A password manager may be the right choice for you if you are tired of having to remember passwords for all your online accounts and services.
A password manager will make it easy to remember passwords. It allows you to create unique and difficult passwords for each account.
We understand that not everybody has the money to spend. We offer the most secure and free password managers available. These password managers are known for their security and privacy. You can use them without risking your safety.
Let’s start exploring right now!
What does a password manager look like?
A password manager app is designed to manage and store online credentials. These passwords are typically stored in an encrypted database that is protected by a master password.
A password manager creates, retrieves and tracks super-long, random passwords across multiple accounts. It protects your online data, such as passwords, credit card numbers and PINs, along with three-digit CVV codes and answers to security questions. The encryption is so strong it can take hackers decades to crack.
You only need one password to gain all this security. This password is what unlocks your vault. Your login information is protected and remains at your disposal.
Lujo Bauer, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University and security researcher, said that password managers are not magic bullets. However, he believes they can provide a better combination of convenience and security for users than without them. Everybody should use one.
What are the most common types of password manager?
Desktop-based
Desktop-based password managers save all of your passwords on your device in an encrypted vault. These passwords cannot be accessed from another device. In the event that the device is lost or stolen, all passwords will be lost.
This is a great option for those who don’t wish their data to be stored on another’s network. Locally installed password managers allow users to create multiple password vaults on their devices and have them synced when they connect to the Internet. This allows for privacy and convenience.
Cloud-based
This type stores your encrypted passwords on a service provider’s network. The service provider is responsible for your password security.
Cloud-based password managers have the advantage of being accessible from any device with an Internet connection. Web-based password managers come in many forms, including browser extensions, desktop apps, and mobile apps.
Single sign-on (SSO).
SSO allows you to use one password per app, unlike password managers that keep unique passwords for each app.
Imagine SSO as your digital passport. The passport informs customs and immigration officials that the country you are entering is your home country. They then allow you to enter the country with the least hassle. You must also not verify your identity when you use SSO to log into an app. Instead, the single sign on provider will verify your identity.
SSOs are preferred by businesses over other password managers. This is because they offer employees a safe and easy way to access the apps they need to do their job. SSOs can reduce the amount of time IT spends on password resets and troubleshooting.
Why would you need a password manager?
In the early days of the internet, you might have had several passwords to access various web apps. These passwords were used to shop, study, stay connected and do work. Today, however, things are more complex. LastPass’s 2017 report showed that people needed to remember an average of 191 passwords for work and personal use.
You don’t have to remember all of those passwords. To:
- All your passwords should be memorized. Only the master password is required to unlock your password vault. Cloud-based password manager software allows you to access your password vault from any device.
- You can have highly secure passwords automatically generated. When you create a new account on a website or an app, a password manager will ask you whether you want to use an automatically generated password. These random passwords can be long and alphanumeric so they are virtually impossible to guess.
- You can save your time. Many password managers can not only store passwords but also allow you to auto-fill your credentials to gain faster access to online accounts. Many password managers can auto-fill your name, address, telephone number, credit card information, and email. This can save you a lot of time when shopping online.
- Sync across different operating systems. You can sync between Windows and Mac users at work. If you have an iOS device, you can use it Monday through Friday. On weekends, you can switch to Android. Many password managers will allow you to quickly access your passwords on any platform.
- Alert you to a suspicious site. Phishing a scam designed to trick people into divulging sensitive information. Spam emails, for example, are faked or spoofed so that they appear to be from someone you know, such as a friend, family member, colleague or business associate. The email contains links to malicious, similarly spoofed websites that are designed to steal login credentials. Browser-based password managers won’t automatically complete the username and password fields if it doesn’t recognize which website is being used.
- Your beneficiaries will be helped if you die. This is known as a digital inheritance. Your password vault can be accessed by your loved ones, family members, and anyone you designate to manage your estate in the event of your passing.
7 Best password managers for free
1. NordPass
NordPass may sound familiar to you because it is the name of NordVPN which is the most popular VPN (Virtual Private Network), produced by this mysterious company. The website does not list the founders, executives or key technical personnel, except for the Nordic-root name. Even its LinkedIn page is sparse.
NordPass employs a zero-knowledge system in which all data on your device is encrypted before being uploaded to the company’s servers. A personal data storage feature was also introduced by the company recently to protect your address and phone number while making it easy to access.
NordPass also protects customers’ passwords using the XChaCha20 algorithm. This is the same encryption Google uses to protect their data. The company also offers biometric logins that allow users to log in to their password vault with only their fingerprint.
The NordPass plan is free and includes the following features:
- You can save unlimited passwords
- Keep your credit cards and notes close to your heart
- Sync across all devices
- Only 1 device is active
The premium version comes with a 7-day trial that allows you to try out the best features. To get the premium version for real, upgrade to the $36 per-year plan.
2. LastPass
LastPass has been a LogMeIn member since 2015. It is a well-known option for users who are looking for a password manager with a lot of features and a free one. LastPass is compatible with almost every platform and device, but it recently discontinued its macOS standalone app due to significant changes in Apple’s developer tools.
LastPass’ free version is a great password manager. It allows you to save passwords, login information, and credentials and can sync them across mobile and browser devices. Only cloud-based, files are saved on company servers and synced to local devices.
LastPass’s free plan offers the following features:
- Access from all devices
- Passwords can be saved and filled
- One-to-1 sharing
- Password generator
- Secure
- Security problem
- Multi-factor authentication
- Security Dashboard
LastPass is one of the best free password managers available today. This makes it an ideal choice for anyone looking for an easy solution with virtually no learning curve.
You can upgrade to LastPass’ subscription plans if you want to access more advanced features. You can buy the Premium version for $36 per annum to share passwords, logins and other items with trusted persons, use advanced multi-factor authentication options, and receive 1GB encrypted storage.
You can sign up for the Families Plan with a $48 annual fee. This plan gives you six separate accounts, shared folders and a dashboard that allows you to manage your family accounts and monitor security.
LastPass is not perfect. Privately reported in 2019, a vulnerability that could compromise passwords was discovered. The company quickly fixed it, but it was not exploited in the wild. LastPass is an affordable option for people with tight budgets.
3. Dashlane
Dashlane may not be as long-lasting as its main competitors, but it is still well-known for its ease of use and security.
It makes it easy and secure to manage passwords and other login information. It stores user credentials locally and protects them with military-grade AES256-bit encryption. Dashlane can also be used as a digital wallet to store credit cards and debit cards. You can change passwords easily using the dedicated interface.
The Dashlane plan is free and includes the following features:
- 1 device
- 50 passwords
- Autofill form and payment
- Share your secure information to up to five accounts
- Personalized security alerts
- Two-factor authentication
The free plan is essentially a trial version for Premium plans. Although the free version of Dashlane is great, we recommend that users pay a few dollars per month to upgrade to the paid version. This will unlock all the excellent features of Dashlane. Premium plans include unlimited synced devices, password storage limits, and a VPN option.
4. RoboForm
RoboForm will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2020. This makes it a very senior company when compared to its competitors. It has a beautiful interface and great design. It is available on all major browsers, including Windows 10, macOS and Android.
RoboForm’s free version stores your credentials database locally. This means that you will need to back it up and manually sync it between devices. It also offers many attractive features such as
- Unlimited logins
- Complete forms
- Password generator
- Password audit
RoboForm Everywhere is a $24 per-year subscription service that includes cloud backup, sync and two-factor authentication. You can also create a secure folder, and designate a trusted contact who will have emergency access to your passwords in case of death or serious illness. This option can be used as a form password recovery.
The Family plan (48 USD per annum) covers up to five users. The Business plan is $35 per user per annum. Multi-year purchases qualify for discounts
5. Sticky Password
Sticky password was developed by former executives from AVG Technologies in 2001. AVG Technologies was a pioneer of freemium security software. This password manager is a fully-featured, free version that works on all major browsers and device types.
Sticky Password Free offers unlimited storage on unlimited devices but doesn’t sync across devices which is a great convenience. Sticky Password offers a few distinctive features that make it an attractive choice.
- Automated form-filling and autologin
- Super Strong password generator
- Secure
- Two-factor authentication
- Login biometrically
- USB portable version (Windows)
Sticky Password can store payment details as well as credentials. Sticky Password’s creators are enthusiastic about its ability to sync data locally across WiFi, for users who don’t wish to use the cloud.
Premium version, $30 per year, allows you to sync between devices using either a local option that uses your Wi-Fi network (or the company’s server). It supports cloud backups, secure password sharing, and priority support. A lifetime subscription is available for $200 if you’re really committed to the service.
6. LogMeOnce
LogMeOnce has a lot of features, but it is worth considering if you want extreme customization. LogMeOnce offers more benefits than other password managers, even with the free plan.
LogMeOnce’s free, ad-supported edition:
- Unlimited passwords
- Unlimited devices & sync
- Unlimited autofill
- Password generator
- Password calculator
- Up to 3 Credit Cards Available
- 5 secure password sharing
- 3 Secure Notes
- 2-factor authentication
- Apps beneficiary
- 1MB encrypted storage
- Technical support via email
Upgrade to a subscription plan for $30 or $39 annually to remove ads and storage limits. You also get additional features such as a customized dashboard and a security feature that captures a mugshot from anyone who attempts to hack into your account using stolen devices. There are also options for managed service providers, business, enterprise and team.
7. KeePass
This is the best option if you are a fan of open-source software and/or you are cloud-phobic. KeePass, an excellent open-source Windows desktop password management tool, is also available for Linux or macOS.
KeePass is an open source service so any security professional can verify the code. KeePass provides complete control over your passwords, and it offers end-to-end encryption. KeePass keeps passwords and usernames in encrypted files on the user’s computer. It allows you to import and export credentials in HTML, XML or CSV formats. files.
Files are saved locally. To automatically fill out passwords, you’ll need to learn its complicated keyboard shortcuts. Browser integration is possible via third-party plugins. For multi-device usage, the program’s built in sync engine automatically updates the password database in any cloud-based storage location.
The features it offers are very limited compared to the other options for password managers on this list. KeePass does support the following basic features:
- Combination of master password and key files
- No installation required
- Option to create password groups
- Plugins that extend functionality
5 best-paid password managers
8. 1Password
1Password was initially designed to be Apple-centric, but has since expanded its offerings to include Windows and ChromeOS as well as iOS and Android. Plug-ins are available for most popular web browsers, making it simple to create and modify new passwords.
1Password’s many extras are what makes it stand out. It can also be used as an authentication app. It also generates secret keys to the encryption key it uses. This means that no one can decrypt passwords without it.
1Password integrates well with other mobile apps. It is not necessary to copy and paste passwords from your password manager into other apps. Instead, 1Password can be integrated with multiple apps and can autofill.
1Password gives you a 30-day trial for free so that you can try it out before making a commitment. Let’s take a look at 1Password’s main features and pricing plans.
| Pricing plan | Price | Features |
| Personal Free | $0 | – 15 passwords |
| Secure sharing | ||
| – Browser extension | ||
| – Autofill and autosave | ||
| – Mobile app | ||
| Personal Premium | EUR2.50/month | All the Personal Free plan plus: |
| – Unlimited passwords | ||
| Tags | ||
| Teams | EUR3.5 per month | All the benefits of the Personal Premium plan plus: |
| – Team management | ||
| Unlimited guests | ||
| Enterprise | Price per order | All the Team plan plus: |
| – Installation on-site | ||
| – Secure environment | ||
| – Training and support |
9. NordPass Premium
NordPass may sound familiar to you because it is the name of NordVPN which is the most popular VPN (Virtual Private Network), produced by this mysterious company. The website does not list the founders, executives or key technical personnel, except for the Nordic-root name. Even its LinkedIn page is sparse.
NordPass Premium employs a zero-knowledge system in which all data on your device is encrypted before being uploaded to the company’s servers. A personal data storage feature was also introduced by the company recently to protect your address and phone number while making it easy to access.
The NordPass Premium Plan includes the following features:
- You can save unlimited passwords
- Keep your credit cards and notes close to your heart
- Sync across all devices
- 6 active devices
- Sharing of items securely
- Trusted Contacts
- Password Health
- Data Breach Scanner
- 30-day money-back guarantee
The premium version comes with a 7-day trial that allows you to try out the best features. To get the premium version for real, upgrade to the $36 per-year plan.
10. PassCamp
A Lithuanian team of developers behind PassCamp password management has a unique story. They couldn’t find a password manager that met their needs so they built their own.
PassCamp has most of the same features as its competitors. This includes secure sharing. PassCamp also offers a blockchain-based history log, which can track every modification or share of any item in the repository. It also has the ability to assign passwords and distribute them.
| Pricing plan | Price | Features |
| Personal Free | $0 | – 15 passwords |
| Secure sharing | ||
| – Browser extension | ||
| – Autofill and autosave | ||
| – Mobile app | ||
| Personal Premium | EUR2.50 per month | All the Personal Free plan plus: |
| – Unlimited passwords | ||
| – Tags | ||
| Teams | EUR3.5/month | All the benefits of the Personal Premium plan plus: |
| – Team management | ||
| Unlimited guests | ||
| Enterprise | Price per order | All the Team plan plus: |
| – Installation on-site | ||
| – Secure environment | ||
| – Training and support |
11. Hypervault
The relatively new product was first released in 2018 and was initially intended for internal use only by the developers. Version 2 was released one year later. It fulfilled some of the company’s promises to be focused on the needs of teams. Version 2 includes group permissions, a revamped user interface, and a rights-based structure that allows team members to access their data.
The company offers a well-documented roadmap and changelog, as well as a self hosted version that is “coming soon”. Prices start at $2.50 per month with discounts at the 50-user and 10-user thresholds, and additional discounts for annual purchases.
During the 7-day trial period, Hypervault is available for free. You can upgrade or downgrade within the trial period without being charged.
12. Keeper
To finish this list of top password managers, Keeper is our last choice. We love the user interface of this popular password vault. It is, we believe, one of the most intuitive in the whole line-up.
The options are neatly arranged in a pane to the left. Clicking any of them will reveal their settings. It should clearly label which features are free. This is only apparent when you use the feature and realize it’s asking for your money.
The Keeper app’s web and desktop versions look nearly identical. Quickly add login credentials to any record, even one that includes photos. Keeper works with all major web browsers, including Windows, macOS and iOS.
Keeper has created a wide range of products since 2011, with distinct offerings for family and business use, enterprise customers and managed service providers. Below are the pricing plans of Keeper and their special features.
| Pricing plan | Price | Features | |
| Business | $3.75/user/month (45$ billed annually). | – Every user has an encrypted vault | |
| – Folders and Subfolders | |||
| – Shared folders for teams | |||
| Access from any device | |||
| – Policy engine and enforcement | |||
| – Security Audit | |||
| Activity reporting | |||
| – Team management | |||
| – Basic 2-factor authentication | |||
| Enterprise | $5/user/month ($60 annually). | Everything in the Business plan plus: | |
| – SSO authentication | |||
| – Automated team administration | |||
| Advanced 2-factor authentication | |||
| – Synchronization of LDAP and Active Directory | |||
| – SCIM and Azure AD provisioning | |||
| – Email auto-provisioning | |||
| – Command-line provisioning | |||
| – APIs for backend integration and password rotation by developers | |||
| Personal | Keeper Unlimited | $2.91/month ($34.99 annually). | – Unlimited password storage |
| Unlimited Identity & Payments | |||
| – Fingerprint & face ID login | |||
| – Unlimited devices & sync | |||
| Secure Record Sharing | |||
| Access to emergency services | |||
| – Web Application | |||
| Support available 24 hours a day | |||
| Keeper Plus Bundle | $4.87/month ($58.46 annually | All in Keeper Unlimited plan plus: | |
| – BreachWatch dark web monitoring | |||
| Secure File Storage | |||
| Keeper Max Bundle | $6.01 per month ($72.22 annually). | All in Keeper Plus Bundle plus: | |
| KeeperChat private messenger | |||
| Family | Keeper Family | $6.24/month ($74.99 annually). | Private vaults – 5 |
| Secure file storage up to 10GB | |||
| – Unlimited password storage | |||
| Unlimited Identity & Payments | |||
| Web App | |||
| – Fingerprint & face ID | |||
| – Unlimited devices & sync | |||
| Secure Record Sharing | |||
| Access to emergency services | |||
| Support available 24 hours a day | |||
| Keeper Family Plus Bundle | $8.62 per month (billed annually at $1103.48) | Everything included in the Keeper Family Plan, plus: | |
| – BreachWatch dark web monitoring | |||
| Secure file storage | |||
| Keeper Family Max Bundle | $12.39/month ($148.72 annually). | All the Keeper Family Plus Bundle features plus: | |
| KeeperChat private messenger | |||
| Student | Take 50% off the list prices | – Autofill passwords | |
| – Identity and payment information | |||
| – Custom fields | |||
| Secure file storage | |||
| Access to emergency services | |||
| – 2-factor authentication | |||
| Securely share your information | |||
| – Version history |
13. F-Secure KEY
F–Secure KEY is compatible with a variety of devices and platforms, including smartphones and tablets.
F-Secure Key supports biometric authentication. This allows users to prove their identity and access accounts using a unique identifier. The password warnings users about potential security holes and warns them if their passwords aren’t strong enough to resist brute force attacks by hackers.
F-Secure KEY offers an automated form-filling function that saves users time when they log into websites or mobile apps. It also includes a secure password generator, and automatic sync across devices. F-Secure Key does not allow password sharing.
F-Secure KEY only offers one paid version for EUR29.90 per annum, which allows unlimited password storage.
The bottom line
A password manager is a great option if you are one of those people who forget passwords often and create multiple accounts on the same site. Even if your memory is poor, it’s not a problem to use a password manager.
It is unlikely that password managers will disappear anytime soon. At least not until Web Authentication, a new standard that allows users to use their fingerprints, face, and eyes to authenticate online services, does. To authenticate online services.
We hope you find our 12 top password managers (free and paid) useful. We would love to hear about any other password managers you have used. We are always open to hearing from you!
