About Strongbox
Strongbox is a native password manager for iOS and macOS built by independent developers. It works with open, portable file formats: Password Safe version 3 and the KeePass formats, including KDB and KDBX versions 3.1 and 4, so your vault is not locked into a proprietary database.
Entries and groups are encrypted using algorithms such as Twofish, Argon2d, ChaCha20, AES and Salsa20 along with SHA-256 hashing, HMACs and secure random generators, and file attachments can be stored in KeePass-format safes. YubiKey is supported. The app is written in Objective-C and distributed through the Apple App Store, and translations are managed through a separate MIT-licensed project called Babel, with volunteer translators credited in many languages.
The source code is licensed under AGPL-3.0, and the README explains ways to support development, including purchasing a subscription or lifetime license through the App Store. Your database files are stored where you choose, so no hosted service is required.
Key features
- Opens KeePass and Password Safe databases
- KDBX 3.1 and 4 support
- Strong encryption options
- YubiKey support
- File attachments in KeePass safes
- Native iOS and macOS apps
Good fit for
- →Using KeePass vaults on iPhone and Mac
- →Native password management without a cloud account
- Built with
- Objective-C
- Tags
- password-manager
- keepass
- ios
- macos
- yubikey
- encryption
- objective-c
- password-safe
Strongbox: questions and answers
- What is Strongbox used for?
- Strongbox is a native iOS and macOS password manager that opens KeePass and Password Safe databases and supports YubiKey. It is a good fit for using KeePass vaults on iPhone and Mac, and native password management without a cloud account.
- Is Strongbox open source?
- Yes. Strongbox is open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at strongbox-password-safe/Strongbox and is written mainly in Objective-C.
- Is Strongbox free?
- Yes. Strongbox is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
- Can I self-host Strongbox?
- Yes. Strongbox can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
- What is Strongbox an alternative to?
- Strongbox is an open-source alternative to Enpass, Dashlane, 1Password and Norton Password Manager. Other open-source alternatives to Enpass include KeePassXC and AuthPass.
- Is Strongbox actively maintained?
- Yes. The most recent commit to Strongbox was on 17 July 2026. The project has 1.5k stars on GitHub.
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