Strongbox vs KeePassium vs KeePassXC: KeePass Apps for Mac & iPhone

Strongbox, KeePassium and KeePassXC are the names that come up most when Apple users look for a KeePass app, and PanicVault is a native alternative built specifically for Apple devices. Only need an app for your phone? Our guide to KeePass for iPhone is shorter and also covers moving a database over from Windows.

The KeePass ecosystem’s greatest strength is choice. Because the KDBX format is open and documented, all of these apps read and write the same database files, so picking one is about platform, price, and features rather than lock-in. This guide, part of our password manager comparisons hub, compares every significant KeePass-compatible app on Mac, iPhone, and iPad – each with different strengths, trade-offs, and philosophies.

Why Choose the KeePass Ecosystem on Apple?

Before comparing individual apps, it is worth understanding why you would choose a KeePass-compatible app over a cloud-based password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden:

Data ownership: Your database is a file you control. No cloud account required, no subscription, no vendor lock-in. See our KeePass data portability guide for why this matters.

Format interoperability: A database created in any KeePass app works in every other KeePass app. Switch apps freely without data conversion.

Proven encryption: The KDBX format uses well-documented encryption (AES-256, ChaCha20, Argon2d) that has been scrutinized for nearly two decades.

Low or no recurring costs: KeePassXC is free, PanicVault is a one-time purchase, and Strongbox and KeePassium both sell lifetime licences alongside their subscriptions.

The trade-off is that you manage sync yourself (typically through iCloud Drive or another file sync service) and you give up managed features like built-in breach monitoring.

Strongbox vs KeePassium: The Short Answer

Strongbox and KeePassium are both long-established KeePass clients for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and both open KDBX 4, KDBX 3.1, and KeePass 1.x databases. They differ in four places:

• What is free. KeePassium’s free version handles one database with basic AutoFill, Face ID and Touch ID, and TOTP codes, but you pick each login from a list every time; logins suggested above the keyboard, saving new logins from AutoFill, YubiKey support, and the password audit need Premium. Strongbox’s free version (non-commercial use only) includes AutoFill and TOTP codes on iPhone and iPad, but Face ID and Touch ID unlock need Pro, and on Mac so does AutoFill.
• What paying costs. Strongbox Pro is $2.99/month, $24.99/year, or $124.99 lifetime on Strongbox’s website. KeePassium Premium is €19.99/year on a rent-to-own basis, and the lifetime KeePassium Pro app is $79.99 on the US App Store. (Prices vary by region.)
• Sync. Strongbox connects to Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, WebDAV, and SFTP itself, as well as iCloud Drive. KeePassium works through whichever providers appear in the iOS Files app.
• Scope. Strongbox does more: an Apple Watch app, Have I Been Pwned breach checks, and an SSH agent on Mac (all Pro). KeePassium is smaller and more focused.

Both publish their source code, KeePassium under the GPLv3 and Strongbox under the AGPL-3.0, but there is no way to verify that the App Store builds were compiled from it. Choose KeePassium for a simpler app you can start using free, within the limits above; choose Strongbox if you want the most features and built-in sync and expect to pay. They open the same file, so trying both costs nothing but time. So does PanicVault, covered below, if your database is KDBX 4: a native app sold as a one-time purchase, with no subscription.

Put this guide into practice PanicVault keeps your passwords in an encrypted KeePass file you own — offline-first, no subscription, on iPhone, iPad & Mac.

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The Apps

PanicVault

Platforms: macOS, iOS, iPadOS Price: $4.99 one-time purchase KDBX support: KDBX 4.0 only (KDBX 3.1 databases must be converted first)

PanicVault is designed specifically for the Apple ecosystem. Built with SwiftUI, it provides native integration with macOS, iOS, and iPadOS that feels like a first-party Apple application.

Highlights:

• System-wide AutoFill through Apple’s credential provider extension
• Face ID and Touch ID for biometric unlock
• iCloud Drive and Google Drive sync built in
• TOTP two-factor code support
• Clean, focused interface following Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines
• Full KDBX read/write with groups, custom fields, attachments, and entry history
• YubiKey challenge-response over NFC on iPhone, and over USB on Mac

Limitations:

• No YubiKey on iPad, over USB-C, or over Lightning (5Ci)
• KDBX 4 only – no KDBX 3.1 or KeePass 1.x KDB
• No SSH agent integration
• Not open source
• Apple platforms only

Best for: Apple-ecosystem users who want the most native experience with their KDBX database. PanicVault bridges the gap between KeePass’s data portability and 1Password’s user experience.

Strongbox

Platforms: macOS, iOS, iPadOS Price: Freemium (free version for non-commercial use; Pro at $2.99/month, $24.99/year, or $124.99 lifetime on Strongbox’s website) KDBX support: Full (3.1 and 4.0, plus KeePass 1.x KDB)

Strongbox is a mature, feature-rich KeePass client for Apple devices with a longer history on the App Store. It offers more configuration options and sync provider support than PanicVault.

Highlights:

• Multiple sync providers (iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, WebDAV, SFTP)
• YubiKey hardware key support (Pro)
• Password audit (weak-password audit free; Have I Been Pwned breach checks with Pro)
• Apple Watch companion app (Pro)
• KDB (KeePass 1.x) format support in addition to KDBX
• Extensive settings and configuration options
• TOTP code support, including in the free version
• Source code published on GitHub under the AGPL-3.0 licence

Limitations:

• Free version lacks Face ID and Touch ID unlock (and, on Mac, AutoFill), and is for non-commercial use only
• More complex interface due to extensive configuration options
• Highest lifetime price in this group ($124.99 on Strongbox’s website)

Best for: Power users who need multiple sync providers, Lightning (5Ci) hardware keys, or password auditing. Also ideal for users migrating from older KeePass 1.x databases.

For a direct comparison, see PanicVault vs. Strongbox.

KeePassXC

Platforms: macOS (also Windows, Linux) Price: Free (open source) KDBX support: Full (3.1 and 4.0)

KeePassXC is a widely used desktop KeePass client. It is free and open source, with desktop features such as Auto-Type, an SSH agent, and browser extensions. However, it is desktop-only – there are no official mobile apps.

Highlights:

• Completely free with no premium tier
• Open source (community-auditable code)
• AES-256, ChaCha20, and Twofish encryption support
• YubiKey and hardware key support
• SSH agent integration
• Auto-Type (simulates keyboard input to fill credentials anywhere)
• KeeShare for sharing groups between databases
• Database merge for handling sync conflicts
• Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Chromium-based browsers

Limitations:

• No Safari extension (significant for Mac users)
• No iOS or iPadOS app (requires a separate mobile KeePass app)
• No system-wide AutoFill on macOS
• Qt-based interface (functional but not native macOS design)
• No built-in sync (manual file management required)

Best for: Desktop power users, developers, and system administrators. Particularly strong for users who need SSH agent integration, Auto-Type, or hardware key support. Combines well with PanicVault or Strongbox on mobile.

For the full desktop comparison, see PanicVault vs. KeePassXC.

KeePassium

Platforms: iOS, iPadOS (macOS via Catalyst) Price: Freemium (free for one database; Premium at €19.99/year, or $79.99 for the lifetime Pro app on the US App Store) KDBX support: Full (3.1 and 4.0, plus KeePass 1.x KDB)

KeePassium is a KeePass client for iPhone and iPad, with a Mac version built with Mac Catalyst. Its source code is published under the GPLv3.

Highlights:

• Simpler interface than Strongbox
• System AutoFill support
• Face ID and Touch ID, including in the free tier
• TOTP codes, including in the free tier
• Multiple databases (Premium; the free tier covers one)
• File provider integration (iCloud, Dropbox, etc.)
• YubiKey support and password leak audit (Premium)
• Source code published under the GPLv3

Limitations:

• Multiple databases, YubiKey, password audit, and logins suggested above the keyboard require Premium or Pro; the free version’s AutoFill makes you pick each login from a list
• Less established than Strongbox
• macOS app via Catalyst (not fully native macOS experience)

Best for: iPhone and iPad users with a single database who can live with basic AutoFill, or who are willing to pay for Premium.

KeePass 2.x (via Mono on macOS)

Platforms: Windows (native), macOS/Linux (via Mono runtime) Price: Free (open source) KDBX support: Full (reference implementation)

KeePass 2.x is the original KeePass implementation that defined the KDBX format. It can run on macOS through the Mono runtime, but the experience is far from native.

Highlights:

• Reference implementation of the KDBX format
• Extensive plugin ecosystem
• Maximum compatibility
• Completely free

Limitations:

• Not designed for macOS (runs via Mono, looks and feels like a Windows app)
• No iOS or iPadOS app
• No macOS integration (no Touch ID, no AutoFill, no menu bar)
• Poor performance on macOS
• User interface is dated

Best for: Users who need specific KeePass 2.x plugins that are not available in other clients. For general macOS use, KeePassXC is the superior choice on desktop.

Comparison Table

*Source code is public, but App Store builds can’t be verified against it.

Recommended Combinations

The KeePass ecosystem’s interoperability means you do not have to pick one app for every situation. Here are effective combinations:

All-Apple, Simple Setup

PanicVault on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. One app, one purchase, one experience. iCloud Drive or Google Drive handles sync. Best for users who want simplicity and native integration across all Apple devices.

Apple + Cross-Platform

PanicVault on iPhone and iPad, KeePassXC on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Use PanicVault for mobile with system AutoFill. Use KeePassXC on desktop for its advanced features (SSH agent, Auto-Type, browser extension). Store the KDBX file on iCloud Drive or Dropbox for sync across all devices.

Maximum Features

Strongbox on all Apple devices, KeePassXC on non-Apple desktops. Strongbox’s password audit, KeePass 1.x support, and multiple sync providers cover power user needs. KeePassXC handles desktop-specific workflows. (Hardware keys are no longer a reason to pick one Apple app over the other – PanicVault and Strongbox both support YubiKey challenge-response over NFC on iPhone, and over USB on Mac; in Strongbox it is a Pro feature.)

Zero Cost, With Trade-offs

KeePassXC on Mac, KeePassium’s free version on iPhone. This costs nothing, but you give up a lot: KeePassium Free opens one database, you pick each login from a list instead of seeing it above the keyboard, and YubiKey support and the password audit need Premium. KeePassXC has no Safari integration.

Choosing the Right App

Prioritize if you want the most native Apple experience

PanicVault. SwiftUI interface, system AutoFill, iCloud and Google Drive sync, and a design philosophy that matches Apple’s own apps. The closest you can get to a first-party KeePass experience on Apple devices.

Prioritize if you want the most features

Strongbox (Apple) or KeePassXC (desktop). Strongbox covers Apple platforms with password auditing, KeePass 1.x support, and multiple sync providers. KeePassXC covers desktop platforms with SSH agent, Auto-Type, and open-source transparency.

Prioritize if you want the lowest cost

KeePassXC on desktop and KeePassium free on mobile. Zero cost across all devices, though KeePassium’s free version is limited to one database and basic AutoFill.

Database Compatibility Notes

All apps listed here support KDBX 4.0, which is the current version of the KeePass database format. When creating a new database, use KDBX 4.0 with AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption and Argon2d key derivation for the best balance of security and compatibility.

Some older apps or versions may not support KDBX 4.0 features. If you need compatibility with legacy KeePass tools, KDBX 3.1 with AES-256 and AES-KDF is the safest choice, though you lose the security benefits of Argon2d.

For encryption details, see our KeePass encryption explained guide.

The Bottom Line

PanicVault offers the best native Apple experience, as a one-time purchase with built-in iCloud Drive and Google Drive sync. Strongbox has the most features and sync options, and the highest lifetime price. KeePassXC covers Windows and Linux desktops. KeePassium has a free version for a single database, with Premium needed for logins above the keyboard and YubiKey support.

Because they all use the same KDBX format, your choice is about interface preference and specific feature needs – not about locking your data into a particular tool. Try the ones that interest you. Your database file works in all of them.

Related Articles

• PanicVault vs. KeePassXC – Detailed comparison of the two most popular options
• PanicVault vs. Strongbox – Apple-native KeePass apps compared
• KeePass Encryption Explained – Security architecture shared by all KeePass apps
• KeePass Compatibility Guide – Format compatibility across the ecosystem
• Best Password Manager for Mac – Broader Mac password manager comparison