Software

Mobile Apps

personally tested


Strongbox Zero

A KeePass Password Manager

Great Password Safe for iOS and iPadOS

Strongbox Zero is an application for iPhone and iPad to store all your passwords securely protected by a master password. Strongbox Zero supports the open source formats “Password Safe” and “KeePass”.

Strongbox Zero is a version of the well-known and popular Strongbox app with all the network code and as many third-party libraries removed as possible! Think of it as the drag-racer version of Strongbox!

If you don't like storing passwords in a cloud, this could be the right choice for you.

It is recommended to first get to know (and love!) the regular freemium app Strongbox. If you are satisfied and sure that you only want to work locally, opt for Strongbox Zero …

Developer/Supplier

Developer: Mark McGuill

Purchase/Installation Date

30.04.2019: Strongbox Pro (Personal Edition) 3 months free trial!
29.07.2019: Strongbox Pro (Personal Edition)
22.09.2022: Strongbox Zero (initially for iOS/iPadOS only)

Purchase Price

Strongbox basic version: free and without advertising!
Strongbox Pro:   28.99 EUR one-time (July 2019)
Strongbox Zero: 59.99 EUR one-time (September 2022)
Strongbox Zero: 89.99 EUR one-time (current price)

Rating (1–5 Stars)

Rating: ***** 5 stars

System Requirements

iPhone/iPod touch with iOS 14 or newer.
iPad with iPadOS 14 or newer.
Mac/MacBook with macOS 11 or newer.

Languages

Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese, Ukrainian, Simplified Chinese. Chinese, Czech, Ukrainian, Simplified Chinese

Support

By e-mail (English). Very nice contact with the competent developer who responds quickly!

Features

  • Face ID, Touch ID or PIN code support for convenience & speed
  • use the Files app for storage options
  • store the safes securely only on your local device (Strongbox Zero)
  • securely protected by proven industrial encryption methods
  • search collection of passwords & secrets using powerful search function
  • automatically complete new entries and automatically generate strong passwords
  • automatically delete clipboard, entry history, field references, placeholders on a time-controlled basis
  • Support for custom icons for KeePass
  • Support for two-factor authentication codes (TOTP)
  • Standard-compliant support of the proven “Password Safe” and “KeePass” formats

Pros

  • One-time payment (test 3 months beforehand with the freemium app Strongbox)
  • Open Source (Programme code can be checked at any time)
  • no unnecessary ballast – online functions are not available in this version
  • existing password safes in “Password Safe” and “KeePass” format can be easily imported
  • Password Safes easily exportable in “KeePass” format (e.g. for regular backup!)
  • clear, fast and easy to use despite large range of functions
  • hard-working and very competent developer actively takes care of further optimisation

Cons

  • none noticed

Conclusion

Best protection for your password secrets!
This product is under constant development.

Despite the huge range of functions, the user interface appears tidy and clear. Those who prefer a slim version without online features will be optimally served by Strongbox Zero.

It's good that this is not a subscription version.
Because not everyone likes subscriptions.
I paid 59.99 EUR once; in the meantime it costs 89.99 EUR once.
As an Apple customer, you unfortunately don't get to see the prices of apps you've already bought. I had to trick to see the current price.

Alternatives

There are many good password managers and the main thing is that you use one! Demands and tastes are different and whether you like this or that password safe better also depends on what you used to use. Those who have used KeePassB on a BlackBerry Playbook or BB10 smartphone may prefer Andrei Popleteev's KeePassium – out of habit. I had tried both and I had liked Strongbox better from the beginning, although its user interface was not as nice as it is now.

Unless you only use Apple devices, this is not an obstacle. The KeePass database file is compatible with KeePass password managers for Android, Linux and Windows.
On Fairphone 3+ and Fairphone 4 5G, I used KeePassDX and exchanged the password files with those for Strongbox on iOS and macOS as soon as something changed. I had also exported the password file from Strongbox Zero and loaded it into KeePassDX on my Pixel 7 Pro.

But since I had set up two user profiles on the Pixel 7 Pro, manual synchronisation became too cumbersome for me. That's why I tested the only platform-independent open source solution Bitwarden. It is permanently free for private individuals (TOTP only for the master password).
In the meantime, I also added the Pixel 8 Pro. Bitwarden has proved its worth for my zoo of devices and is convenient and secure.

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