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Comment by varbhat | Hacker News Reader

I have moved to KeepassXC[1] on my desktop from Bitwarden. On phone, I use KeepassDX[2] which is Android client compatible with KeepassXC. On browser, I use KeepassXC Browser extension which connects with the desktop client. Since KeepassXC operates on a single file, you can use any Filesystem syncing tool to sync that file between devices or to store it in the cloud. I am really happy with the move.

[1]: https://keepassxc.org [2]: https://www.keepassdx.com

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The file syncing, particularly between Android phone and multiple desktop machines, is my biggest worry with this workflow. Will the synced Keepass file get corrupted if I add a new password on the phone and also on desktop, and then later try to merge them?

No, KeepassXC has an option to merge databases, it never caused me any trouble. I have a similar setup to parent commenter.

Been using this setup for many years and never had any problem at all. I sync between desktop and mobile with Syncthing[0]. You can configure Syncthing to do file versioning, it has many options (Trash Can, Simple, Staggered or External file versioning) so if some weird conflict happens you'll never lose data. But honestly, I have never had any issues, and I have been running this setup for many years. So I'm sure I have run into all kind of edge cases and it just works.

As side note, Syncthing is an amazing piece of software. I sync everything for my other devices into a central PC and from there I do the backups.

- [0]: https://syncthing.net/

It works as long as your are the only user. Sharing passwords with shared keepass files didn't work properly for me. It was the main reason to move to 1Password (and I never looked back).

KeePass is such a backwards step in usability and features that I don’t even consider it a competitor. The whole reason I moved to 1Password was to get away from how easy it was to accidentally lose data with the KeePass clients.

For example, one client I used had a temporary bug that just lost the notes field entirely. It was quickly fixed but it still affected me.

I’m currently using 1Password, which I still think is the best product overall as I’ve tried just about all the rest. For this product category I’m happy to pay the highest price to get the best product.

You are right that 1Password is probably the best overall product in this space. It's non-free though, which for me is a deal breaker.

Recently moved to a KeePass setup after 1Password raised their prices. Feels good to be in complete control.

im using pretty much the same setup myself

just to mention an alternative method for anyone that doesnt know: keepass also has a feature called 'autotype' where the desktop program can send keystrokes to fill in password fields

the benefit of this over the browser extension is that there is no connection between your browser and your keepass vault.

its also handy for filling in passwords in desktop programs or even a terminal

one downside is that you wont be able to have passwords automatically filled in as youre browsing. you need to press a hotkey, but i would consider this to be more of a good security feature to cut out any chance of your browser autofilling any hidden password fields

there is still a browser extension that i use that adds the url to the titlebar of the browser, which makes it easier for the autotype dialog to show the correct logins from your vault

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/add-url-to-wi...

That's how I use it. The less browser extensions, the better.

This is my exact plan too, if I ever have to leave the Apple ecosystem.

KeePassXC is cross-platform FYI

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