Best Password Managers (2024)

Norton Password Manager stands out as a competent password management system with a simple and attractive interface. It keeps all of your logins together in a “vault,” all synced seamlessly across your devices. Best of all, Norton’s manager is free to use as a stand-alone product.

Norton provides a “safety” dasard, through which you can keep track of exactly how many passwords you have. If a password is too old or unsafe, you can change it manually or allow the Auto Change function to update and save your information. This management is great for avoiding duplicates and developing strong passwords that are practically impossible to break.
It functions well with Windows and Mac, and you can download its app on iOS and Android devices. It is also completely compatible with Chrome, Edge, Safari, Brave, Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Norton uses 256-bit AES encryption and TLS secure connections to keep your information safe. It does feature two-factor authentication (2FA), but some users perceive it as a very basic version. More concerning is the lack of options should you forget your master login. Due to Norton’s zero-knowledge policy, if you forget the master password, you will essentially be locked out of all of your accounts.

Should you want to upgrade for greater overall security, the password manager typically gets included in Norton’s various security plans, available starting at £24.99 for the first year before increasing to £64.99 from the second year onward. Norton makes it possible to mix and match coverage, choosing only the plan that is best for you. The advanced premium options do make it clear just how basic this service is.

Ultimately, we chose Norton because it’s a great freeware option for anyone looking for a simple and easy system that will let them keep track of an unlimited number of passwords. Everything you need is all in one program; you can make any changes you need with a single touch. Its simplicity, efficiency and availability of a free version make this product a great entry point for password security services.

Who should use it:

Norton Password Manager works for anyone who has a lot of logins and struggles with memorising passwords.

NordPass is an affordable option for anyone seeking to secure their various accounts without having to juggle a bunch of login codes. Not only can you manage your passwords through a single master account, but it is even possible to access your information offline. This is very useful in the event of a power outage or if you would rather not rely entirely on internet access when managing your logins.

This password management app is available at the App Store and Google Play. It works seamlessly across all major browsers and operating systems.

Another great thing about NordPass is that it also helps you safely secure sensitive information like private notes, credit card information and shipping addresses. Additionally, you can share passwords and other items easily and create groups to do so. Business owners can apply companywide settings that prevent employees from sharing details outside the company.

NordPass’ security features include the ability to scan the internet for possible data s, allowing you to react as quickly as possible. The system also identifies weak, old and reused passwords so that you can swap them for stronger and more unique options. You can set up MFA through apps, use a security key or create a special backup code.

One of this service’s best features is that it allows account recovery if you lose or forget your master password. Mistakes do happen, so it is great news that NordPass lets you recover your information.

NordPass does have a free version available for download. However, it is limited to only one user and is only accessible to one device at a time. Certain features, such as the ability to identify weak passwords or scan the internet for s, aren’t available. The freeware may let you store an unlimited number of passwords, but it is so limited that you should probably consider the premium version rather than a free account.

If you’d like to upgrade, you can test NordPass’ features through a seven-day trial. It offers two premium plans: Personal and Business. Most professionals will want the Business plan, which costs £2.73 ($3.59)* per user, per month, with a two-year plan. It requires a minimum of two users and maximum of 150. If you require more users, the Enterprise plan would be better but you must reach out to the sales team directly for a quote.

Who should use it:

NordPass’ freeware leaves a lot to be desired, but we believe the premium version is worth strong consideration for small businesses.

* Converted on the 14 July 2023

Dashlane’s ability to state that it has never once suffered a data breach in its entire history is a very strong selling point. For that reason, we consider it one of the best and most reliable password managers on the market.

Dashlane is readily compatible with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. As for browsers, the software works with Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Edge.

The dasard is very modern and easy to use, allowing you to keep track of all users in the system and monitor login information. Dashlane provides a Password Health metric, highlighting accounts with weaker passwords so that you can make changes as quickly as possible. You can monitor individual accounts or create groups for your employees.

With Dashlane, you can monitor accounts in real-time and correct password problems, such as compromised, repeated or weak logins. All of your information is kept safe through the brand’s specially U.S.-patented security architecture and use of AES 256-bit encryption, the most secure available. In addition, Dashlane’s system naturally incorporates authentication and is compatible with most mobile authenticator apps or universal 2nd factor (U2F) keys.

Dashlane does offer a free version of its password management tool but it has limitations – a common problem with freeware. Free account users can only store up to 50 passwords, and there is no dark web monitoring for potential breaches. You are also limited to a single device, but free tier users may have up to five accounts.

If you decide to upgrade to a business-themed subscription plan, your two choices are Starter for £1.52 ($2)*, Team for £3.81 ($5)* or Business for £6.09 ($8)*. Each plan is priced per month and per user and requires an annual commitment (monthly plans are available but cost slightly more per month). While Dashlane can get expensive very fast for larger teams, its security features make it a worthwhile investment. You can try it free for 30 days to see if the upgrade is right for you.

Who should use it:

Dashlane is best for any business willing to pay a premium for password and account security to protect against data breaches.

* Converted on the 14 July 2023

Bitwarden is an excellent open-source password manager that is backed by a global community of knowledgeable security experts. With Bitwarden’s free tier, you can store an unlimited number of items such as passwords, cards and notes in an encrypted vault. It offers a random password generation tool to help you create and maintain secure logins. Most importantly, you can use Bitwarden across multiple devices without having to upgrade.

Bitwarden uses security features, such as salted hashing and end-to-end AES-256 bit encryption, to keep your data safe. It also lets you share information securely across multiple devices. You can download Bitwarden to Linux, macOS and Windows machines. Its extensions work with Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Edge and Safari, but please note Bitwarden only supports the most recent versions of Tor, Brave and Vivaldi browsers.

Bitwarden’s free tier is not as expansive as the paid version, but its ability to offer cross-platform and device support for free make it a great service choice. If you do decide to upgrade, Bitwarden offers two tiers, Teams Organisation and Enterprise Organisation, for the cost of £2.28 ($3)* and £3.81 ($5)* per month and user, respectively. Customers must pay the full annual cost upfront.

Who should use it:

Bitwarden works for small and large teams alike, although its pricing range might make it ideal for larger teams with a bigger budget.

* Converted on the 14 July 2023

1Password is very much a one-stop tool for securing all of your account logins. There are no limits to the number of passwords and other items you can keep securely locked in your account vault. You can share what you want in a safe fashion with whomever you need. You never have to memorise a password again as it autofills web forms seamlessly with your saved logins.

While many of the password management services we reviewed provide additional security for nonpassword data, 1Password goes beyond through its Secrets Automation feature. The tool handles team logins and guards your company’s infrastructure. You can store everything from API keys to private certificates with ease.

1Password uses AES 256-bit encryption in addition to a few proactive measures for protecting your private information. For instance, phishers cannot add your information to any website you have not already visited. The service also keeps secret information from being saved to clipboards. It remembers your information, but only when and where necessary.

There is no true free tier with 1Password. Instead, you can try out one of its premium plans for up to 14 days. We will say that 1Password provides a fair and straightforward payment structure. The Business plan starts at £6.08 ($7.99)* per user and month, billed annually. If you have a smaller team and are not interested in a potentially costly upfront fee, 1Password offers the Teams Starter Pack at £15.22 ($19.99)* a month. It is available for a maximum of 10 users.

Although basic, the Team Starter Pack plan does offer great features, such as 1 GB of storage per person and five additional guest accounts for data sharing. The tier also features administrative controls to better view and manage permissions. You will need to upgrade to the Business plan if you want access to custom security controls, activity logs for tracking individual items or the ability to delegate account responsibilities.

Bigger organisations will need to contact 1Password to find out about Enterprise tier pricing. It includes all the benefits of the Teams and Business tiers while providing businesses with tailor-made setup training, an onboard engineer and a dedicated account manager.

1Password is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. However, if you are not using the latest version of 1Password, this could impact compatibility and whether you can successfully download and use the software. As for browsers, 1Password can be used with Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and Brave.

Who should use it:

1Password is a great choice for businesses with more than just passwords in need of security.

* Converted on the 14 July 2023

KeePass is another excellent open-source manager that puts all of your passwords in one database. It is probably one of the more technical options available, with a learning curve that could annoy professionals not too familiar with open-source coding.

On the upside, KeePass is entirely free to install and use. At present, the official version is solely compatible with Windows operating systems. But as this is open-source, there are many “unofficial” versions compatible with Linux, Mac and Mono systems.

KeePass provides encryption for your whole database. The most up-to-date version of KeePass uses AES 256-bit encryption and the ChaCha20 cipher as well as a host of plug-ins that provide additional encryption algorithms.

Some users might feel that KeePass looks very dated, especially when compared to Bitwarden, another open-source password manager with a comparatively modern interface. However, if you want a truly free tool to customise as you see fit, KeePass is your best bet. Although free to use, KeePass provides the option for users to donate funds in support of project development.

Who should use it:

As KeePass is a very technical manager, it is probably best for a professional who is comfortable directly customising KeePass as they see fit.

Every password management service provider on this list attempts to offer services to businesses of every size. However, we found that Keeper seemed to be best poised to provide an incredibly scalable experience, with options aimed at companies of various sizes. Not only that, but Keeper also provides service options tailored to managed service providers and the public sector.

Keeper services are strictly premium, but you will have to contact the company for pricing information for most plans. The Keeper Business tier is the only level with publicly available pricing; it starts at £2 per user and month or £22 annually. Keeper Business customers receive encrypted vaults for every team member and shared folders. Moreover, you access your account from an unlimited number of devices.

In addition to vault encryption, this tier uses basic 2FA. You must upgrade to Keeper Enterprise to use more advanced 2FA and SSO methods. Enterprise customers are also able to use an automated team management system and a series of provisioning tools.

The Keeper website provides a sliding scale that helps you understand what you would spend each year on their service based on the number of users. It recommends any business in need of more than 100 accounts reach out to the sales team.

Keeper is determined to stay “platform-agnostic,” so you should have no problem using its service in whatever browser or OS you prefer. In the end, it fits Keeper’s profile as a versatile password management tool, able to fit the needs of businesses no matter what their size.

Who should use it:

Keeper is probably best for midsize to larger-size businesses that are comfortable negotiating a pricing plan according to their distinct needs.

Editor’s note: Since this article was published, Last Pass has confirmed that it had been breached and users’ password vaults were compromised in August of 2022. A class action lawsuit was filed in January of 2023 for “failure to exercise reasonable care in securing and safeguarding highly sensitive consumer data.” This is a red flag worth investigating and possibly taking action. LastPass recommends changing passwords and remaining alert for phishing scams. For more details visit the LastPass blog.

An award-winning password management solution, LastPass remains a respected and popular resource for protecting login information. If you need to secure passwords through one device, LastPass is an ideal solution. The service protects your passwords through an AES 256-bit cipher.

Should you need an upgrade, you can choose between LastPass’ Teams and Business tiers. Both tiers lack a monthly option and require an upfront annual payment. Teams subscribers pay the equivalent of £3.40 per month, per user. Business plan customers pay £5.10 per month, per user.

The Teams plan tops out at 50 users, but there is no user limit with the Business plan. Additionally, with the Business tier, you gain access to important security add-ons, such as SSO and MFA. You can also get them together as part of a bundle.

With upgrades, LastPass becomes a much better experience, beginning with a simplified and easy-to-use admin dasard. Employees get their own private, encrypted vaults. LastPass lets you save and fill out logins automatically as well as generate secure passwords. It also lets team members securely share information through folders.

One major downside is that if you need to share in groups, you’ll have to upgrade to the LastPass Business tier and potentially pay more for the option than you might with other password management tools. The Teams tier also limits customisable security policies to 10 while more than 100 policies are available to Business plan subscribers.

LastPass supports Windows, Mac, Chrome OS and Linux operating systems in addition to Android and iOS. Unfortunately, LastPass is not compatible with virtual environments. You’re also required to upgrade if you want to be able to access your information on both a desktop and a mobile device.

Who should use it:

LastPass might be best for a professional in need of a password management solution for a desktop or phone.