KeePass vs KeePassDX
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeePass | KeePassDX |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C# | Kotlin |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,000 | ★ 7,355 |
| First released | 2003 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are KeePass and KeePassDX?
KeePass
KeePass is a free, open-source password manager that stores credentials in a strongly encrypted local database. It is the original KeePass implementation that spawned an entire ecosystem of compatible clients.
- Strongly encrypted local database
- Portable, no installation required
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
- KDBX format used industry-wide
KeePassDX
KeePassDX is a free and open-source password manager for Android that is compatible with KeePass KDBX databases. It offers a modern Material interface, biometric unlock and form auto-fill.
- KDBX-compatible Android client
- Biometric and fingerprint unlock
- Auto-fill service integration
- Material design interface
KeePass vs KeePassDX: key differences
KeePass is written in C#, while KeePassDX is built with Kotlin. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for KeePass versus GPL-3.0 for KeePassDX. KeePass is the more established project (first released 2003), while KeePassDX arrived in 2017. KeePassDX has the considerably larger community, at 7,355 GitHub stars versus 1,000.
Why pick each one
Choose KeePass if…
- Completely offline and private
- Time-tested and audited
Watch out for
- Dated Windows-centric interface
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePass or KeePassDX better?
Neither is universally better. KeePassDX has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are KeePass and KeePassDX free and open-source?
Yes. KeePass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and KeePassDX under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePass and KeePassDX with Docker?
KeePass: check the project docs for container support. KeePassDX: check the project docs for container support.