Best Password Managers To Protect Digital Life!

Was there ever a time when online passwords were as simple as a four-digit number? That’s just about as unlikely a thought as dial-up internet and floppy disks, but we know for sure those archaic computer technologies did exist. They’ve long since been replaced, and so have easily cracked passwords. They use multiple numbers, lower and upper case characters, and even special symbols to keep hackers at bay. But there’s the rub, as Shakespeare once so eloquently wrote. No one, beyond a Las Vegas mentalist, can remember a dozen unique, complex passwords without resorting to sticky notes or risky repeats.

For we regular folk, the only solution is to either have a notebook filled with passcodes, erased and written over and over again, or a dedicated piece of software known as a password manager. Call it a login vault, a credential organizer, or any other of a half dozen labels, the point is that the software does exactly what it says on the tin: it digitally stores your passwords so that your forgetful self never has to remember scores of long, hard-to-recall strings of alphanumeric characters. 

The original versions of these programs would store every passcode you had, keeping track of dozens if not hundreds of these character strings. For modern spin-offs, though, they go further. They’ve leveled up the password security game, adding features like credential management, form autofill, and automatic password generation. For that latter feature, the software does all the work, creating those long strings, lower and upper cap letters, and special characters as well.

Here’s a short list of features your password manager should offer:

• Encryption. If someone gets their sneaky mitts on your software, they can’t access your list of stored passwords without, you guessed it, a master password.
• Browser integration. Needed for auto logins, form filling, and secure credentials management. Comes in the form of a browser extension or addon.
• Contact with a live database. Informs software users of hacked passwords so that they can be changed before data is compromised. Updated regularly.
• Stores user created passwords and auto generates new ones, usually long and next to impossible to hack. 
• Cross-device sync. Lets you store your password database on multiple devices, installing desktop or mobile app versions of the software that can then be accessed via a master password.
• Biometrics and two-factor authentication. Use facial recognition or fingerprints, just like a smartphone. Two factor second layer of security.

These are the basics, the bare minimum of what you need to know about password managers before even making the attempt to dig into the world of digital security. Free versions are often available for download, but paid programs will have more functionality and security-conscious features. All that being said, it’s time to step up your password game. Remember, participation is only optional if you’re not online. Otherwise, online and vulnerable, having password security isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

Our Top Picks: Best Password Managers For Privacy

Dashlane Password Manager

A one-stop security shop with password managing and auto filling functions. Limited free tier modes but built to steal the show when the paid version takes flight. VPN and Password Health tools are conveniently built in. 

Where the app secures user trust– Several members of the test team have been using Dashlane for ages. It requires the creation of an account. Even if you have an account, lack of use can mean passing several identity verification steps before a security minded user can login. We had to type in our email address then pull up the email verification code before logging in. That’s bank-level security at work. Anyway, next came the master password. Forgive us if we don’t share it, for obvious reasons. After that, the free account features were made available. They’re listed as 25 free passwords stored, one device only, and file encryption active. Secure sharing is also inbuilt, letting trusted users see passwords without fear of hacker interception.

Dashlane was also hosted on our browser addon page. Using Chrome, it was a tiny extension, unlikely to eat through operating system resources. Unfortunately, for the more advanced capabilities like device sync and more than 25 stored passwords, a $60 per year subscription was required. On the plus side, this reasonably affordable investment added a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and phishing alerts to the service. Other features to expect when subscribing run the gamut of security, taking you through unique and strong auto password generation, auto login saving when logging into new websites, address and payment autofill functions, and dark web monitoring. The dashboard we were managing allowed us to remove passwords or edit them, plus there were a few handy tools to explore, with Password Health drawing most of our attention. Using it, an onscreen  gauge showed a score indicating how compromised our passwords had become. It might be time to make some changes to those passcodes.

Where it left us wanting more –  – The free tier of Dashlane didn’t generate much appreciation among our testers. For anyone who has an online footprint of any size, twenty-five passwords aren’t going to cut it. Granted, the aid of a subscription does make the service more appealing, but we fell as if computer and smartphone owners on a budget will take a chance on a properly free password manager before ever paying for what’s a basic though important digital provision. Still, if you add in a VPN and Password Health, the proposition becomes that much more palatable. Additionally, this used to be a desktop app; the shift to an extension only format did leave some of us wanting more.

NordPass Password Manager

The easy use champ, built with a clean, modern interface that excels in its role. Inbuilt unlimited free tier password management. Single sign-in ease of use, encouraging access to their highly rated VPN.

Where the app secures user trust– Some password security tools were thrust into existence alongside the VPNs software developers were busy developing. NordPass is an example of this principle at work. The brand is familiar to most, known as Nord Security. Their job is to build digital fortresses, suites of cybersecurity programs that defend the world at large from waves of cyber threats. Our tests revealed that NordPass, a mighty password manager in its own right, doesn’t live in the shadow of their popular VPN. Again, we registered on the website, using a test email. We’d selected the $0 Personal Plan, only to find our browser redirected to the Chrome extensions page. Safari, Firefox, and other browsers are also supported.

Signup was effortless, using an existing Google account and a master password we’d already chosen. Our Chrome password list was uploaded via a CSV file, at which point we had full access to a 30 day trial of NordPass and the apps powerful XChaCha20 256-bit encryption technology. The Data Breach Scanner on the left panel of the Vault warned of compromised passcodes, websites gained a password auto filling NordPass icon, and the easy to navigate multi-pane interface quickly populated with all of our saved credentials. While only storage and autofill are available for free, a mere $1.49 per month was enough to unlock all of those aforementioned security features. Family and business plans were also covered by Nord, which left us wanting to bring up one of these subscriptions with our Editor, as we have several staffers with Swiss-cheese memories. 

Where it left us wanting more –  – Not much, the plans were affordable, and they covered organization, families, and personal accounts as well. It might’ve been comforting to have a free level that allowed several devices. Cross-device syncing isn’t a feature free users will have access to, but that’s why you have the cheap monthly rates. And while Nord runs one of the more popular VPNs, it’s not built into NordPass, leaving us to wonder whether we’d need to pay out more for a Virtual Private Network. Finally, and this might have only been a quirk experienced by our tester, we had difficulty getting autofill to work on some of our website login pages.

RoboForm Password Manager

Trusted by millions as a seamless form filling extension with solid password management tools built in. Has a focus on simplicity. A tool that stands strong among a competitive group of security suites.

Where the app secures user trust– RoboForm has been around for a long time, and it’s gained a large following in privacy caretaking circles. We first experienced its powers as a form filling app, storing credentials. A deeper look at the software saw it become our default passcode storage tool for a time, its signature green robot box popping up over website fill-in fields. A free account had us entering our usual master password, a dummy account. The extension installed in seconds on Chrome, the browser exported CSV file loaded, then the app screen filled up with our passcodes. It was an attractive layout, the information populating as square icons. We had access to the full program, but a drop down to the free level would take place after a month.

A love at first sight donut chart sprung up in the Security Center listed in the narrow left section of the RoboForm interface. It was in here that we could clearly see which passcode was weak or had been duplicated. The human mind has a habit of reusing old passwords or just changing a few characters, and we were caught out as being guilty of doing this by RoboForm.  A Password Generator was also located in this panel, which we immediately set to 22 alphanumeric letters and numbers, plus a random set of special characters.  Logins, Sharing and Emergency Contacts as well, every feature was incorporated, AES 256 encrypted and cloud stored. Sure, only one device was secured and passcode covered on the free account, but a $1.66 investment would have had every device protected. Same as before, family and business accounts can be found on the main website payment section.

Where it left us wanting more –  – The low payment is charged monthly, which we didn’t find that unreasonable, not when we could test the full features of the app for a whole month. Still, users should be aware of loss of cross-device syncing once the trial concludes. It can be a shock to the system when password storage is lost on a mobile device when an extension test suddenly comes to an end without any warning. There’s also the issue of past app perceptions. Years ago, we used RoboForm mainly as a form auto fill tool, its password storage capabilities seemed of secondary importance. That could be a subjective opinion, but even the name of the app gives off a field filling vibe, not so much a password security identity. All in all, these are minor quibbles, and RoboForm is used by millions due to its powerful passcode protecting features. Powerful, yet easily accessible when you have the right login credentials.

Secure Passcode Manager

Viewed as a rising privacy star in the digital credentials’ safety business. Stands out due to a modern, user-friendly interface that combines comprehensive security features with business level scalability. 

Where the app secures user trust – 1Password isn’t exactly new, but it does breathe life into a market that could do with a boost of innovation. Although an initial roadblock appeared, in the form of no free tier access, a scroll down to the bottom of the page uncovered a 14 day trial. We didn’t even need to enter a credit card. Email entered, verification code pulled from the email, we set our master password and got the tests underway. It was necessary to generate a Secret Key when this step was hit, which we did, storing the key on our device as a PDF. This was where the user friendly nature of the Chrome extension took over, with a tutorial link located below the welcome screen. It’s a thoughtful addition, with a dummy account used to illustrate how 1Password generates complex passwords in real time, no need to frown and think up one that a hacker can easily crack.

A second self-contained tutorial showed our test staffer how to export the password CSV file from any browser, then she loaded that data into the password manager. The screen blanked out for a moment, passwords loaded, and a listing of our various site credentials popped into life. The standard layout was still very much in evidence, Logins and account identities in the vertically aligned left panel, but the familiar looks actually left us comforted. Additional panel links this time ranged from Watchtower to Manage Account. The Watchtower was easy enough to decipher; it contained all of the graphs and stats related to password strength, displaying a final score on a rounded gauge. Settings and account management took us to a whole other account page, where billing and sharing could be found. Features to expect in this paid extension were tested and rated, with industry-standard end-to-end AES 256-bit encryption and two-factor authentication scoring highly. Biometrics and emergency access were also big hits in our office, highlighting human solutions to human errors. 

Where it left us wanting more –  The learning curve for 1Password came across as a little steep. We recommend completing their tutorials and being patient. The extension does have a 24/7 customer support department. Business and family plans are available. Personal plans are set at $2.99 per month, but they’re paid annually. Most of all, though, there’s no free tier, which leaves users scrambling to pay for a personal or family plan, complete with cross-device syncing and every other feature advertised. We’re not sure if this is a pro or a con. If you’re on a budget, it’s probably a con, but we’d still suggest taking the extension for a spin, as there is a short-term trial available. And we hate to say it, lovers of all things Apple that we are, but several iOS users have experienced glitches. Hopefully, this issue will be addressed by sending out a patch.

Keeper Password Manager

The clean, appealing to the eye credentials organizer with a firm grip on password security. Takes the familiar login security menu to new levels. Easy to use and easier to manage, enhancing security.

Where the app secures user trust – It’s clear a lot of thought had gone into getting Keeper right. Straight out of the gates, the app’s software developers put the ‘Try It Free’ link in big, bold letters. A click over it, and the Personal and Family plan received a mouse hit. There was also a Business and Enterprise plan, for those interested. One master password and email verification code later, we were in, greeted by an eye catching yellow and black color scheme. A popup instantly called upon us to import stored browser passwords, which we did, again using our dummy CSV file. Already, the browser hosted interface felt easier to navigate and manage. There were no potential browser incompatible extensions, no wading through Settings menus to find the CSV import function, just instant gratification as everything slotted into place. In short, we were impressed by the performance of this popular credentials manager.

The leftmost panel took a prioritized approach to password security. Logins were all curated in My Vault, then Identity and Payment credentials were listed below. Next, Security Audit and BreachWatch took up space in their own menu slots, offering information on weak passwords and statistics regarding reused passcodes as well. BreachWatch went further, scanning for hacked credentials that needed immediate attention. Hackers beware, we’d never experienced such awareness, prepped now to safeguard our online identities at a moments notice. Secure Addons comes last on the menu, providing handy extras like Secure File Storage and Keeper Chat. Stepping back a little, we were treated to such security-centric terms as AES 256-bit encryption, Elliptic-Curve cryptography (ECC), and cloud vault security. What does it all mean? Simply that password managers have never been so safe, defended from any kind of cyber threat.

What left us wanting more – A steep learning curve could be an issue, considering the technologically dense tech running in the background. However, the software developers who created this app have done a fine job of keeping everything easy to manage. Even so, there’s no free tier, and the paid Personal plan will cost $2.92 a month, charged annually. The Family plan is even more, calling for a heftier $6.25 investment per month. Maybe the marketing department figures we all have large families? We’re not sure. For that, admittedly reasonable price, cross-device syncing is standard , as is Password Sharing and Biometrics (Facial ID or fingerprints). Some users have also reported unexpected price hikes, especially when adding more licenses mid-term. It’s this kind of practice that can lead to clients losing trust and switching over to the competition. 

Choose the Right Password Manager for Your Needs!

It’s a loaded title, but there’s a lot of truth there. Every one of the above password managers could claim a right to the highest rating, satisfying every customer need. Look closer, some of them feature tools that are better than their nearest competitors. For example, Dashlane is highly rated, rightly so, but its free tier just doesn’t cut it with us, not as a realistic application choice among active online users. A 25 password limit will quickly become exhausted. Switching to a subscription model, you get a lot for your money, but the interface is starting to age. NordPass exudes more functionality, and it looks better too. It also functions as a gateway into the Nord security suite, showing off what many consider to be the industry standard NordVPN.

Keeper was the other app that received a gold star rating from our expert reviewers. It’s a tech heavy software package, yet the developers have gone out of their way to make it easy to use. And 1Password goes even deeper into the credentials safeguarding tech-sphere, but there’s a sacrifice made in exchange for all of that program versatility. Unless you’re tech-savvy, a steeper learning curve is to be expected. We suggest trying them all, using either a free tier or a trial. The 30 day trial for Keeper is going to ‘keep’ us occupied for weeks, the 14 day trial on 1Password less so. RoboForm was also a solid entry, but it seemed to do better as an auto form filler, calling in passwords when required. Still, a very solid, reliable candidate for best password manager, keeping user privacy as the central focus.

As usual, look for device compatibility. All of the above programs should work on desktop Windows computers, on Mac OS as well. Mobile devices should also benefit from the same level of privacy protection, pulling up the browser extensions and apps on mobile versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera and Edge, plus all others. Do check the website of the matching password manager for device compatibility issues before making a paid investment. Better yet, opt for one of the trials. The websites want you to choose their product over others, so these trials are good for them as well. 

Finally, there’s no shame in not being able to instantly recall 12 digit passwords. We’re not supermen, endowed with photographic memories. And with hacker tools and crypto breaking advancements on the rise, it’s no surprise that a password manager is essential for maintaining both convenience and security. Think 22 digit passwords, instantly generated and cloud stored with special characters, not Mom’s maiden name and her birthdate, written down by a blunt pencil in a ratty little notepad.