Most secure offline password manager (KeepassXC)

My favorite password manager: KeepassXC

KeepassXC is a free and open-source password manager which can work completely offline. You can store the password backup file on a pendrive, hard disk, or phone storage and avoid storing it in the cloud, thus making it difficult for any intruder to find your passwords. No need to worry about data breaches either!

Each password entry contains: Title, Username, Password, URL of the website, Password Expiry Time field, Notes field. KeepassXC desktop supports both Light mode and Dark mode. You can take a peek look at the KeepassXC desktop version via the screenshots here (screenshot titled Entry Editing).

After you are done with all the password entries, you can export the password database into a file with the extension .kdbx. Later, you can import this .kdbx password file into your android app (or desktop app).

For maximum security, you can store the backup password database (.kdbx file) completely offline without using any cloud sync (privacy over convenience).

Alternatively, if you want cloud sync, you can upload the password backup .kdbx file into any cloud provider like Dropbox/GoogleDrive/OneDrive/iCloud to access it on multiple devices.

Quick links of KeepassXC password manager

• Official download link
  • KeepassXC desktop supports MacOS, Windows and Linux. It also has a browser extension.
• Source code (Github) of the official KeepassXC desktop version
• User Guide
• Official FAQ

Android app for KeepassXC

• Android app source code (Github)
• Two versions:
  • Keepass2Android Password Safe (with cloud sync support): here
  • Keepass2Android Offline (no internet access): here

iOS app for KeepassXC

• iOS KeepassXC app: here (I haven’t used this, but it seems legit based on the reviews)

Conclusion

I personally use KeepassXC desktop and the “Keepass2Android Offline” Android app. If you want to go for a paid provider for password manager prioritizing ease of use, you can go with Bitwarden.

Although KeepassXC supports storing 2FA (two-factor authentiation) codes, I recommend against it because it isn’t wise to keep all your eggs in one basket. If somehow an intruder gets hold of your keepassXC database file (unlikely) and brute-forces the password and unlocks it, then you will lose your account access (both your password and 2FA codes can get compromised). So, it’s better to separate the password manager and 2FA codes.

In my next blog post, I will review a free and open-source alternative for storing your multi-factor authentication codes (Aegis 2FA Authenticator: supported only on Android as of now). Stay tuned…

Thank you!