KeePassXC vs Bitwarden
Both are free/open-source alternatives to 1Password. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
92
KeePassXC
A fully local, offline password database.
KeePassXC keeps your passwords in a single encrypted file on your own disk — no server, no cloud, no subscription. Sync the file yourself however you like.
88
Bitwarden
Open-source password manager with optional self-hosting.
Bitwarden is a mature, audited, open-source password manager. Use its low-cost hosted plan or self-host the server for full control, with clients on every platform.
Side by side
| KeePassXC | Bitwarden | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 92 | 88 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first | Yes | No |
| License | GPL-2.0 / GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 (clients) / AGPL (server) |
| Pricing | Free / open-source | Generous free tier; paid from about $1/month; self-host free |
The verdict
KeePassXC edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
KeePassXC
Strengths
- +No server or cloud at all
- +Single encrypted local file
- +Cross-platform and browser integration
Trade-offs
- −You arrange your own sync
- −Less turnkey team sharing
Bitwarden
Strengths
- +Independently audited
- +Cross-platform clients
- +Self-host option
Trade-offs
- −Official self-host stack is heavier than Vaultwarden
- −Cloud plan still a third-party host
More 1Password head-to-heads
Facts verified 2026-07-04. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.