KeePass review 2026
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KeePass is a free and open-source password manager praised for its robust security features and offline storage options. I wanted to check whether KeePass is actually useful for an average user and tested its features via a Windows plugin for a few weeks.
Because KeePass stores your passwords locally, it completely eliminates the risk of centralized data breaches. However, that comes with some usability issues that you should know about before making a decision.
In this KeePass review 2026, you can find my test results, pricing, features, and customer support overviews. I also provide recommendations for the best alternatives based on my testing across different use cases.
KeePass review – at a glance
KeePass is a great open-source, free password manager that doesn't often appear in the best password manager rankings. The problem is that it's not suitable for beginners, has an outdated interface, and is officially available only for Windows. Overall, it's mostly popular among advanced users and IT professionals who want offline control over their encrypted data.
| ⭐ Rating: | |
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #19 out of #20 |
| 💵 Price: | Free (donations) |
| ✂️ Free version: | Yes (unlimited) |
| 🌐 Browser extensions: | Only with unofficial plugins |
| 🔥 Coupons: | Cybernews Password Manager Coupons |
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KeePass pros and cons
As of June 2026, KeePass remains a secure, open-source option for storing passwords locally while offering extensive customization through third-party plugins. However, many modern password managers provide smoother interfaces and more user-friendly experiences for beginners, making KeePass better suited for tech-savvy users who value control and security over convenience.
Who should use KeePass
In my opinion, KeePass is best for tech-savvy users who want to customize every aspect of their password manager. Users must have enough technical experience to customize the software to their liking without any guidance. It also doesn't have core features like password capture and autofill. As such, I don’t think it’s a worthwhile option for people wanting a convenient password manager that automates everything. It’s a solid choice as a free password manager, but there are better options available.
KeePass pricing and plans
Pricing with KeePass is pretty straightforward because this password manager is completely free. This is a different approach to modern password managers, which offer a limited free tier and a feature-rich paid plan. If you’re not happy with KeePass’ standard feature set, you can expand it using third-party add-ons, which are also free but may not be as secure.
However, if you want to contribute to KeePass’ development, you can support the software’s main developer, Dominik Reichl, with donations via PayPal or bank transfer. This is optional, of course, and doesn’t grant any benefits. But if you contribute enough, you’ll be featured on the service’s donations webpage as a contributor.
Is KeePass safe?
Yes, KeePass is safe. In fact, it's one of the safest password managers on the market. It doesn't use the same security approach as contemporary password managers, but it’s very reliable.
Firstly, KeePass is entirely offline, meaning none of your data is stored online. This means your password database is completely immune to data breaches because your personal device is the only attack vector. This also means the service has no network dependency.
Regarding encryption, KeePass uses AES-256 or ChaCha-256 ciphers by default, while SHA-256 is used for hashing. These are strong ciphers commonly used by other safe password managers and VPNs. You can customize your security further by enabling key derivation functions, such as AES-KDF, Argon2d, and Argon2id. If that isn’t enough, you can also change the number of iterations. These aspects will make it more difficult to guess your master password using dictionary attacks.
Unlike other password managers, KeePass hasn't undergone any third-party independent audits. However, that also isn’t really necessary because this password manager is open-source, meaning anyone can look at its source code whenever they want. Moreover, many developers have created plugins for this service, and they likely would have noticed issues regarding its implementation. Finally, as seen on the service’s Awards page, KeePass received top ratings from numerous online publications and some government institutions.
I'd like to note that security researchers discovered a vulnerability in KeePass in May 2023. It allowed attackers to get fragments of the master password using the program’s memory dump. However, the threat actor needed direct access to your PC ,and the master password had to be typed in recently. The vulnerability has since been remedied with the 2.54 patch.
How does KeePass work?
KeePass doesn't work like a typical password manager. It's an offline tool, so you must first create a database file where the software will store all your passwords. This can be tricky, especially if you haven’t done this before. I have some experience with offline password managers because I’ve used KeePassX for my personal needs. So, I had no trouble setting up KeePass, which is very similar. Below are the steps for getting started with KeePass on Windows:
- Open the KeePass application
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Click the new database button in the top-left corner to create a new database file. You can hover over the buttons to learn what they do
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Choose a file location for your database and pick its name if you want. I left mine with the default “Database” name
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Configure your database’s settings, such as the file encryption algorithm and key derivation function. I left everything as in default settings because it seemed secure enough for me
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Create a master password for your database. The app will show whether the password is strong enough
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Choose whether you want to print an emergency sheet with information on how to open your database
And that’s it. You can create new password entries in your database using the Add Entry button in the top-left corner. The creation process is straightforward and requires little effort, unless you want to customize various additional details. For example, you can choose an icon that will display next to the entry in the database. Alternatively, you can set a password expiration date. Also, don’t forget to click the Save button to ensure your new entries are saved in the database.
The newly created database will have two sample entries where you can see what everything is supposed to look like. Each entry has a title, a username, the password, the website’s URL, and additional notes.
The login process using the saved credentials is also straightforward, but obviously not as convenient as with modern password managers since KeePass doesn't have a browser extension.
With KeePass, you can open an entry's corresponding URL by selecting the entry and clicking the open URL(s) button in the top left corner, which is denoted by the green globe. You can also use the Ctrl+U key binding to speed up the process. It will open a new tab in your default browser, but you can also choose an alternative browser using the drop-down menu.
Once the website is open, return to KeePass and double-click the corresponding entry’s user name column or click the Copy User Name button. This will copy the user name to your clipboard, so all you have to do is paste it into the login page of your site. Then, simply repeat the process with the password. As before, you can use the corresponding buttons or key bindings instead of double-clicking.
KeePass’ approach is great if you prefer doing everything yourself without assistance from additional browser extensions. On the other hand, it could appear inconvenient for people who want to do everything swiftly and efficiently. You can automate many of KeePass’ features to make it quicker but that requires a fair bit of technical knowledge. Overall, I think KeePass works excellently in its default form and gets the job done.
KeePass features
KeePass includes a fair number of features and customization options by default. Moreover, you can significantly expand its feature set with plugins, but I won’t cover that in this review, as many are available.
| KeePass features | What it does |
| User keys | Used to encrypt your password vault |
| Password generator | Generates strong passwords based on selected parameters |
| Attachments | Allows securely storing file attachments in your vault |
| Auto-Type | Automatically types in login credentials in web forms |
| Plugins | Extends KeePass’ functionality |
| Triggers | Allows creating automated tasks |
Also, remember that KeePass has two versions (1.x and 2.x), which have different features available. For this review, I focused on the more recent 2.x version, which is safer and offers more features.
User keys
KeePass offers multiple user key options. That means you can add several security layers using a few different authentication methods.
The primary user key is the master password – an industry-standard method that decrypts your stored database only for you. For this, you will need to create only one strong and secure passphrase that only you should know and remember.
Then, there is a key file that you can add as an extra user key to your master password. It’s a file that includes a key and comes as a physical tool (USB, for example). Consequently, hackers have almost no chance of breaking into your vault. Just make sure you have at least two copies of it, a digital one and a physical one. Additionally, you can use your Windows user account, which means that only the owner will be able to access encrypted items in your vault.
Password generator
As any password manager should, KeePass includes a customizable password generator for creating strong passwords for your accounts. Each new entry you create already includes a new password generated automatically, but you can create one yourself to fit your needs.
You can pick from 9 different toggles that allow you to choose the included character types, symbols, and the password’s length. You can even use a custom algorithm, which is quite unique.
Of course, if you don’t feel like generating a password, you can use a pre-made pattern that also provides a unique password.
KeePass is excellent at being flexible. It allows you to create or choose secure passwords that will suit your needs and also protect you from snoopers.
Attachments
I have seen password managers that allow you to store files in your encrypted vault. But KeePass offers more regarding what you can store there. It also gives you lots of freedom when opening and editing stored files inside the app.
The Attachments feature allows you to store documents, text files, and images. Editing them inside the password manager guarantees that your data remains immune to hackers.
Auto-Type
The top-tier password managers have browser extensions to capture new logins and fill-in forms. However, KeePass doesn’t offer such functionalities. Alternatively, it provides Auto-Type, which allows you to define a sequence of keypresses, which KeePass can automatically perform for you.
However, this feature is not the most user-friendly. It requires more technical knowledge to perform, and it is not ideal if you want a fast and intuitive autofill. It also doesn’t always work correctly on certain websites because the feature essentially types in your username, clicks Tab, then types in your password, and clicks Enter. While this is the standard procedure on most sites, it might not work with unconventional log-in forms. Luckily, you can customize the keypress sequence to suit your particular needs.
Plugins
KeePass’ extensive customization stems from its third-party plugin support. It allows developers to create extra features for the software, while end users can pick and choose what extra tools they need from KeePass. Now, KeePass offers users over 100 plugins to choose from on its official website.
Every plugin expands KeePass's functionality, such as synchronization with various storage services (Google Drive, OneDrive, and other online storage), adding another type of encryption algorithm, or auto-type customizations.
Triggers
The Triggers feature allows users to create custom events to automate various KeePass aspects. It’s a neat feature, I’m sure, but due to its complexity, the average user cannot fully utilize it. Even I had trouble understanding how to make it work. However, I’m sure die-hard tech enthusiasts will appreciate this feature.
Overall, the KeePass password manager allows for extensive customization and makes its app as versatile as possible. But, as mentioned before, it takes a fair amount of technical knowledge to fully utilize KeePass’ potential, and I haven’t even discussed any plugins individually.
KeePass compatibility and ease of use
KeePass can be quite difficult to get into. It has a steep learning curve, especially for beginners who haven’t used offline password managers. Personally, I had no trouble utilizing KeePass’ standard features because this wasn’t my first time using such software. But I can understand if others have difficulty getting used to such a hands-off password manager that puts you in the driver’s seat.
Installing KeePass on Windows is pretty straightforward if you’ve installed other Windows apps. The potential usability issues begin once you open the KeePass app. Basically, you see an empty interface without any indication of what you should do. I understood I had to create a database file for my passwords, but I think it would be nice to include a basic prompt to nudge users in the right direction. This would significantly help new users who aren’t experienced with such old-school offline password managers.
Once I overcame this initial hurdle, everything else seemed straightforward, mainly because it was clear what each feature did. Most of the tools are placed in the app's upper-left corner, and you can hover over each button to learn what it does. Each one also includes a keybinding if you’d like to improve your KeePass' efficiency in the long term.
Naturally, things get more complicated if you want to utilize KeePass’ advanced features like automation and triggers. Each standard feature also includes many customization options, but playing with them isn’t necessary if you don’t understand what they do. That was my approach while testing KeePass, and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on some crucial features. Plus, since the KeePass Help Center is so extensive, I was confident I could find additional information about any feature.
KeePass is only available on Windows computers by default. However, there are loads of community ports available for other operating systems if you want to use KeePass on different devices. Just remember that using unofficial software is not always the best approach regarding security since the third-party options don’t necessarily adhere to the same protection standards. But, since everything is open-source, the community has likely ensured that everything is in order.
Overall, I think KeePass is a solid password manager once you get used to its quirky interface. It isn’t as complicated as some would have you believe, especially if you stick with the standard features. However, if you want to utilize all its features, you’ll need additional technical knowledge.
KeePass customer support
KeePass doesn't have customer support, such as live chat or email. Instead, users must rely on written guides, FAQs, and community support. The KeePass website has an official forum, but you can also visit the service’s subreddit if you want something more modern. The community is pretty active all things considered.
| Option | Availability |
| 24/7 live chat | ❌ No |
| Email support | ❌ No |
| Knowledge base | ✅ Yes |
| Forum | ✅ Yes |
| Phone support | ❌ No |
I tried visiting KeePass’ support page to find additional information but was immediately overwhelmed by the site’s scale. The old-school interface (which isn’t mobile-friendly) did not make the search any easier. Modernizing could definitely help users navigate it easier.
On a positive note, there’s plenty of information to peruse. The KeePass help center includes various FAQs, extensive technical guides, and a somewhat active community forum. However, the user experience is far from ideal because the page’s design is outdated, which might push away users who are used to contemporary and more user-friendly website interfaces.
KeePass alternatives
KeePass is a powerful password manager, but it definitely doesn't fit all users. First, it works only offline, so you won't be able to synchronize all your devices. Then, it has an official app only for Windows, while plugins for other systems are community-built. Finally, its outdated interface makes it difficult to work with, especially if you need a modern, user-friendly interface. Here's a breakdown of all user-friendly KeePass alternatives that comply with password management best practices:
| NordPass | Proton Pass | RoboForm | Dashlane | Sticky Password | Enpass | Passwarden | |
| Rating | |||||||
| Free version | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Advanced encryption | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Multi-factor authentication | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Unlimited password storage | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Customer support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
I suggest NordPass as the best alternative to KeePass as it provides powerful security along with a great user experience. It works online across various devices and has a simple setup. Despite its simplicity, its protection features are strong – it offers dark web monitoring, 2FA support, and biometric logins. NordPass even has a free plan that performs all essential functions. So,
FAQ
Is KeePass password manager free?
Yes, the KeePass password manager is completely free and has no paid tiers, meaning all its features are available to all customers. However, the developers accept donations through PayPal or bank transfers if you want to support them.
What is the KeePass controversy?
The KeePass controversy refers to its security vulnerability from May 2023, where a malicious hacker could dump your master password from the program’s memory. However, this vulnerability only worked under specific circumstances and was quickly fixed in a subsequent update.
Can I trust KeePass?
Yes, KeePass is trustworthy because the service has been around since 2003 and is primarily managed by one developer. Additionally, the software is open-source, meaning anyone can check its technical implementation and security credentials. Plus, the provider didn’t hide that it had a vulnerability and was quick to patch it.
Can a KeePass database be hacked?
Yes, technically, KeePass can be hacked if your device is infected with malware and a threat actor has direct access to it. Thankfully, this is quite unlikely, so your vault will be secure most of the time, thanks to the service’s top-tier encryption. Moreover, locking your vault with a key file that’s separate from your device will provide even greater protection against hacking.
Why not use KeePass?
You shouldn’t use KeePass if you’re looking for an easy-to-use password manager that works with any platform and offers a wide range of features by default. KeePass is best suited for tech-savvy users who need an old-school, customizable, open-source password manager that heavily relies on plugins and community support.
