KeePassXC Password Manager Review: New and Improved?

KeePassXC is an open-source, free password supervisor that takes the ball from older, equally named software program and runs with it. It’s praised throughout many on-line boards, however how good is it actually? Can it stand as much as the competitors?

All in all, KeePassXC undoubtedly earns point out among the many greatest password managers, although it comes with some sizable asterisks. The largest one is that as an open-source product, it might be free, however it additionally lacks the polish of many business leaders. As such, it’s not for everyone, although anyone that likes old-school cool will adore it.

What Is the Difference Between KeePass and KeePassXC?

Before we go any additional, although, I ought to clarify that the password supervisor I reviewed is KeePassXC, not KeePassX (so no “C”) and even plain previous KeePass. KeePassXC is a fork of those older variations and has made some pretty main adjustments. The largest of those might be the interface and the truth that KeePassXC doesn’t make the identical liberal use of plugins.

If you might have any expertise with KeePass, you most likely agree that it might have completed with an replace—it was most likely one of many largest strikes in opposition to it once I in contrast KeePass to Bitwarden. Booting it up was an actual blast from the previous, with an interface that was straight from the final century.

KeePassXC is so much higher on this regard. Though it’s not as slick as among the professionally made packages on the market, it strikes a very good steadiness between fashionable ease of use and early 2000s flexibility. In reality, in contrast with different password managers that prefer to roll old-school—Bitwarden is a chief instance—I really like KeePassXC just a little higher just because it provides you so many extra choices.

The utility of the opposite large change could possibly be up for debate, nevertheless. For many customers, plugins are the center and soul of KeePass, giving this system unparalleled flexibility and usefulness. Though the bottom model of KeePass may even charitably be greatest described as a bit tough, plugins allow you to change nearly each facet of it: the interface, autofill, safety protocols, just about every little thing.

If you’re an enormous fan of this facet of KeePass, I’ve a sense you’re not going to be loopy about KeePassXC just because it seemingly isn’t how you’ll have modified this system. For extra easy-going customers who don’t prefer to tinker, although—and I embody myself in that group—KeePassXC is an enchancment in nearly each manner.

Is KeePassXC Easy to Use?

Just as a result of it’s an enchancment over an early model doesn’t essentially make KeePassXC good, although. Overall, it’s not too unhealthy, however in case you evaluate it to the benefit of use of Dashlane, say, it may be a bit tough. Though you’ll determine issues out ultimately, KeePassXC does take some getting used to.

For this evaluate, I used KeePassXC for Linux, however there are variations for Windows and Mac as effectively. Currently, KeePassXC doesn’t have apps for Android or iPhone/iPad. Instead, the group recommends some alternate options that can work together with your KeePassXC recordsdata.

They’re formally outdoors of the purview of this evaluate, however I performed round with a few of these cell apps, and all appeared comparatively straightforward to make use of, although a far cry from the benefit of use provided by paid counterparts. If you’re a heavy smartphone consumer, KeePassXC will not be the only option for you.

Starting With KeePassXC

The reality that you simply’re coping with a really totally different form of password supervisor is evident from the start, with even the downloads web page having some odd directions. However, the primary obtain for every working system will work proper out of the field with out an excessive amount of tweaking.

Once put in, you possibly can decide to start out a brand new database or open an present one. Think of a database as a repository for a selected set of passwords, every of which is encrypted and password protected. This signifies that KeePassXC can be utilized throughout totally different settings.

For instance, you possibly can have a private database and one other one you share together with your partner or your colleagues with out risking account info bleeding into the opposite. Though having to unlock every database individually is a bit cumbersome, it does repair some points with sharing permissions.

If you begin a brand new database, you’ll be requested to call it in addition to alter some settings. This could also be a bit too sophisticated for people who aren’t safety fanatics, so chances are you’ll need to persist with the defaults. Still, I just like the management KeePassXC provides you, whether or not you recognize what to do with it or not.

Adding Passwords

This identical stage of management extends to each facet of KeepassXC, together with the element you possibly can add to entries. I’ve to say that whereas, as a complete, it really works fairly effectively, including new entries can really feel a bit clunky after the streamlined interface of a 1Password, particularly since you possibly can’t actually categorize entries, solely tag them.

I just like the overview you get and the element you possibly can add, however different companies do an equally good and even higher job. Dashlane, for instance, enables you to do all this and extra, although, in fact, you need to pay for the privilege. In essence, you possibly can add nearly every little thing to KeePassXC, however it defaults to passwords. To add issues like bank card particulars and the like, it is advisable create customized fields.

Autofill and the Browser Extension

Saving passwords is simply a part of the equation, in fact. Another necessary facet of password managers is their skill to autofill. I used to be stunned how effectively KeePassXC works on this regard, although to get it working feels a bit like making an attempt to determine some esoteric thriller.

Like all password managers, you want the net extension to autofill passwords you come throughout, which on this case, means it is advisable set up it, then manually sync it together with your KeePassXC consumer, and then enter your password. In between these steps, it is advisable refresh your browser so much, however then, like magic, it really works.

Unlike most different password managers, the browser extension isn’t a mini-control room—there’s nothing actually there. All you actually get is a small KeePassXC brand within the entry area of each website you might have credentials for. Then, all it is advisable do is click on, and it simply works completely.

I really like this autofill function: there aren’t any pop-ups, no confirmations, nothing. Just click on, and it’s completed. Of all of the password managers I’ve reviewed, KeePassXC does this one of the best, certainly.

Is KeePassXC Free?

Another big advantage of KeePassXC is that it’s fully free. Not solely are you able to obtain and use it with out spending a penny, however there are additionally no upgrades or modules that have to be paid for. It’s additionally free for industrial use, so companies that desire a company-wide password supervisor have a fairly stable possibility that gained’t price a penny.

That mentioned, you could possibly get a password supervisor like Bitwarden for simply $10 per yr and get the identical performance as KeePassXC however with a a lot sleeker interface. 1Password and Dashlane, too, supply packages for lower than $35 per yr, that means for a comparatively small amount of cash, you will get a program that does the identical however is just a little simpler to make use of.

However, for the associated fee (or lack thereof), KeePassXC might be among the many greatest password managers on the market. Only Bitwarden comes shut in what its free model can do.

Can You Trust KeePassXC?

KeePassXC appears reliable, although it does have an enormous strike in opposition to it when in comparison with many different security-focused software program in that it hasn’t undergone a third-party audit. However, you could possibly argue these aren’t foolproof, both (and I’ve in my article on whether or not you must belief your VPN).

In the place of a third-party audit, KeePassXC provides one thing else which could possibly be arguably higher, specifically steady improvement. As an open-source, community-driven undertaking, its code is beneath steady evaluate by volunteers. Where audits normally solely take a snapshot of code, the strategy utilized by initiatives like KeePassXC signifies that any time any change is made, a number of individuals will likely be on prime of it to verify it’s working as supposed.

Still, although, I can’t argue with anyone that prefers to make use of a extra skilled software that has the seal of approval of a big firm and knowledgeable audit. At the identical time, the largest password supervisor scandal concerned LastPass, which had all that, whereas KeePassXC to date has operated with none points.

Should You Use KeePassXC?

KeePassXC is one of the best password supervisor that’s additionally troublesome to advocate for people who desire a polished consumer expertise. While there’s so much to love right here—and I thought-about utilizing it as my very own private password supervisor for a scorching minute—it has a couple of strikes in opposition to it, all of that are within the interface, although not with the ability to add fee playing cards by default is annoying.

While I like that KeePassXC is free, the affordable price of most password managers—most are lower than $35 per yr—is well worth the improved interface you’ll get each time. That mentioned, in case you don’t thoughts messing round with buttons and you want your software program open-source and community-made, KeePassXC could also be among the best choices on the market.