What is KeePassXC used for?

KeePassXC is a cross-platform, community-driven password manager that stores credentials and notes in an encrypted offline database file, compatible with KeePass. It is a good fit for local password management without a cloud account, keeping a KeePass-compatible vault, and storing secrets and notes securely.

Is KeePassXC open source?

Yes. KeePassXC is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at keepassxreboot/keepassxc and is written mainly in C++.

Yes. KeePassXC is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.

Can I self-host KeePassXC?

Yes. KeePassXC can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What is KeePassXC an alternative to?

KeePassXC is an open-source alternative to Dashlane, Keeper, NordPass and Enpass. Other open-source alternatives to Dashlane include Bitwarden, Padloc and AliasVault.

Is KeePassXC actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to KeePassXC was on 30 September 2026, and the latest release is 2.7.12, published on 10 March 2026. The project has 29k stars on GitHub.

KeePassXC: open-source alternative to Dashlane, Keeper

About KeePassXC

KeePassXC is a modern, open-source password manager for Windows, macOS and Linux. It began as a community port of the Windows program KeePass Password Safe and is aimed at people with demanding requirements for managing sensitive personal data securely.

It stores usernames, passwords, URLs, attachments and notes in an encrypted file that works offline and can live anywhere, including private or public cloud storage that you sync yourself. Entries have custom titles and icons and are sorted into customizable groups, and a search function supports advanced patterns. A built-in password generator can create strings with any mix of characters or easy-to-remember passphrases, and topics mention YubiKey support.

The app is written in C++ and has a quick-start guide plus pre-compiled binaries on the downloads page. Its license is listed as 'Other' on GitHub, so confirm the terms for your use. Because there is no vendor account or server, it is a good fit for users who want local control of their password database instead of a hosted password service.

Key features

Encrypted offline password database
Windows, macOS and Linux apps
Groups, custom icons and attachments
Advanced search patterns
Password and passphrase generator
Hardware key support with YubiKey

Good fit for

→Local password management without a cloud account
→Keeping a KeePass-compatible vault
→Storing secrets and notes securely

Built with: C++
Tags: password-manager; security; encryption; keepass; offline; cross-platform; privacy; yubikey

KeePassXC: questions and answers

What is KeePassXC used for?: KeePassXC is a cross-platform, community-driven password manager that stores credentials and notes in an encrypted offline database file, compatible with KeePass. It is a good fit for local password management without a cloud account, keeping a KeePass-compatible vault, and storing secrets and notes securely.
Is KeePassXC open source?: Yes. KeePassXC is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at keepassxreboot/keepassxc and is written mainly in C++.
Is KeePassXC free?: Yes. KeePassXC is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.
Can I self-host KeePassXC?: Yes. KeePassXC can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is KeePassXC an alternative to?: KeePassXC is an open-source alternative to Dashlane, Keeper, NordPass and Enpass. Other open-source alternatives to Dashlane include Bitwarden, Padloc and AliasVault.
Is KeePassXC actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to KeePassXC was on 30 September 2026, and the latest release is 2.7.12, published on 10 March 2026. The project has 29k stars on GitHub.