Since we have to sign up for new services all the time, it can be hard to keep track of all our passwords and keep all our accounts secure. The best password manager is tailored to help you create secure passwords and store, manage and share them safely.
We routinely test and research more than 20 platforms and have compiled a list of the 10 best password managers on the market. They all help you create, store and share passwords, but each provider has specific strengths that make it better for certain use cases. This guide will help you make an informed decision about the best tool for you.
How to Choose the Best Password Manager
The best password manager should be simple to use for beginners and pros alike. It should have more than one layer of authentication, with an emergency access feature for when you can’t access your accounts yourself. Consider these factors when choosing the best password manager.
- Robust password security:A secure password manager should protect your data through encrypted file storage, frequent security audits, passkeys, prompt data breach notifications and biometric login options.
- User-friendly interface:The service should be easy to navigate and use. If you need a family password manager, choose one that’s also easy for kids and the elderly to use.
- Price: The password manager should be affordable and give you access to all essential features.
- Cross-platform compatibility: The service should let you access your password manager on multiple platforms and web browsers, including macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS and Android, through desktop and mobile apps or a browser extension.
- Multi-factor authentication: The password manager should have two-factor authentication to ensure the person accessing the password vault is authorized to do so.
- Safe password-sharing features:The tool should let you share saved passwords with friends and family without worrying about a breach.
- Customer support:The ideal password manager should offer24/7 support with prompt responses via live chat, email, phone, text and/or ticketing systems.
- Password generator: A great password manager should auto-generate secure passwords for you each time you create a new account.
- Password autofill: A password manager with autofill logs you in to your accounts immediately after you enter your master password or use biometric authentication.
- Emergency access: The password manager’s emergency feature should allow your loved ones to open your vault if you’re unable to access it yourself.
The 10 Best Password Managers
Considering the criteria above for choosing the best password manager, let’s take a glance at the features our top five password managers offer.
| Features: |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-Platform | |||||
| MFA* | |||||
| Emergency Access | |||||
| Password Autofill | |||||
| Free Plan | |||||
| Support | 24/7 email, Forum, Help center, Social media |
Live chat, Help center, Reddit community |
Ticket system, Help center |
24/7 email, Live chat, Help center |
24/7 email, Help center, Knowledgebase, Forum |
| Pricing | $2.99 per month (one-month plan) | $4.99 per month (one-month plan) | $24.99 (one-year plan) | $32.13 (two-year plan + three months) | $10 (one-year plan) |
1. 1Password — Best Password Manager Overall
1Password is an affordable, user-friendly, secure and feature-loaded password manager.
We consider 1Password the best password manager for all types of users. It is affordable and has a slew of features, such as robust AES-256 encryption, autofill, safe password sharing and a digital wallet. 1Password is available on Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, Windows and the command line. Autofill works seamlessly on Brave, Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox browsers.
1Password has an easy-to-use interface and a comprehensive family plan, making it the best password manager for families in our analysis. However, users cannot store unlimited passwords on 1Password, an area in which it lags behind competitors like Dashlane.
1Password Hands-On Testing
1Password lets you easily add members to your account
for secure password sharing.
1Password is intuitive and simple to use, with all its features easy to locate. You can quickly add members to your 1Password account and securely share passwords with them. The handy form-filling feature saves you time whenever you have to add your details to a web form.
The digital wallet safely stores financial data like debit or credit card details and online banking information. We like the “travel mode” feature, which removes sensitive information from your device as you cross borders to keep it safe until you return.
1Password Security Analysis
1Password applies a zero-knowledge policy to ensure no one else can see your information. It is HIPAA, ISO, DPA, NIST and GDPR compliant and encrypts your data while at rest and in transit using AES-256. 1Password “watchtower” alerts you if you access a compromised website or use a vulnerable password to help you act fast and stay secure.
1Password Pricing & Value
1Password has affordable plans but doesn’t offer a free plan or a money-back guarantee. The platform recommends the Teams Starter Pack, which goes for $19.95 per month and protects up to 10 team members. Other plans include Individual, Families and Business.
Take advantage of the 14-day free trial to get a taste of the tool. Our full 1Password review has more details.
1Password Individual
- Unlimited storage, 1GB document storage
1Password Families
- Up to five users, Up to 5 additional guests
Teams Starter Pack
- 1GB of document storage per user, up to 10 people
Business
- 5GB of document storage per users, Free family accounts for members, Up to 20 guest accounts
2. Dashlane — Best Enterprise Password Manager
Dashlane is user-friendly and feature packed, but more pricey
than most other password managers.
Dashlane gives you unlimited password storage and autofill, and you can add unlimited devices and share unlimited passwords with friends and family. Dashlane’s vpn secures your browsing history and helps you access geo-restricted websites. It has apps for iOS, Android and macOS, with browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Chromium browsers.
However, the emergency access procedure is awkward and inconvenient, as it requires you to have the account holder’s password and a file with their credentials to access their account. Though Dashlane offers a free plan, it’s limited to only 25 logins, 1GB of file storage and single-device accessibility per login.
Dashlane Hands-On Testing
Dashlane has an airy dashboard that’s easy to set up and navigate.
Everything on Dashlane is easy to find and set up. You can create an account using your email address or Apple ID. The user interface is airy and easy on the eyes. What’s more, the apps and web versions have a similar flow, making the tool easy to navigate across platforms and devices.
Dashlane Security Analysis
Dashlane offers robust security features, including phishing alerts, dark web monitoring and personalized security notifications. The two-factor authentication ensures only authorized persons can access an account. Single sign-on (SSO) is an additional security feature that Business and Enterprise plan users enjoy.
Dashlane Pricing & Value
Dashlane offers a free version with 1GB of file storage and 25 logins from one device at a time. Only the Business and Premium plans offer a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee; The Enterprise and Friends & Family plans do not. Since its plans are costly, it’s ideal for enterprise-level users. Our Dashlane review explains why.
Free
- One device at a time,
25 passwords and login details,
Autofill fields,
Password Generator,
Set up account without a master password
Personal Plan (Premium)
- Billed annually,
Unlimited devices,
Unlimited passwords & passkeys ,
Secure sharing,
Dark Web Monitoring,
VPN for WiFi protection,
Real-time phishing alerts,
Passwordless login (currently new mobile users only)
Personal Plan (Friends & Family)
- Billed annually,
10 accounts, 1 subscription,
Everything in Premium
More plans
Professional Plan (Business)
- Billed annually,
Unlimited seats,
Unlimited group & Collection sharing,
Single sign-on (SSO) integration,
SCIM provisioning,
SIEM Integration,
Activity Logs & advanced policies,
Enterprise deployment,
Free Friends & Family plan for all Business users,
On-demand phone support,
VPN for WiFi protection, and more
Professional Plan (Enterprise)
- Everything in Business,
Dedicated Customer Success Manager,
Onboarding Customer Support Specialists,
Onboarding Technical Engineer
3. Bitwarden — Best Free Password Manager
Bitwarden is an open-source password manager with a free plan and free cloud hosting.
Bitwarden is the only open-source password manager that made it on our list. It has a free version that offers more functions than any other. The free plan lets you save unlimited passwords and sync your vault across multiple devices. Bitwarden has native desktop apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS.
When using Bitwarden, you’ll enjoy unlimited vault items, encrypted data exports and free cloud hosting. However, its user interface isn’t as intuitive as those of its competitors. It lacks biometric multi-factor authentication and only offers a ticketing system, a help center and a forum for customer support.
Bitwarden Hands-On Testing
Bitwarden allows you to safely share passwords with family and friends.
We found Bitwarden’s interface surprisingly easy to set up and use. It’s simple to send passwords to trusted persons through a secure channel. The password generator lets you create unique passkeys to safely access your vault at any time. You’ll get online security reports to help you identify insecure websites, data breaches and weak or exposed passwords.
Bitwarden Security Analysis
Since Bitwarden is an open-source platform, it’s less vulnerable to breaches, as it receives regular updates from multiple independent developers. It is the only password manager that has never experienced a data breach. Bitwarden is GDPR and CCPA compliant and uses AES-256 encryption, has a zero-knowledge policy and supports two-step login.
Bitwarden Pricing & Value
Bitwarden has a free version offering two vaults and two user accounts. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can confidently take the Premium plan for a spin. There’s also a Families plan offering 1GB personal storage and 1GB organizational storage, as well as unlimited collections and sharing. Read more about the service in our Bitwarden review.
Free
- Unlimited storage,
Multi-device sync,
2FA
Premium
- 1GB of encrypted file storage,
Additional 2FA options,
Password health reports,
Priority customer service
Family
- Billed annually,
Six accounts
More plans
Teams
- Billed annually,Per user, includes all premium features
Enterprise
- Per user, includes all premium features and families plan for all users,
4. Keeper — Safest Password Manager
Keeper has the most robust security features of any provider on our list.
Keeper is the most secure password management tool on our list, offering secure cloud backup, as well as unlimited password storage and device additions. The KeeperFill feature autofills passwords, helping you save time when logging in to your online accounts.
Keeper has fingerprint and face ID login, and supports unlimited secure password sharing. Its apps and browser extensions are available on all major platforms. The ticketing system is available on all plans except Business, which enjoys 24/7 live chat, phone and email support. Some essential features like file storage are paid extras and not natively available on the apps.
Keeper Hands-On Testing
Keeper’s interface is clean, user-friendly and easy on the eyes.
We found Keeper to be easy to use and navigate and is ideal for beginners. It’s easy to carry out security audits and import passwords with a single click. Even deleted items remain stored in case you reconsider.
Keeper Security Analysis
Keeper is FIPS 140 validated and uses AES-256 encryption to secure all data. The platform supports SSO and multi-factor authentication, including biometric options. The zero-trust and zero-knowledge architecture ensures no one will see your data but you. You can also conduct password audits to view their strength and see whether you’ve duplicated them.
Keeper Pricing & Value
Keeper offers a limited free plan and no money-back guarantee. However, its paid tiers are affordable and well-structured to cater to individuals, families and organizations. Paid plans include Personal, Family, Business Starter, Business and Enterprise. Take advantage of the 30-day free trial to get a feel for the tool before buying. Our Keeper review has more details.
All Keeper plans are priced in GBP, not USD, so exact prices may vary depending on currency and conversion at the time of reading.
Personal
- *Prices are in GBP
Price per month, billed annually
Single user
Family
- *Prices are in GBP
Price per month, billed annually
Up to five private vaults
Business Starter
- *Prices are in GBP
Price per month, per user, billed annually
Min 5 users
Max 10 users
More plans
Business
- *Prices are in GBP
Price per month, per user, billed annually
Private vault for each user
5. NordPass — Best Password Manager for iPhone
NordPass is the best password manager for iPhone and offers all
the basic features you need for personal use.
NordPass is one of the best password managers for iPhone, with affordable plans, robust security and useful features for individuals and businesses. It offers several forms of multi-factor authentication, such as authenticator apps, security keys and backup codes. Paid plans have 3GB of file storage, email masking, a data breach scanner and a password health checker.
The free plan is a great place to start but lacks key features like emergency access, password health reports and a data breach scanner. You can also only log in on one device at a time. This means that even though you can sync it across all your devices, you’ll have to log in each time you switch to a different device.
NordPass Hands-On Testing
Since NordPass is so simple to use, it’s a good password
manager for families and other beginners.
NordPass has a well-organized interface with a left-hand menu displaying all the necessary features. The iOS mobile app is intuitive and similar to the macOS version, making NordPass accessible while you’re on the move. This compatibility makes NordPass the ideal password manager for iPhone users.
NordPass Security Analysis
Security features like the complex password generator, multi-factor authentication, biometric vault unlock and secure notes are available on all plans. Paid plan users can also access a password health checker that scans for compromised, weak and reused passwords. A data breach scanner and email masking help keep data safe from cybercriminals.
NordPass Pricing & Value
NordPass’s free version provides one user account, password import, a password generator, multi-factor authentication, autosave, autofill and automatic sync across devices. Paid versions include Premium, Family, Teams, Business and Enterprise. A 30-day money-back guarantee covers the Premium and Family plans. Our NordPass review goes into more detail.
Premium
- *Renewal price for the 1-year plan is $44.85; and $80.73 for the 2-year plan.
Family
- *Renewal price for the 1-year plan is $71.88; and $143.76 for the 2-year plan.
More plans
Enterprise
- $5.99 is the price per user per month in the 1-year plan. And $5.39 is the price per user per month in the 2-year plan.
6. RoboForm — Best Mobile Password Manager
RoboForm is less intuitive and more complex to use than its competitors.
RoboForm is a great form-filling app with password management capabilities. You can fill out online forms with the click of a button, which is convenient for mobile users. It has apps for iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, and extensions for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave and Opera. The free plan offers unlimited password storage on a single device, 2FA and cloud backup.
RoboForm is a great form-filling app with password management capabilities. You can fill out online forms with the click of a button, which is convenient for mobile users. It has apps for iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, and extensions for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave and Opera. The free plan offers unlimited password storage on a single device, 2FA and cloud backup.
RoboForm Hands-On Testing
RoboForm has a drab user interface, but it gets the job done.
We tried out the Business version and weren’t overly impressed. The user interface is cluttered and confusing, with an unappealing gray background color. It’s also not as intuitive as its competitors. RoboForm is ideal if you prefer a more old-school password manager that gets the job done.
RoboForm Security Analysis
RoboForm checks all the right boxes when it comes to security. It is GDPR compliant, and it applies AES-256 encryption and zero-knowledge architecture. You get passkey support, multi-factor authentication and secure file sharing. Business users enjoy dark web monitoring, reports and password audits.
RoboForm Pricing & Value
RoboForm’s free tier is limited to only one device and lacks several handy features available on paid plans. Premium, Family and Team & Business are the paid tiers — we recommend Premium.
There are no monthly payment options, so you’ll have to pay an annual fee for a plan. The service has a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans except Team & Business, and the 14-day free trial only applies to the Team & Business plan.
7. Sticky Password — Best Password Manager for Personal Use
Sticky Password is the ideal password manager for personal use.
With Sticky Password, you can save unlimited passwords, generate strong passwords and sync them across devices. It’s available on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Android, Windows, iOS and macOS. We think it’s pretty cool that you can create a portable Windows copy of your vault, save it on an external drive and access it on any Windows device.
Cloud backup, secure password sharing, emergency access, auto login and form filling are a few other handy Sticky Password features. One downside is that the free tier is limited to only one device and lacks advanced features like emergency access and dark web monitoring.
Sticky Password Hands-On Testing
Sticky Password’s interface may not be intuitive, but it’s simple enough for individual users to find everything they need.
Though Sticky Password’s interface isn’t complex, we didn’t find it as intuitive as its competitors. That said, it’s easy to download, install and get started. You’ll be prompted to create a master password that the platform won’t save anywhere — only you will know it. You can add emergency contacts who are authorized to access your account in dire situations.
Sticky Password Security Analysis
Sticky Password uses AES-256 to encrypt your data. It allows multi-factor authentication, including 2FA and biometric authentication through fingerprint scanning. We think it’s neat that the platform doesn’t save master passwords — only account owners have them.
Additional security features available with paid plans include dark web monitoring, secure password sharing and a digital wallet.
Sticky Password Pricing & Value
Sticky Password has a free version that’s limited to one device and lacks advanced features. However, there is a 30-day free trial with the Premium version. Paid plans include Premium and Premium for Teams. Sticky Password offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for paid plans. Read more about the service on our Sticky Password review.
Free
- Unlimited storage,
Digital wallet,
Portable version
Premium
- Multi-device sync,
Cloud backup,
Password sharing,
Priority support
8. Zoho Vault — Best Password Manager for Teams
Zoho Vault is ideal for teams because it offers multiple
third-party and Zoho product integrations.
Zoho Vault is a secure, intuitive password manager that allows users to create app-specific passwords and integrate their online accounts with all Zoho products. It has a loaded free version offering unlimited password storage, device addition and file attachments. You also get TOTP integration and access to a security dashboard.
Zoho Vault has password autofill capabilities but lacks form autofill. The MFA is difficult to set up and requires you to use Zoho OneAuth, Google Authenticator, SMS OTP, Yubikey or voice call.
The Professional plan and up provide emergency vault access and 24/7 priority email, phone and remote assistance support. Zoho Vault is ideal for teams due to the multiple third-party integrations it allows with project management software and more.
Zoho Vault Hands-On Testing
Easily import and export your passwords through an
encrypted channel using Zoho Vault.
We enjoyed using Zoho Vault’s colorful, intuitive user interface. The left-hand menu has all the features and capabilities you’ll need to effectively manage your passwords. It’s easy to view all your passwords and folders and generate audit reports with just a few clicks. Our team really likes the night mode feature on the dashboard that you can switch on and off with a click.
Zoho Vault Security Analysis
Zoho Vault uses AES-256 encryption to secure your stored credentials. You can run tests to gauge password strength and modify them for better security. It supports multi-factor authentication, including biometric options like face ID and fingerprint scanning.
Zoho Vault Pricing & Value
Zoho Vault offers a robust Free Forever plan that only lacks a few features, like emergency access, SSO, and folder- and password-sharing features. The paid tiers include Standard, Professional and Enterprise, with Professional being the most popular plan. There’s a 15-day free trial for all plans.
A 30-day money-back guarantee is granted for monthly subscriptions, and a 45-day guarantee covers annual plans. This only applies to the first time a user makes a payment. Our Zoho Vault review has more details.
Free
- Unlimited password storage
Standard
- User management,
Vault backup,
G Suite & Office 365 integration
Professional
- User groups,
Password groups,
Password changer
Enterprise
- SSO for cloud apps,
Password event notifications,
Integration with OKTA & OneLogin
9. LastPass — Best Free Password Manager For One Device
LastPass is easy to use, with an intuitive interface and a feature-rich free plan.
LastPass is feature rich and has apps for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS and Android. Its intuitive interface is appealing and user-friendly, and the autofill function works on apps. It has the best free plan on our list, letting you save unlimited passwords and access the security dashboard. There’s also dark web monitoring, one-to-one sharing and a secure password generator.
LastPass’ strong password generator has a unique twist: It allows you to customize new passwords by choosing the password length and the number of characters to include.
LastPass Hands-On Testing
LastPass has an airy interface with an easy-to-navigate left-hand menu.
Based on our testing, LastPass makes everything easily accessible to users. It is highly visual and utilizes brand logos of your saved passwords to make finding what you need easier. What’s more, the left-hand menu includes a section for saving personal information like passports, licenses, and payment and bank details.
LastPass Security Analysis
LastPass uses zero-knowledge security and lets users conduct password security tests to update weak, repeated or compromised passwords. It employs AES-256 encryption and applies MFA, including one-time codes, voice recognition and fingerprint scanning, to secure vault data.
Despite these efforts, LastPass suffered a data breach in August 2022. The breach revealed that the service stores unencrypted URLs in users’ vaults, which makes user data vulnerable to such attacks.
LastPass Pricing & Value
The free version is better than any other on our list but is limited to one user account and one device type at a time. It also lacks file storage, emergency access, advanced MFA and personal customer support. Paid plans include Premium, Families, Teams and Business.
A 30-day free trial is available for Premium and Families plans, and a 14-day free trial is offered for Business and Teams plans. The Families version provides the best value for the money. Our LastPass review goes into more detail.
Premium
- Priority support
One-to-many sharing
Application autofill
Multi-device sync
Families
- Protection for six users
Family dashboard
Unlimited shared folders
Multi-device sync
More plans
Teams
- Price per user
Admin dashboard
5-50 users
Standard reporting
Private vault for every user
Multi-device sync
Business
- Price per user
Includes all Teams features
Unlimited users
3 SSO apps with MFA
LastPass Families for employees
Norton Password Manager is free to use and has some
basic features that are ideal for beginners.
Pros:
- Free to use
- One-click password changer
- Actionable password strength
Cons:
- No web form filling
- No password sharing
- Lacks emergency access
Available on Edge, Chrome, iOS, Android, Firefox and Safari, Norton Password is a secure password manager that’s totally free to use. All you need to do is create an account to get started. It’s ideal for beginners and families that prefer not to purchase a password manager for basic use.
You get a free password generator, vault auditor, biometric mobile login options, unlimited password storage and a one-click password changer. However, it lacks emergency access capabilities, password sharing and vault recovery options if you lose your master key. We also found no form-filling features, and the 2FA is too basic to be reliable.
Norton Password Hands-On Testing
Norton’s basic but colorful interface is useful for those who don’t need advanced password management features.
Norton Password’s dashboard is colorful and appealing. It is well arranged, with a left-hand menu containing the items you need for basic password management. However, we would prefer brand logos over initials to indicate the platforms with saved passwords. It also has fewer tabs in the left-hand menu than its competitors.
Norton Password Security Analysis
Norton Password secures vaults using AES 256-bit encryption. The company’s zero-knowledge policy ensures no one else (not even Norton) can see your passwords or data. Keep in mind that this means you cannot recover your account if you lose the master password. It lacks advanced 2FA and TOTP authentication, which may be a deal breaker for some users.
How to Use a Password Manager
Setting up a password manager is usually a simple process. If you’re new to using them, this guide will help you get started. We’ll use our top tool, 1Password, for this example.
- Create an Account
Go to 1Password’s website and choose the plan you want. You’ll be prompted to create an account using your email address and a password. Then, click “next.”
- Verify Your Email Address
A verification code will be sent to your email address. Enter it and click “next.”
- Create a Security Key
You’ll be prompted to create a security key that will work in tandem with your password. Your device will automatically create the key. Then, click “next.”
- Set your Password
You’ll set a password for your account before the security key is generated. Create a strong password that’s at least 10 characters long, re-enter it to confirm and click “next.”
- Generate a Security Key
Once your password is set, prompt your device to automatically create the security key. Click “generate security key.”
- Save the Security Key
Once the key is created, we advise safely saving it or writing it down. If you lose it, you cannot recover it.
- Set a Payment Method
Next, you’ll add your preferred payment method to complete subscription payments after the trial ends. You can set it now or skip this step and add it later.
- Create Vaults and Customize Your Account
You’re all set. You can now create a new vault to start securely saving your passwords.
Why Do You Need a Password Manager?
You need a password manager to securely save all your passwords and easily retrieve them without having to remember each one. The best password manager will help you safely share credentials with family and friends without compromising security.
What’s more, you’ll be able to create strong passwords for new accounts and avoid duplicating credentials across platforms. Most managers have autofill and web form-filling features that help you save time. In addition, your password manager will scour the internet to identify potential breaches and promptly notify you before disaster strikes.
Can Password Managers Be Hacked?
Yes, password managers can be hacked. However, since the information is encrypted, cybercriminals are unlikely to get their hands on crucial details or your vault password. It’s also difficult for them to obtain shared credentials since data is encrypted both at rest and in transit.
Is It Safe to Use a Browser to Manage Your Passwords?
No, it’s not safe to use a browser to manage your passwords. Though convenient, browsers don’t securely save passwords or other credentials, and often prioritize usability over security. Additionally, if someone gains access to your computer or mobile device, they may have unrestricted access to all your saved passwords, as has been the case with Google Password Manager. A dedicated password manager is by far the better option.
Final Thoughts: What Is the Best Password Manager?
The best password manager offers robust security, exceptional customer support, cross-platform compatibility, safe password sharing, autofill and multi-factor authentication. It also has a password generator and a user-friendly interface.
1Password is our top choice because it ticks all these boxes. It’s secure, easy to use, intuitive and packed with advanced features. It may not have a free version, but its paid plans are well tiered, affordable and worth every penny.
Do you use a dedicated password manager or a browser version? Have you used any of the tools listed here? Which is your favorite and why? Let us know in the comments, and as always, thank you for reading.
FAQ: Safest Password Managers
-
The most secure password manager is Keeper. It is FIPS 140 validated and uses AES-256 encryption to secure all data. The platform supports SSO and multi-factor authentication, including biometric options.
-
No, password managers aren’t 100% safe, but they give you a better chance of securing crucial data.
-
Bitwarden has never been hacked. As it is an open-source password manager, independent developers are constantly improving its security.
Sources:
- Top 200 Most Common Passwords – NordPass
- The 2020 State of Password and Authentication Security Behaviors Report – Ponemon Institute
- Password Safe – Schneier On Security
