interface is going to win a design award, but KeePassXC feels noticeably more at home on non-Windows platforms.

Which one to choose

Choose KeePassXC if:

• You use macOS or Linux as your primary platform.
• You want browser integration without third-party plugins.
• You prefer a self-contained application with built-in TOTP, SSH agent, and YubiKey support.
• You want an application that runs natively on all three desktop platforms.

Choose KeePass if:

• You are on Windows and want the mature, well-tested original.
• You rely on specific plugins that KeePassXC does not replicate.
• You need the most flexible auto-type system available.
• You prefer a project with a single, long-term maintainer and two decades of history.

Either way, your data is portable. The .kdbx file works in both programs and in all major mobile apps. You can switch at any time without migrating anything.

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