Best Password Managers 2024
If you want to improve your online security, password managers are one of the smartest things you can purchase. Like VPNs, these programs can help keep you safe online for minimal cost and with no extra effort on your part.
To help you get started, we’ve put together this list of the best password managers :
- Dashlane – Best for Windows
- 1Password – Best for Mac
- NordPass – Best VPN Bundle
- KeePass – Best for Linux
- Bitwarden – Best Open Source Option
- Keeper – Best Budget Option
- LastPass – Best for Android
- RoboForm – Best for iPhone
To put together our ranking we focused on four important criteria. First of all, we ranked each program’s features, so what a password manager can do. Obviously, we want all our picks to be competent programs that, you know, manage passwords. Second comes ease of use, so whether you can operate the app without tearing your hair out in frustration.
Our third criterion is price, there’s no need for a password manager to cost an arm and a leg; there are even some great free options. Finally, we kept each entry’s security in mind, so whether it keeps your passwords safe from hacking and if it has any scandals in its past.
Besides our own experience using each password manager, we also checked out their scores on review aggregate sites like TrustRadius and Capterra to see if we missed anything or how people in different industries experienced the software. The result of all this is below, we hope it helps you find the best password manager for your situation.
Dashlane: Best For Windows
Score: 5/5
Specifications
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS
Browser plugins: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge
Limitations on the free version: One device
Two-factor authentication: Yes
Form fill: Yes
Mobile app unlocks with PIN: Yes
Biometric unlock: Face ID, Pixel Face Unlock, Touch ID, fingerprint readers
Best Deals
$2.75 per month for Advanced Plan
$4.99 per month for Premium plan, includes VPN
Pros
- Fantastic free plan
- Solid built-in VPN
- Great interface
Cons
- Free plan allows only one device
- Bit pricey, especially the Premium plan
Why We Picked It
Dashlane is our top pick because it gets almost everything right. Not only does it work extremely well on Windows, but it plays nice with every other operating system out there, including mobile. While it is a bit pricey, especially the Premium plan, it has the security and usability to back up its cost. For less than $5 per month you even get a decent VPN with your subscription
Who It’s For
For anybody that wants to protect all their devices and doesn’t mind spending a little extra. It’s also perfect for anybody who is shopping for a VPN as well as a password manager.
Notable Feature
Retains all your passwords and logins across your entire browsing history.
1Password: Best For Mac
Score: 5/5
Specifications
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS
Browser plugins: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Brave
Limitations on the free version: No free version
Two-factor authentication: Yes
Form fill: Yes
Mobile app unlocks with PIN: Yes
Biometric unlock: Face ID, Pixel Face Unlock, Touch ID, Windows Hello, fingerprint readers
Best Deals
$2.99 per month for full package
$4.99 per month for Families Package, allows 5 logins
Pros
- Makes it easy to organize entries
- Extra security for new devices
- Great mobile apps
Cons
- No free version
- Form fill is a bit clunky
Why We Picked It
1Password is our pick for Mac users as it has the best app for that operating system, though you’ll likely love it whatever system you’re rocking as it has a great app. One of the other reasons we like 1Password so much are its wonderful organization tools which let you put all your password entries away just so. It works really well and at that price, it’s a steal.
Who It’s For
1Password is a good pick for anybody, but it’s especially great for families thanks to its Families plan which lets up to five people use it, perfect for households that want to protect their online accounts.
Notable Feature
1Password Watchtower, which keeps an eye on all the sites you have an account with and alerts you if there’s a breach.
NordPass: Best For VPN Package
Score: 4/5
Specifications
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Browser plugins: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera
Limitations on the free version: Only one device at a time
Two-factor authentication: Yes
Form fill: Yes
Mobile app unlocks with PIN: No
Biometric unlock: Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello, fingerprint readers
Best Deals
$1.99 per month if you sign up for two years.
$4.49 for two years with VPN.
Click here for our exclusive NordPass promoPros
Nice interface
Bundled with a good VPN
Free trial with no credit-card needed
Cons
Bit pricey
Limited free version
Why We Picked It
If you’re looking for a full protection package that includes a password manager and a VPN, NordPass might be just the ticket. While the password manager gets the job done, what makes it a real winner is the inclusion of NordVPN, our favorite VPN service by far. If full security is what you’re looking for, this package may be the ticket and it’s cheaper than Dashlane, too.
Who It’s For
Anybody that wants to protect their browsing and their online accounts, but doesn’t want to pay too much.
Notable Feature
The data breach scanner alerts you if any of your accounts has suffered a successful cyberattack.
KeePass: Best For Linux
Score: 4/5
Specifications
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android and iPhone via plugin
Browser plugins: Only via plugin
Limitations on the free version: Entirely free
Two-factor authentication: Via plugin
Form fill: Yes
Mobile app unlocks with PIN: via plugin
Biometric unlock: via plugin
Best Deals
Free
Pros
Totally free
Extremely versatile
More features than you can imagine
Cons
Extremely fiddly
Complicated to use
Needs plugins to reach its full potential
Why We Picked It
For Linux users, we recommend KeePass, an open-source password manager that will warm the heart of any member of Team Tux. At its core, KeePass is a fairly competent password manager, but once you start messing with its many thousands of plugins you unleash its full potential. Whatever feature you can imagine, KeePass can install it, or you can create it yourself.
Who It’s For
Because of its nature, KeePass is not a great picture for people that want a program that runs right out of the box. Hobbyists and tinkerers, though, will love it.
Notable Feature
KeePass’s massive library of plugins, maintained by volunteers the world over.
Bitwarden: Best for Open Source Fans
Score: 4/5
Specifications
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Browser plugins: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi
Limitations on the free version: No 2FA and no file sharing
Two-factor authentication: Yes
Form fill:Yes
Mobile app unlocks with PIN: Yes
Biometric unlock: Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello, fingerprint readers
Best Deals
Great free plan
$10 per year fort 2FA and Bitwarden Authenticator
$40 per year for families (up to 6 users)
Pros
Great free plan
Cheap paid plan
Open source
Cons
Autofill is a bit hit and miss
Bit basic when it comes to features
Not the easiest to use
Why We Picked It
Bitwarden is a great open-source option for people that like transparency in their apps. With source code that can be inspected by anybody, Bitwarden is a password manager that has been thoroughly tested. It’s also pretty cheap, which is great, though its interface could use a facelift. It also lacks some advanced features and autofill doesn’t always work as expected.
Who It’s For
People that want a tried-and-true password manager but don’t want to shell out for it. Bitwarden has a great free plan, and the paid upgrade is just $10 per year. Families pay just $40 per year, which is a steal.
Notable Feature
The ability to securely send passwords to fellow users is pretty nifty and great for families.
Keeper: Best For Savings
Score: 4/5
Specifications
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS
Browser plugins: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera
Limitations on the free version: Just one device
Two-factor authentication: Yes
Form fill: Yes
Mobile app unlocks with PIN: Yes
Biometric unlock: Face ID, Pixel Face Unlock, Touch ID, Windows Hello, fingerprint readers
Best Deals
$2.92 per month for the personal plan
$6.25 per month for families (up to 5 users)
Pros
Fantastic app
Good pricing, especially the personal plan
Adds secure messaging
Cons
Family plan is a bit pricey
Free plan is just for one device
Why We Picked It
Keeper is a solid, secure password manager with a great app. Like Dashlane it retains your full history, which is great for people with a lot of accounts. While it doesn’t have the organizational chops of 1Password, Keeper is a great pick for people looking to save a few bucks but still get a top-of-the-line password manager.
Who It’s For
Keeper is for people that want usability above all and want to save a few bucks at the same time. The family plan, however, isn’t priced as well.
Notable Feature
One of the very few password managers with an offline mode, so you don’t need to be connected to the web to use it.
LastPass: Best For Android
Score: 3/5
Specifications
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS
Browser plugins: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera
Limitations on the free version: Only allows one device type, so only phones, only Windows laptops, etc.
Two-factor authentication: Yes
Form fill: Yes
Mobile app unlocks with PIN: Yes
Biometric unlock: Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint readers
Best Deals
$3 per month for the Premium plan
$4 per month for the Family plan
Pros
Great auto-fill feature
Great for mobile
Cons
A history of security issues
Free plan is a shell of what it was
Some features have been removed
Why We Picked It
LastPass is a tricky pick: it was once a truly fantastic password manager, but now has a dark cloud hanging over it thanks to some recent security breaches. Still, if you need a free password manager for an Android phone, LastPass bears looking into since it has the best app out there.For other operating systems, you may want to look elsewhere.
Who It’s For
Android users and anybody that doesn;t mind the odd restrictions of the free plan.
Notable Feature
Some of the best and fully customizable two-factor authentication options on the market
RoboForm: Best For iPhone
Score: 4/5
Specifications
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS
Browser plugins: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera
Limitations on the free version: No sync across devices, no 2FA
Two-factor authentication: Yes
Form fill: Yes
Mobile app unlocks with PIN: Yes
Biometric unlock: Face ID, Pixel Face Unlock, Touch ID, Windows Hello, fingerprint readers
Best Deals
$1.99 per month for RoboForm Everywhere
Pros
Inexpensive
Great form-filling ability
Fantastic mobile apps
Cons
Desktop app isn’t that great
Limited import option
Not as many features as some
Why We Picked It
RoboForm is one of the best password managers out there for mobile users. It has great apps for both Android and iPhone, making it perfect for people on the go. However, RoboForm’s desktop apps didn’t get quite the same polish, so it’s not the best pick for people who spend more time on their laptops. Still, it’s a solid pick, and comes at a great price.
Who It’s For
Mobile users in general, and iOS fans in particular, especially if they don’t want to spend too much on a password manager.
Notable Feature
Has a great password generator that creates some of the strongest passcodes we’ve seen.
