Kleopatra Neo vs Gpg4win's Kleopatra: Key Differences
Gpg4win's Kleopatra and Kleopatra Neo share a name, but they are different types of product: an established desktop certificate manager for the GnuPG ecosystem on one side, and an all-in-one OpenPGP and password suite designed to be beginner friendly on the other. The table below shows the practical differences at a glance.
Feature comparison
| Criteria | Kleopatra Neo | Gpg4win's Kleopatra |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Website - runs in your browser; desktop apps for Windows and macOS | Desktop app (Windows via Gpg4win; KDE/Linux environments) |
| Browser extension | Chrome extension (also Edge, Brave and Firefox) | |
| Installation required | None for the web app | Required |
| OpenPGP encrypt, decrypt, sign | Client-side via OpenPGP.js | Via the GnuPG backend |
| Password manager | ||
| TOTP (2FA) codes | ||
| Email aliases | ||
| Encrypted multi-device sync | Optional, encrypted client-side | Manual key export / import and backups |
| Hardware security keys | FIDO2 security key vault protection (beta) | Smartcards and USB tokens via GnuPG |
| X.509 / S/MIME | Self-signed X.509 generation only | |
| PGP for Gmail | Via the browser extension | |
| License | Proprietary - free core | Free Software, GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Account required | Optional, for sync and aliases | |
| Price | Free core; paid plans lift sync and alias limits | Free |
Feature availability may vary by application version, operating system and configuration. Gpg4win and KDE Kleopatra information was checked against official documentation (gpg4win.org, apps.kde.org/kleopatra, gnupg.org) available as of September 2026; verify current details against those sources.
Independent project notice: Kleopatra Neo is an independent application. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or part of KDE, GnuPG, Gpg4win, g10 Code GmbH, or their respective projects. Kleopatra Neo is not a fork or modified distribution of KDE's Kleopatra. The real difference between the two is not the name - it is what kind of product each one is.
What Gpg4win's Kleopatra is: a free and open-source (GPL-2.0-or-later) desktop certificate manager for GnuPG - a lightweight alternative focused on OpenPGP and X.509/S/MIME certificate management, developed in the KDE ecosystem and distributed with Gpg4win on Windows. Its scope is deliberately narrower: it includes no password manager, no TOTP codes and no email privacy features such as aliases, it uses a classic desktop interface, and it assumes some familiarity with the GnuPG ecosystem and its concepts. For users who only need certificate management inside that ecosystem, that focus is exactly the point.
What Kleopatra Neo is: a different type of product. It keeps the OpenPGP core - generate keys, encrypt, decrypt, sign and verify, client-side via OpenPGP.js - and builds the rest of day-to-day security around it: a password manager, TOTP codes, private email aliases, and optional client-side encrypted sync between your devices. It is designed to cover that whole usage in one place, with a modern interface built to be approachable for beginners: it runs in the browser with nothing to install or configure, and every flow is guided - no command line at any point.
They speak the same standard. Both applications support OpenPGP, so compatible keys, encrypted messages and signatures can generally be exchanged between them - exact interoperability depends on the key formats, algorithms and versions involved, so verify important workflows and keep a secure backup of private keys before migrating. Sources: gpg4win.org, apps.kde.org/kleopatra, gnupg.org, and rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9580; information checked against documentation available as of September 2026. Third-party product and organization names are used solely to identify the products discussed; no endorsement or affiliation is implied.
Privacy by design
For local OpenPGP workflows, supported cryptographic operations are performed client-side using the open-source OpenPGP.js library. Plaintext content and private key material used for these local operations do not need to be uploaded to Kleopatra Neo servers. Optional Online Sync is separate: when enabled, supported vault data is encrypted client-side before encrypted vault data is uploaded for synchronization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kleopatra Neo the same application as Gpg4win's Kleopatra?
No. They are separate and independently developed projects. Kleopatra Neo is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or part of KDE, GnuPG, Gpg4win, or g10 Code GmbH. Kleopatra Neo is also not a fork or modified distribution of KDE's Kleopatra.
Can I import OpenPGP keys from Gpg4win's Kleopatra into Kleopatra Neo?
For supported OpenPGP key formats, yes. An OpenPGP key exported in a compatible format can be imported into Kleopatra Neo. The reverse is also possible for formats and algorithms supported by the receiving implementation. Because OpenPGP implementations can support different key versions, algorithms, and extensions, users should verify compatibility for important keys before relying on a migration.
Does Kleopatra Neo work on Windows?
Yes. Kleopatra Neo can be accessed through a supported web browser and is also available as a desktop application for Windows. Desktop applications are also available for macOS, and a browser extension is available for supported browsers.
Which application is more secure?
There is no useful universal answer to that question. The two applications have different architectures and security models. Gpg4win's Kleopatra uses the GnuPG ecosystem and supports features including local key management and hardware security devices. Kleopatra Neo uses a client-side application model and offers an optional client-side encrypted synchronization system. Which model is preferable depends on the user's threat model, platform, operational requirements, key-storage practices, and need for multi-device access. Kleopatra Neo does not claim that its architecture is categorically more secure than Gpg4win's Kleopatra.
Do I need an account to use Kleopatra Neo?
No. Supported local OpenPGP functions can be used without creating an account. An account is used for optional online functionality such as encrypted synchronization and related account-based services.
Is Kleopatra Neo open source?
Kleopatra Neo is currently proprietary software. It is independently developed and is not distributed under KDE Kleopatra's GPL license. Third-party components used by Kleopatra Neo remain subject to their respective licenses.