Password managers
KeePassXC
KeePassXC is the local-first password manager — the vault never leaves your devices unless you explicitly sync it.
- Website
- keepassxc.org
- KYC
- no KYC — Local-first password manager. No accounts, no cloud component. Your vault is a file you manage.
- Status
- active
- Fiat on-ramp
- no
- Payment
- donation
- Jurisdiction
- independent open source
- Founded
- 2016
- Open source
- yes
- Custodial
- no
- Last verified
- Sources
- 2
Overview
What KeePassXC is#
A desktop password manager storing your vault as a local file in the KDBX format, with browser integration and reproducible builds.
Threat-model fit#
When “no third-party operator with access to my passwords” is the binding requirement.
Strengths
- Pure-local vault — no third-party operator can be subpoenaed for your passwords.
- KDBX format is open and interoperable with KeePass / KeePassDX (Android).
- Browser integration via the KeePassXC-Browser extension; no telemetry by default.
- Reproducible builds and reviewed cryptography (AES-256, Argon2id KDF).
Caveats
- You handle backup and sync — Syncthing, Nextcloud, or a USB drive. There is no Apple/Google account doing it for you.
- Mobile clients are separate projects (KeePassDX on Android, KeePassium / Strongbox on iOS).
- A lost master password is a lost vault — no recovery.
Verdict
KeePassXC is the local-first password manager — the vault never leaves your devices unless you explicitly sync it. No accounts to subpoena, no operator to compromise, no opt-in telemetry. The trade-off is that backup and sync are operator-you. For users who want the strongest threat-model posture in a password manager, this is the reference.
FAQ
- Does KeePassXC require KYC?
- As of May 12, 2026, KeePassXC does not require KYC for normal use. Local-first password manager. No accounts, no cloud component. Your vault is a file you manage.
- What payment methods does KeePassXC accept?
- KeePassXC accepts: donation.
- Where is KeePassXC based?
- Operating jurisdiction listed as independent open source. This is best-known information; corporate structure can be opaque.
Sources
- KeePassXC documentation · accessed
- KeePassXC source · accessed
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