KeePass vs. LastPass 2025: Better Security Determines the Winner

If security is your top concern when it comes to your password manager, than KeePass is a much better option than LastPass. Not only has it never had a data breach, but your information stays safely on your computer instead of being uploaded to the cloud where it's more at risk.

That said, as open-source software, KeePass lacks some polish and extras that LastPass offers out of the box. So if you want an easy way to share passwords between devices and with other people, it's your better option.

This comparison will dig into the differences between these two options in depth, plus recommend some of the best password managers if neither scratch the itch.

KeePass vs. LastPass

One of the key differences between KeePass and LastPass is the format you’ll use for each. KeePass is an open-source password manager that is known for its database look, which some users love. It can be especially useful for moving files from one device to another. KeePass also lets you customize some things; you can attach files to password entries to view documentation when needed.

LastPass saves many of its more prominent features for its LastPass Premium subscriptions. That includes personal customer support and syncing across multiple devices.

• KeePass: Best for safety
• LastPass: Best for ease of use and plenty of features

KeePass vs. LastPass review at a glance

	Our Pick
Star rating	3.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	3.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Price	Free	Starts at $3.00/mo (billed annually)
Free version		Yes, limited to one device type (mobile or desktop)
Number of users	1 — but it can be used on a shared network	1-6
Compatibility	Windows (unofficial ports for other platforms available)	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Browser extensions	Unofficial ports available for most browsers	Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari
Password sharing
Encryption	AES-256, ChaCha20, Twofish	AES-256
Password generator
Password strength report
Autofill
Digital legacy
Cloud storage		Up to 1GB
	Get KeePass Read KeePass Review	Get LastPass Read LastPass Review

KeePass pros and cons

KeePass is open-source software, which means all the behind-the-scenes code that makes it work is available for anyone to look at. The result is software that may not have the best looking user interface, but has all the core features and extra security. The safety is underscored by the fact that your passwords are only stored locally — they're never uploaded to KeePass servers. That means even if someone were to hack into KeePass, they wouldn't be able to access your files unless they get on to your computer.

Though that's great news for security, KeePass does suffer a bit when it comes to user experience. The interface is outdated and confusing, sharing passwords isn't intuitive, and you can't automatically sync databases between devices. This product is best for someone who is tech-savvy, super privacy focused, and likes to have the option to tinker with KeePass to make it the perfect product for themselves.

LastPass pros and cons

LastPass is a very popular password manager that has many more built-in features than KeePass, including the ability to easily share passwords with other people, automatic database updates, data breach scanning, and more. The user interface is much more polished than KeePass and easier to use overall.

That said, LastPass has experienced the cardinal sin of password managers: its data has been breached multiple times. If that fact makes you lose all trust for a product, then you're best to look elsewhere.

Which password manager is the better value?

KeePass is completely free software, which makes it a better value overall.

	Our Pick
Price range	Free	Free–$4.00/mo
Best value plan	Free	Family plan for $4.00/mo (billed annually)
Free trial	N/A	Yes — 30 days
Money-back guarantee	N/A
	Get KeePass Read KeePass Review	Get LastPass Read LastPass Review

KeePass is completely free to use. With this open-source platform, there are no paid subscriptions offered. LastPass offers a free version, but for $3.00/mo (billed annually), you can opt for the Premium plan that comes with more features, like access across unlimited devices, 1 GB of encrypted file storage, emergency access, and personal customer support. The free plan doesn’t give you these features.

LastPass doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee but you can try it for free for 30 days. Once the trial is up, you can move down to the free version if you don’t want to keep the Premium plan.

You can use KeePass on one primary device but the database can be opened by multiple users. Depending on your LastPass plan, you can cover up to six users and unlimited devices.

Which password manager has the better features?

LastPass is a much more polished password manager experiences, complete with a bunch of extras.

Feature		Our Pick
Import/export tool
Password sharing
Password generator
Autofill
Password strength report
Digital legacy
Cloud storage
Extra features	A lot of plugins available for extra options	Dark web monitoring
	Get KeePass Read KeePass Review	Get LastPass Read LastPass Review

KeePass is missing a few key features you may want in a password manager. While it does come with some good features for a free platform, you won’t find easy password sharing or dark web monitoring in its feature list. You can share files by copying databases and storing them in the cloud, but that’s clunky at best.

With LastPass, you won’t have a shortage of features. You get everything you could want in a password manager and more, like up to 1GB in cloud storage, dark web monitoring, and all the standard bells and whistles.

Which password manager is safer?

KeePass is a much safer choice over LastPass. Not only has it never had a data breach, but your data is never uploaded to the cloud where it could be breached in the first place.

	Our Pick
Encryption	AES-256, ChaCha20, Twofish	AES-256
Password hashing	SHA-256	PBKDF2-SHA-256
Two-factor authentication
Most recent security audit	October 2016	May 2024
Most recent data breach	N/A	December 2022
	Get KeePass Read KeePass Review	Get LastPass Read LastPass Review

According to the KeePass privacy policy, the company uses your private data only if it’s necessary for a website and only after requesting your consent. Your information is not shared for marketing purposes. LastPass explains that it may use your data from other sources, including information from public databases or third parties. That may involve using your data for marketing prospects.

As far as security is concerned, KeePass has not had a security breach, but LastPass hasn’t been so fortunate. We know there have been security breaches as recent as late 2022. Both password managers may be considered safe to use from an encryption standpoint, but we are hesitant to claim LastPass is completely safe until we see more data in the future regarding any possible breaches.

In May 2023, LastPass released a security update and noted enhancements to their infrastructure to strengthen security, among other actions, like improving cloud storage validation and continuous monitoring for any issues. We are pleased with their in-depth investigation to improve the product and hope customers have seen the last of the password manager breaches.

KeePass has numerous certifications and recommendations. The platform received the BSI Cyber Security Recommendation for Information Security from the German Federal Office. It also had bounties sponsored by The European Commission for finding security vulnerabilities.

KeePass was audited in the European Commission’s Free and Open Source Software Auditing project and no issues were found. An independent security consultant, Zaur Molotnikov, also conducted an audit in January 2023 on KeePassXC and noted it is well-written and provides sufficient cryptographic protection.

Which password manager has better compatibility and customer support?

LastPass has much better compatibility and customer support, since KeePass is an open-source product and relies on the community to answer questions.

		Our Pick
Windows
macOS	Unofficial ports only
Android	Unofficial ports only
iOS	Unofficial ports only
Browser extensions	Unofficial ports only	Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Forums, online guides	Live chat, phone, email, forums, online guides
	Get KeePass Read KeePass Review	Get LastPass Read LastPass Review

While KeePass is only officially available for Windows, there are many unofficial ports available which can bring the program over to the platform of your choice. The major ones include KeePassDroid for Android, KeePassXC for Mac, and KeePassium for iOS.

In contrast, LastPass offers good compatibility with all major browsers and operating systems right out of the box.

You don’t get much customer service with KeePass. There are online guides and support forums to help if you get stuck along the way but no other forms of help.

With LastPass, you have more options, but you won’t get a lot of personal contact without paying for a plan.

FAQs

KeePass vs. LastPass: Which is better?

Overall, with security being one of the driving reasons to get a password manager, we have to recommend KeePass over LastPass, since it’s never been breached and LastPass has had major problems in this area.

If you’re a tech-savvy person who loves to work in a database-driven environment, KeePass gives you a better system. You get strong security with numerous certifications, and you can store your database on your device if you’re not comfortable using the cloud. But if you’re looking for a feature-rich platform that is easy to navigate and comes with different pricing plans, then LastPass is the better plan for you.

Category	Our Pick
Value
Features
Safety
Compatibility & customer support
	Get KeePass Read KeePass Review	Get LastPass Read LastPass Review

Top alternatives

If you're looking for a password manager that can keep your information safe and has an easy-to-use user interface, here are the best password managers we've tested.