Date posted: December 11, 2025

Switching to a local password manager

Most common password managers provide syncing features by storing your passwords on a server.

I wanted to use a password manager that didn't need to be stored on servers, but I still wanted to sync it between devices conveniently.

Prior to this switch, I used Proton Pass. It's similar to common password managers like those provided by Google and Apple. It provides syncing and good integration with apps and browsers. What I like about Proton as a company is that they value privacy and try to be open. They are also based in Switzerland, so they have to follow strong privacy laws.

I think Proton provides great products, but their cloud-based nature worries me. I'm making the switch to KeePassXC, which only stores passwords locally. It's also free and open source. I sync my passwords between devices using Syncthing, a free syncing service that doesn't need a centralized server.

On my phone, I use KeePassium, which is compatible with the files used by KeePassXC.