Best Password Managers

When it comes to online security, good password hygiene is the first step to staying protected and keeping hackers at bay. However, memorizing unique and complex passwords for all your digital accounts is utterly impossible – that’s where password managers come in. With intuitive platforms and strong protective features, password managers combine security with convenience so that you don’t need to worry about your online safety ever again.

How password managers work

Password managers can be accessed via a browser, desktop program, or mobile app. They allow you to store your passwords in secure vaults that are protected by a master password. So, instead of remembering dozens (or even hundreds) of passwords, you just need to remember one.

But that’s just scratching the surface. Nowadays, password managers can also store other types of sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, credit card information, or important documents. They also generate random passwords and make the process of logging into an account faster with autofill.

Moreover, password managers come with data breach scanners that continuously monitor the dark web for stolen information, alerting you when your data has been breached right away.

Are password managers secure?

Yes, password managers are secure. Although most password managers store your information in the cloud, they normally provide end-to-end encryption and have zero-knowledge architecture to guarantee that your information is safe.

All data is protected by your master password, which only you know about. Some companies provide extra layers of security to make it even harder for someone to access your information. Two-factor authentication is a common feature found in password managers, but a few providers go the extra mile by including emergency kits that contain a randomized password that only you have access to.

With so many authentication steps necessary to access your vault when logging into your account from a new device, it’s virtually impossible for someone else to gain access to your data.

Can password managers be hacked?

Yes, password managers can be hacked. In fact, we have compiled a list of all the password managers that have been hacked in the past years, so you’re able to assess the risk before signing up for a solution.

It’s essential to understand how password managers handle your data in order to protect it from hackers. Since most have end-to-end encryption and zero-knowledge architecture, they don’t have access to the information stored in the vaults. In other words, even if a hacker is able to breach the company’s servers, they can’t get their hands on your data.

Basically, although the password manager keeps proof that you have the master key to enter your vault, it doesn’t know the actual key.

Benefits of using a password manager

There are plenty of benefits of using a password manager:

• Good password hygiene: Password managers make it very easy to follow the best practices for good password hygiene. Creating random and complex passwords just takes a few clicks, and they’re all stored in your vault, so you don’t need to memorize them.
• One password for everything: Password managers allow you to put all sensitive information in one place, from your Netflix password to your driver’s license or credit card information.
• Secure password sharing: Password managers come with end-to-end encrypted password sharing, letting users share their credentials with their loved ones or coworkers in a safe yet convenient environment.
• Dark web monitoring: Nothing can protect your credentials if a company is breached by hackers. Data breach monitoring is perfect for keeping on top of these events and quickly updating your password before a hacker can access your account.
• Multiplatform: Password manager mobile apps provide access to all your information on the go and can usually be secured with biometrics.

How to choose the best password manager for you

Password managers might all look alike, but they’re quite different when you go into the details. Depending on your needs and how security-conscious you are, some providers will be a better fit than others. Still, here are the main aspects you should consider when shopping for a password manager:

📴 Offline vs 📲 online password manager

One of the first things you should think about is whether you prefer an offline or online password manager. The former is more secure, as all information is stored on your device, but it’s less convenient. Meanwhile, online password managers pose a bigger risk since they save your data to the cloud, but they’re more useful as they allow for information syncing and sharing.

🛡️ Security

Since a password manager is where you save all your information, you need to consider how secure the software is. The most popular solutions provide high levels of security, but if you’re thinking of getting a less-known password manager, keep the following in mind:

• 🔐 Encryption: It’s essential that the password manager encrypts all information you add to your vault. Even if the company’s servers are safe, you still need to send the data over the internet. If this information isn’t encrypted, hackers might be able to intercept it while in transit.
• 🔑 Zero-knowledge architecture: It’s always better to go with a provider that has zero-knowledge architecture. While this might be inconvenient, as the company won’t be able to get your information back if you forget your master password, it ensures that your information is safe if there’s a data breach.
• ⚔️ Multifactor authentication: This is the key to ensuring that no one is able to get into your account, even if they’ve got their hands on your master password. Multifactor authentication can be as simple as a code sent to your phone or something more advanced, such as biometrics.
• 🕸 Dark web monitoring: If you’re more security-conscious, you might want to choose a password manager that continuously monitors the dark web for stolen credentials.

📱 Convenience

As a rule of thumb, greater convenience means lower security in the digital world. So, you need to weigh up how risk-averse you are when opting for a higher level of convenience. Fortunately, companies don’t make you use tools built for convenience unless you want to – it doesn’t make sense to pay for features you can live without.

Some examples of features that will make your life easier include secure password sharing, autofill, autosaving, and password syncing. If you do want these types of tools, make sure the provider does its best to keep them as secure as possible.

You should also check whether the company has a mobile app and how useful it is. Having all your passwords in your pocket is essential if you regularly use your phone.

👩🏻‍💻 Customer service

Although password managers are pretty straightforward, it’s still important that they have a good customer support team backing them up. Always check how available customer service is and do a test run to see how fast the agents handle requests.

💰 Pricing

No one likes to pay more than they need to. With so many competitors on the market, there are multiple different pricing points and structures to choose from. Still, a common practice in the industry is to provide significant discounts for customers who commit to a longer billing cycle. Plus, several password managers come with family subscriptions, which make the monthly price per user even more enticing.

Meanwhile, there are also free versions, free trials, and generous refund policies to take advantage of. These are perfect for you to try the software for yourself before spending your hard-earned money.

Paid vs free password managers

Why pay for a password manager when you’re able to get the software for free? Although it’s common practice for providers to offer free versions of their platform, it’s important to understand that there are usually several limitations. Depending on the password manager, you might have a limit on the number of items you can store and a restriction on the number of simultaneous connections, making the password manager not that convenient or useful.

Of course, more advanced features, such as password sharing or data breach monitoring, are also off the table with a free password manager. Even so, if you don’t need all the bells and whistles, a free password manager might be enough, as they come with the same security features.

Best password managers for businesses

It’s true that password managers are great for keeping personal information secure, but they can also safeguard business information. It only takes one employee password to be breached to have your trade secrets or customers’ information in the wrong hands. A data breach can make a business close down, so online security is vital for businesses of all sizes. However, business password managers require more features than those for personal use.

Business password manager features to look for

As already mentioned, there are some extra features you should look for when searching for a business password manager:

• Password policy enforcement: For a business to be secure, everyone must follow password best practices. So, a business password manager needs to come with a hub where admins can set and enforce password policies for all employees to follow.
• Secure password sharing: Team members often need to share passwords with each other. So, it’s important that the business password manager allows for secure sharing either through a link or shared vaults.
• Permission management: Like with the policies, admins also need to be able to easily manage permissions depending on an employee’s role.
• Reporting: While personal users just need a simple password health checker, businesses require reporting capabilities that provide insights into all employees’ passwords. Understanding which passwords need to be updated on a business level is key to guaranteeing security.
• SSO: Single sign-on enhances productivity by automatically filling login forms with one click.
• Free personal plans for users: Although not mandatory, password managers that offer personal plans for your employees are a great way to provide a fringe benefit without spending extra.

It’s important to still keep in mind the standard features that you would consider for a password manager for personal use.

Password managers vs passkeys

Passkeys are seen as the future of online security. Instead of a password, people can log into their accounts by using their fingerprint, face ID, or pin. They are considered safer than passwords, as the private key used to authenticate you is restricted to your device. This way, passkeys are protected from data leaks, and since each passkey is unique to each website, they defend the user against phishing scams.

However, it’s still the early days of passkeys. Even though some major companies, such as Google and Microsoft, have adopted passkeys, many smaller websites may take a while to integrate this authentication method. So, while we recommend using passkeys whenever possible, passwords are not going away anytime soon.

Moreover, password managers have already evolved to support passkeys. So, even when passwords die out completely, it will still be more convenient and secure to use a password manager to take care of your passkeys.

What is the best password manager?

By now it’s clear to see that there isn’t a solution that works for everyone. The best password manager depends on your needs and preferences. That’s why we recommend doing some research before blindly choosing the software that’s going to keep your sensitive information safe.

It’s essential that you read guides, comparisons, and reviews of the products you’re interested in to make an informed decision. Fortunately, most password manager providers offer free versions or free trials so you can try everything yourself first. Plus, since prices are quite low and there’s usually a money-back guarantee policy in place, you can take the plunge without worries.

What’s essential is that you take your online security into your own hands and do your best to keep your information secure. In addition to password managers, we highly recommend that you also use a VPN service and an internet security suite to ensure utmost safety in these dangerous digital waters.