Proton Pass is a cloud password manager from the team behind Proton Mail — free tier plus $3.99/month for Plus — with end-to-end encrypted sync across every device and a polished browser extension. KeePassXC is fully offline, open-source, and completely free: your encrypted vault lives on your own machine with zero cloud dependency. Proton Pass wins on convenience and cross-device sync; KeePassXC wins on privacy, control, and cost — as long as you are willing to handle your own sync via Dropbox, Drive, or Syncthing.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Proton Pass | KeePassXC |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| G2 rating | Not listed | Not listed |
| Best for | individuals and small teams who want automatic cross-device sync, a polished UI, and the Proton privacy ecosystem | privacy-first users, sysadmins, and security-conscious individuals who want zero cloud dependency and complete offline control |
| Starting price | Free plan; paid Plus plan at $3.99/month. | Completely free and open-source. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes (the only plan) |
| Open source | No | Yes (GPL-3.0) |
| Self-hostable | No | Yes (vault stored locally; you control the file) |
| Sync model | Automatic cloud sync via Proton's encrypted servers. | Manual sync via Dropbox, Drive, Syncthing, or USB — no built-in cloud. |
| Best for | users who want automatic sync and a polished cross-platform experience | privacy-first users who want zero cloud dependency and full local control |
Security model and trust
KeePassXC wins on security fundamentals for the privacy-first user. The vault is a local AES-256 encrypted .kdbx file that never touches a network unless you deliberately move it. There are no servers to breach, no Proton employee who could theoretically be compelled to produce data, and no cloud provider in the trust chain. The codebase has 27,500+ GitHub stars and has been reviewed by the open-source security community for years. Proton Pass uses end-to-end encryption with zero-knowledge architecture — Proton cannot read your data — and it is built by the same team behind Proton Mail, which has an excellent privacy track record. But Proton Pass does rely on Proton's servers, which introduces a network attack surface that KeePassXC eliminates entirely. For most users, Proton's E2E encryption is more than sufficient. For threat models that include state-level actors, targeted attacks, or regulated data, the offline nature of KeePassXC is a genuine security advantage that no cloud password manager can replicate.
Ease of use and daily experience
Proton Pass wins on day-to-day usability by a wide margin. It has polished browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge; native apps for iOS and Android; automatic sync across every device; and a clean interface that works like any mainstream password manager. Passkey support, 2FA code generation, and identity vaults are all built in. KeePassXC is a desktop application — well-designed by open-source standards, but still a desktop application. To get it on mobile you need KeePass-compatible apps like Strongbox (iOS) or KeePassDX (Android), each separately maintained. Cross-device sync requires manually routing your .kdbx file through Dropbox, iCloud, Syncthing, or a similar service — a meaningful technical overhead that Proton Pass eliminates. KeePassXC also requires configuration work that Proton Pass does not: choosing a key file, configuring auto-lock, setting up browser integration via a separate plugin. For users who want to install and go, Proton Pass is dramatically easier.
Cross-device sync
Automatic sync is where Proton Pass has its clearest advantage. Create a login on your phone, it is on your laptop and tablet within seconds — no action required. This is the behavior users expect from modern password managers and Proton Pass delivers it with end-to-end encryption intact. KeePassXC requires a deliberate sync setup. The most common approach is storing the .kdbx vault file in Dropbox or Google Drive, which reintroduces a cloud dependency (now Dropbox or Google can see the encrypted file). Syncthing is a private alternative but requires technical setup. For users who only need passwords on one device — a single desktop or laptop — KeePassXC's offline approach is not a limitation at all. But for anyone juggling a phone, work laptop, and home computer, the friction of manual sync is a real daily cost.
Pricing and value
KeePassXC is free, full-stop. No free-tier limits, no paid plan to unlock features, no seats to purchase. Proton Pass has a generous free tier — unlimited logins, notes, and credit cards, with two-factor authentication — but some features like multiple email aliases and priority support require the Plus plan at $3.99/month (about $48/year). If you are already a Proton Unlimited subscriber ($9.99/month), Proton Pass is bundled at no extra cost alongside Proton Mail, Drive, Calendar, and VPN — making it excellent value in that context. Standalone, KeePassXC costs nothing. For individuals who want maximum privacy at zero cost and do not mind the sync setup, KeePassXC is the obvious choice. For Proton ecosystem users, Proton Pass adds little incremental cost.
Team and sharing features
Proton Pass for Business ($6.99/user/month) adds shared vaults, centralized admin controls, audit logs, and SSO — features that make it a credible option for small teams needing collaborative password management. Sharing a vault entry with a colleague is a few clicks in the app. KeePassXC is fundamentally a single-user tool. There is no native sharing mechanism — sharing a KeePass vault with teammates means sharing the physical file, which quickly becomes a synchronization and permissions nightmare in a team setting. Workarounds exist (shared network drives, manual handoff) but none are ergonomic. For individual use the comparison is close; for teams, Proton Pass is the clear winner and KeePassXC is not a realistic option.
Platform and ecosystem
Proton Pass covers Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and all major browsers with first-party maintained apps. Everything syncs automatically and the apps receive regular updates from a funded development team. KeePassXC covers Windows, macOS, and Linux as a desktop app — no official mobile apps exist, and browser integration requires a separate native messaging extension (keepassxc-browser). Mobile coverage depends on third-party apps like Strongbox (iOS, $2.99/month for premium) or KeePassDX (Android, free). The ecosystem is functional but fragmented. KeePassXC has 385 contributors and active development (last commit in June 2026), so it is not abandoned — but it cannot match the polish and consistency of a funded commercial product. If platform coverage and a seamless cross-device experience matter, Proton Pass wins.
Pricing deep-dive
Proton Pass
- Free: $0 — unlimited passwords, notes, and cards; 2FA codes; browser extensions; 10 hide-my-email aliases.
- Plus: $3.99/month (billed annually) — unlimited email aliases, dark web monitoring, priority support.
- Proton Unlimited: $9.99/month — bundles Pass, Mail, Drive, Calendar, and VPN.
KeePassXC
- Free: $0 — full feature set with no limits. Open-source with no paid tiers.
- No paid plans. Donations accepted. Some companion mobile apps (Strongbox, etc.) have their own pricing.
Pricing verdict: KeePassXC is free with no paid tier. Proton Pass's free tier is also strong, but Plus at $3.99/month unlocks unlimited aliases and dark web monitoring. For the absolute lowest cost, KeePassXC wins. For Proton Unlimited subscribers, Proton Pass is effectively free as part of the bundle — the best value scenario for Proton users.
How to migrate from Proton Pass to KeePassXC
What real users say
Proton Pass: Proton Pass users consistently praise the seamless sync, the polished browser extensions, and the trust that comes from Proton's privacy-first reputation. The most common complaints are the $3.99/month paywall for email aliases and comparisons to Bitwarden, which offers more features on its free tier. Users who are already Proton Unlimited subscribers view Proton Pass as a near-perfect bundled bonus.
KeePassXC: KeePassXC has a loyal, vocal fanbase among security researchers, sysadmins, and privacy advocates who cite its zero-cloud architecture as a non-negotiable feature. Common criticisms focus on the friction of mobile sync, the learning curve for new users, and the reliance on third-party mobile apps that may not always stay current with the .kdbx format. Users who stick with KeePassXC long-term rarely switch away.
Sources: Synthesized from official pricing pages, vendor documentation, GitHub issues and discussions, Reddit communities (r/KeePass, r/ProtonPass), and G2/Capterra review patterns as of June 2026.
Final verdict
Choose Proton Pass if...
- Choose Proton Pass if you want automatic cross-device sync with end-to-end encryption and a polished experience on all platforms without manual setup.
- Choose Proton Pass if you are already in the Proton ecosystem (Proton Mail, VPN, Drive) — Proton Unlimited bundles everything for $9.99/month.
- Choose Proton Pass if you need team password sharing, centralized admin controls, or SSO for a small business.
Choose KeePassXC if...
- Choose KeePassXC if your threat model requires zero cloud dependency — government actors, regulated industries, or anyone who needs the vault to never touch a network.
- Choose KeePassXC if you want completely free, open-source password management with no paid tier and no vendor relationship.
- Choose KeePassXC if you are comfortable managing your own sync and want a single-device or privacy-maximized setup with a well-audited, community-reviewed codebase.
Consider neither if: Consider neither if you need a team password manager with SSO, directory sync, and enterprise audit features — look at 1Password Business or Bitwarden Teams instead.