Vaultwarden vs KeePassXC
Both are alternatives to 1Password. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as KeePassXC vs Vaultwarden — same comparison, one verdict.
Vaultwarden and KeePassXC are closely matched on ownership (95 vs 92) — this one comes down to pricing and to which trade-offs below you can live with.
Vaultwarden
A lightweight, self-hosted Bitwarden-compatible server.
Vaultwarden is a resource-light server that speaks the Bitwarden protocol, so you run your own vault backend and use the official Bitwarden clients against it. It fits on the smallest VPS or a homelab box.
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.
Side by side
10 points of comparison, every one read from a verified field. Green marks the side that wins a row outright. A dash means we do not hold that fact — never that it is zero.
| Vaultwarden | KeePassXC | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 95 | 92 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first data | Yes | Yes |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 / GPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free / self-host | Free / open-source |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 512 MB | 300 MB |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $6/mo, and it will happily share a box with other small services | $0 — it runs on the machine you already own |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 30 minutes including TLS | 15 minutes |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | Low, but the stakes are high. Update promptly when advisories land; this is your password vault. | None beyond updates. |
Vaultwarden edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
Weighing both against staying on 1Password? Is 1Password free? What it actually costs →
Vaultwarden
Strengths
- +Runs on tiny hardware
- +Works with official Bitwarden apps
- +You fully own the vault data
Trade-offs
- −You are responsible for backups and TLS
- −Unofficial (community) server
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
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose Vaultwarden
if a lower exit cost matters more to you than any single feature, and runs on tiny hardware.
Choose KeePassXC
if no server or cloud at all.
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — you are responsible for backups and TLS, and you arrange your own sync. If either of those is a dealbreaker for your team, the shortlist is wrong rather than the choice.
What it takes to run these yourself
Real requirements and honest running costs, not the vendor quickstart.
Vaultwarden vs KeePassXC — common questions
Is Vaultwarden a better fit than KeePassXC for password managers?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: Vaultwarden scores 95 to KeePassXC's 92 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. KeePassXC earns its place on a different axis — no server or cloud at all. Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
Vaultwarden keeps its data local or in open formats, so leaving is an export rather than a negotiation. KeePassXC is still self-hostable, so the files stay on your server either way — but it is not local-first by design, so check what its export produces before you rely on it.
Can I self-host Vaultwarden or KeePassXC?
Both can be self-hosted. The difference is what it costs you in time rather than whether it is possible — see the setup and maintenance rows above.
Are Vaultwarden and KeePassXC both alternatives to 1Password?
Yes — both appear in our 1Password comparison, which is why they are worth putting side by side. People usually arrive here already having decided to move off 1Password and now choosing between the two replacements, which is a narrower and much easier question.
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Facts verified 2026-07-04. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.