When comparing KeePass vs Zero Password Manager (formerly ID Guard Offline), the Slant community recommends KeePass for most people. In the question“What are the best offline password managers?” KeePass is ranked 1st while Zero Password Manager (formerly ID Guard Offline) is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose KeePass is:
KeePass being open source means that a number of people have reviewed the code and found it to be secure.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Free and open source
KeePass being open source means that a number of people have reviewed the code and found it to be secure.
Pro Cross-platform desktop and mobile
Available for Windows, with unofficial ports for Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS.
Pro Reliable
KeePass is consistent and stable across all clients including merging conflicts between desktop and mobile apps.
Pro Powerful built-in password generator
Password generator can be adjusted to use or exclude certain characters, patterns, external algorithms and principles.
Pro Autofills passwords securely
KeePass uses a feature called AutoType that pastes passwords in browser window using a combination of virtual keystrokes and clipboard obfuscation for added security against keyloggers.
Pro Does not depend on the cloud
Unlike many other password management tools, by default the KeePass encrypted database is not stored in the cloud, but strictly locally, for added security.
Pro Can be used as a portable application
Works as a portable application that does not need to be installed and can be carried around in an external device.
Pro Extremely powerful encryption algorithm
KeePass uses AES-256 encryption for passwords which is practically unbreakable.
Pro Extensive plugin and extension support
Keepass offers a range of plugins and extensions in different categories: Integration & Transfer, Automation & Scripting, Cryptography & Key Providers, and others.
Pro Multifactor authentication
Keepass offers a combination of master password, key file and user account verification.
Pro Allows storage of attachments such as pictures, documents and all kinds of files in general
Appending attachments to individual credential entries allows things like scanning important documents (for instance a scanned document containing the login information for your internet connection), appending them to the corresponding credential entry and afterwards destroying the original paper copy.
Pro Offers multiple sync options
Since the database is stored locally it can be synced across devices using a cloud storage service like Dropbox, Google Drive or via a file sync tool like BitTorrent Sync. KeePass v2 also provides a powerful built-in synchronization mechanism that allows setting appropriate level of sync, kind of sync, and choosing between a number of sync sources (Dropbox, Drive, etc).
Pro Regular updates
On average a new point release is available every 3 months.
Pro Due to the open source nature, there are numerous apps for Android available that support KeePass
Offers large variety of apps with different features and user interfaces vastly increasing the user base by catering to almost every taste.
Pro Intuitive categorization options and search for managing entries
Entries can be categorized in folders and subfolders and quickly found using search.
Pro Built-in history that tracks changes to individual credential entries
With the built-in history you can lookup previous passwords, track changes in general and if necessary recover those. In essence you are looking at a built-in Version Control System (VCS) which operates on single entries. Browsing the history of specific entries also displays associated metadata like the date of a change.

Pro Allows useful scripting via KPScript plugin
KeePass can set global hotkeys to fill in credentials while on a sites log-in screen. Scripting can launch a site or other application and perform any necessary log-on steps securely. It requires the KPScript plugin.
Pro 100% Free
No paid version. Free for everyone.
Pro Various iOS clients available
e.g. KeePass Touch, MiniKeePass.
Pro Customizable password records
Users may define any extra fields (eg. "Surname", "Credit Card No", "Start Date", "Expiry Date" and "Security No") and their values may then be easily copy-and-pasted when required. This is a great feature not found in a lot of password-managers: they leave you to consign such additional information to the "Notes" section.
Pro Clear, concise user interface
This app has the easiest, cleanest, and clearest user interface. For reference, LastPass has progressively gotten worse and worse and is now a confusing mess, while Keepass remains very user-friendly.
Pro Works inside Android apps
There are variations in support of features, so this is dependent on the Android app being used. Keepass2Android is one that has built-in synchronization over ssh and other protocols, fingerprint support and plugins are also supported to a certain extent.
Pro Recommended by a number of European governments and the EU
KeePass is recommended by the German Federal Office for Information Security, the European Commission’s Free and Open Source Software Auditing (EU-FOSSA) project, and the French Network and Information Security Agency.
Pro Support in iOS Safari browser
Difficult passwords are mostly a PITA on a mobile keyboard.

Pro Blackberry support
Keepass has an available Blackberry app that not only makes it easy to use on the go, but will work with any files backed up in the cloud for ease of access to stored passwords used on different machines.
Pro Unique extension design
The extension is a remote autofill framework without storing passwords or requiring sign-in. Its design can help minimizing the security risks caused by browser vulnerabilities.
After you scan the QR code on a desktop browser to confirm filling, your password will be encrypted on your mobile app first, then sent to the cloud server via a mobile browser, and finally arrive at the extension to be decrypted and filled in.
Check this to know more details.
Pro Security chip encryption
The app protects your data with your phone's security chip, the same chip used by smartphone wallet to protect payment cards.
NFC Card in Android Pay.
iOS Apple Pay components.
Pro Backup & restore
You can back up all your data including passwords, OTP, attachments etc, with AES-256 and PBKDF2 encryption.
The app also allows you to send your backup password to your friends in encrypted form in case you forget it. Friends help save the encrypted backup password but cannot decrypt it, let alone access your database.
Pro Hundreds of terrific account templates
The app provides many account templates including tech giants like Google, crypto wallets like Binance, email accounts like CTemplar, game accounts like Steam, etc.
You can use these templates to save all your accounts' security information like recovery codes, security questions and answers, etc.
Pro Autofill login
2 taps to autofill your username and password on mobile apps or browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
Every time you use autofill, you must authenticate with your biometric or master password to unlock the app. So even if you temporarily lend your phone to someone else, you don't have to worry about them abusing autofill to sign in and spy on your accounts.
Pro Apple ID security template
You can use it to save passwords, recovery codes, receipts, security questions and answers, etc.
There are also some helpful security tips about how to protect your Apple ID.
Pro OTP authenticator (2FA)
You can use the app to help enable 2FA for other platform accounts. The password, OTP, and recovery codes of an account can be saved together.
For example see this.
Pro Save attachments and notes
You can add attachments to save the photos of your ID cards, driver licenses, etc. in the app. Like other data, your notes and attachments are well protected with secure chip encryption and sandbox isolation.
Pro Save payment cards
As long as you enter the card number, ID Guard Offline app can automatically identify the card issuer, card organization and so on. It is easier than ever to store payment card information.
Pro Anti malicious fraud
When you use autofill, the app can identify fake apps, display the requested information, automatically match the filling account, etc.
These security designs can prevent malicious apps or websites from defrauding your password with hidden password boxes, forged login interfaces, etc.
Pro Biometric or master password authentication
Every time you open the app, you are required to authenticate with biometric. If you have set a master password for extra protection, you can also unlock the app by entering the correct master password.
Pro Verifiable security technologies
They shared a lot of blogs to show how to verify their security technologies like security chip encryption, true offline, autofill phishing detection, extension security design, etc.
Check out tech blogs.
Pro Find back master password
With other password managers, if you forget your master password, your can't unlock your database forever. But this app is different. It allows you to send your master password to your friends in encrypted form in case you forget it. Friends help save the encrypted master password but cannot decrypt it, let alone access your database.
Pro Excellent password generator
Its password generator allows you to fine control special characters to satisfy complex password requirements like containing certain symbols, the same characters cannot be sequential.
See here.
Pro No ads, no tracking
Neither the app nor the extension has trackers.
You need to be careful if you’re using a password manager with trackers. Because hackers may attack these trackers to steal your passwords.
See this
Pro Supports multiple platforms
The app supports iOS and Android. The extension supports Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
The extension only can be used with the help of the app because all your data is safely stored in the app on your phone with secure chip encryption and sandbox isolation, while the extension does not keep any data.
See this
Pro Clean and intuitive UI
After unlocking the app, you will see all the stored accounts' logos and names on the main interface. Tap a tag, like Tools, you can see the accounts with that tag.
Pro Import & export
Support importing CSV files exported from Chrome/Edge/Firefox/Safari/Myki or importing them with zip encryption mode.
You can also export your data from ID Guard Offline app in CSV or JSON format with password encryption.
Pro Timeline (account history)
Automatically record the changing histories of your accounts. This feature would be very helpful if you are using some platforms that ask for the last 3 passwords when changing a new one.
Pro Add multiple tags
The app will automatically tag your stored accounts to help you manage them by categories. You can also add custom tags.
Pro Password meter
When you enter a password to save, the app will automatically detect its strength and let you know if it is a weak password.
Pro Auto-lock
To prevent someone from peeking at your passwords when you walk away temporarily, ID Guard Offline app will auto-lock if no interaction within 30 seconds.
Pro Easy to use
So easy to use some features, like 1 tap to add account, 2 taps to autofill password.
The first time you open the app, it will ask you to use biometric authentication or set a master password as the protection method to protect your data. After finishing that step, you can go into the app’s main interface and start using it. It's straightforward to use without extra setup or redundant introductions.
Pro Minimum permissions
- Access camera: Scan QR code to save or fill passwords.
- Use fingerprint hardware: Use fingerprint recognition to authenticate user (Cannot steal fingerprint data).
- Appear on top of other apps: An autofill bar will appear on top of the input box when autofill is enabled.
- Foreground service: Display the autofill bar when using accessibility service and let user know which app is displaying the floating bar.
- Google Play billing service: Unlock PRO features on Google Play. Google Play connects to the network to authorize user.
- Hide overlay windows: Hide overlay windows to prevent overlay attacks (Android 12+).
No FULL NETWORK ACCESS. TRUE offline. Minimize the attack surface and can never leak any data or be attacked via the network.
Check its permissions on Google Play
Pro Add custom logos
They pre-downloaded and packaged numerous platforms’ logos into the app. When you enter an app name to use its template to save a new account, the app will automatically show you the appropriate logo.
You can also select a picture from your system albums as your custom logo. And yet, if you are an Android user, you can pick logos from the installed apps on your phone.
See this
Pro No signup or login
Neither require sign-up and login nor collect personal information. They have no idea who you are, let alone bother you with ad tracking or promotional emails.
Cons
Con Not particularly modern UI
Difficult to use for new users. Small font.
Con No good cross platform syncing ability
E.g. between Windows and mobile.
Con Officially supported only on Windows, Mono or Wine
While there are ports available for Linux, OSX, iOS, Windows Phone and Android, the only officially supported version of KeePass 2 is on Windows and all platforms running Mono like Linux, Mac OS X, BSD. KeePass 1 is supported on Windows and Wine.
Con Outdated website
Extremely outdated website, which deters news users.
Con iOS support for syncing (not true -> KeePass Touch)
KeePass Touch supports a whole range of cloud sync options.
iOS clients still have somewhat limited syncing options for password files - such as DropBox.
Con Balkanized app ecosystem
There are a lot of different KeePass apps made by different people depending on your platform, e.g. Firefox, iOS, etc. Quality can be inconsistent and you need to trust each different set of authors.
Con No true multi-user and logging
Does not support multiple logins (different credentials) to database.
Con Closed source
Not being open source means that you have to trust them for what they say. Trusting someone with all your passwords is never a good idea.
Con Lack of desktop clients
It might seem that whole world is "mobile" now. But that's not true. A lot of people use their notebooks or even desktop computers to work from. Lack of Linux and Windows clients holds this back.
But it has an extension that supports Chrome, Firefox and Edge. You can autofill passwords on desktop browsers with the help of the app.
Here is a post to share how the extension works.
Another post to introduce the extension's security designs.
Con Chinese company
ID Guard Offline is owned by Bluespace Tech, a company based in Guangdong, China.
