Unlocking the Future: The Ultimate Password Managers of 2023

We have reevaluated our suggestions and remain assured that these continue to be the top password managers available for purchase.

In a world where nearly every website requires an account, the demand for multiple accounts rises. This inevitably leads to the annoyance of creating diverse passwords. Rather than using a single password for all accounts, enhance the security of your accounts by employing a password manager.

UPDATE: 10/20/2023

We've reviewed our recommendations and are confident these are still the best password managers you can buy.

Best Password Manager Overall 1Password

Best Password Manager for Businesses NordPass

Best Free Password Manager Bitwarden

Best Password Manager and VPN Combo Dashlane

Best Offline Password Manager KeePassXC

What to Look For in a Password Manager

A password manager might seem relatively straightforward, but there's a variety of different features that differentiate a good one from an excellent one.

A password manager should offer various features such as a password generator with customizable length and character options, automatic form capture, compatibility across platforms and browsers, and password organization capabilities. It is ideal for the manager to provide at least two-factor authentication and additional authentication methods like U2F. Additionally, these managers often include a password health score or analysis feature that evaluates the strength of your passwords. A reliable password manager will also alert you in case your accounts have been compromised in dark web leaks or if a company experiences a security breach, allowing you to promptly change your password and other necessary information.

A password manager with efficient autofill performance, especially for multiple-page logins, is essential. If the password manager is difficult to use or fails to meet expectations, it is unlikely to be effectively utilized. Additionally, a valuable feature to have in a password manager is the capability to store and autofill other important information such as credit card details and passport numbers, ensuring both ease of use and security.

The availability of additional features largely depends on personal preferences and requirements. For those who wish to share passwords with their family, a family or one-to-many sharing feature is convenient. Opting for family subscriptions can also aid in cost-saving while maintaining the security of everyone's information. Certain password managers may also offer cloud storage options, allowing secure storage of important files.

When it comes to password managers, the interface is often the deciding factor. It is recommended that you carefully evaluate all options and choose the one that suits you best. If your password manager is too challenging or cumbersome to use, it is not fulfilling its purpose.

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Best Password Manager Overall: 1Password

1Password is our top choice for the best overall password manager. Instead of offering a free version, 1Password provides a robust paid service with a user-friendly interface and additional security features. At a cost of just $3/month for an individual or $5/month for a family plan, which can be shared among up to five people, it offers a comprehensive package.

1Password offers a wide range of features for its price. One notable feature is Travel Mode, where users can configure sensitive data to be automatically deleted while traveling across borders, and easily restore it with a single click when in a safe location. Additionally, there is a useful feature that enables secure information sharing through temporary web links, making it convenient for exchanging sensitive data such as family passwords. Upon reviewing 1Password, we found its exceptional ability to organize passwords and accounts to be highly advantageous.

1Password's greatest strength lies in its ability to efficiently organize and manage all of your accounts. As an example, as a software reviewer, I have an overwhelming amount of accounts, some of which are even duplicated across different providers. With 1Password, I can effortlessly categorize them based on their relevance to my business or any other specific entity, while easily distinguishing personal, entertainment, or other types of accounts. It's a highly effective system.

In addition to its exceptional security features, 1Password sets itself apart with a user interface and application that exhibits a superior level of design compared to Bitwarden. This makes 1Password an ideal choice for beginners in the world of password managers or for individuals who possess limited technical knowledge but still prioritize top-notch security.

1Password's cross-platform functionality is outstanding and it impressively supports biometric logins. Additionally, it also offers various alternative authentication methods, such as key-based multi-factor authentication, for those who prefer not to use biometrics.

However, the only drawback of 1Password is its limited 1GB of encrypted storage. This is disappointing when compared to Bitwarden, which costs significantly less and provides the same amount of storage space. Nevertheless, this limitation can be overlooked since most users won't require such a large storage capacity.

Ranked as the top password manager across the board, 1Password stands out with its extensive range of features, robust security measures, and a visually appealing interface combined with sleek, cutting-edge applications.

1Password

Best Password Manager for Businesses: NordPass

In the world of business, effective information sharing and collaboration are crucial. While other password managers excel at securing personal information, they may not be ideal for team access. This is where NordPass stands out.

Tailor-made for collaboration, NordPass offers Business and Enterprise plans that specifically address the need to streamline the process of password creation and recollection, saving teams valuable time and energy.

With the Encrypter Vault, you can conveniently store all your team's login information in one location and generate new passwords using the Password Generator. This simplifies and streamlines the process of creating new user accounts. Additionally, removing a team member's credentials is just a few clicks away when it's time to offboard them.

NordPass ensures that your team stays synchronized. The Admin Panel enables you to share credentials with specific groups or individuals, while the Activity Log tracks and records whenever sensitive information is accessed, and by whom.

No one enjoys the hassle of completing multiple forms and logging into various accounts using the same information repeatedly. The AI-powered Autofill feature eliminates these issues by automatically recognizing and filling in familiar fields. This feature streamlines your work environment, reducing the frustration of frequent logins.

Additionally, security is a top priority. NordPass ensures that you are promptly notified in the event of a credential breach through its Breach Monitoring feature. Furthermore, you have control over restricting external sharing and public access to all your stored information. For added security, multi-factor authentication is readily available.

NordPass offers a one-year plan for $3.99/month, catering to businesses with up to 250 users. For teams exceeding this limit, the Enterprise plan provides support for an unlimited number of individuals, with pricing determined on a case-by-case basis.

Best Password Manager for BusinessesNordPass improves your team's workflow with credential sharing, autofill form completion, and activity tracking at a reasonable price point.

NordPass

Best Free Password Manager: Bitwarden

An intriguing aspect of Bitwarden is its dual role as both the top-notch free password manager and one of the rare open-source password managers. This unique feature enables tech-savvy individuals to freely acquire the server files and personally host them, completely bypassing any obligatory subscription fees.

If you prefer to skip the process mentioned above, you can still utilize Bitwarden at no cost. Compared to other options, the free plan offers minimal features such as email and app two-factor authentication. However, if you do not require features like encrypte file storage, Bitwarden serves as a reliable password manager for you.

In addition, the user interface and overall experience of Bitwarden are designed to be simple and minimalistic. It is effortless to save passwords and usernames when using a web browser, as well as fill out forms. Although the experience may not be as seamless on mobile devices, this won't be an issue if you do not plan on using Bitwarden on your smartphone or tablet.

Don't worry about security with Bitwarden. The company undergoes regular audits and the open-source code invites anyone to inspect it for vulnerabilities, as stated in our Bitwarden review. This is the primary advantage of open-source software: collaboration from diverse individuals leads to the development of more robust programs. With countless individuals scrutinizing its operations, we can trust that Bitwarden remains up to date and secure for use.

If you enjoy Bitwarden's free tier and appreciate its functionality, upgrading to the manager's premium features for $10/year is highly recommended. This tier offers emergency access, expanded two-factor authentication, and priority support. Additionally, you will receive 1GB of encrypted storage, which is ideal for securely storing essential files.

The best free password manager, Bitwarden, stands as one of the finest in its category, thanks to its minimalist and user-friendly interface. Additionally, being open-source, its premium version is remarkably affordable, priced at just $10 annually.

Best Password Manager and VPN Combo: Dashlane

One notable point in the pros and cons list above is the inclusion of VPN as both a positive and a negative aspect of Dashlane. We assume that most individuals interested in VPNs already possess a VPN service and may not be actively seeking a new one. However, if you happen to be without a VPN and desire one, Dashlane presents an excellent option at the affordable price of $5 per month.

Dashlane offers a Password Health analysis feature, similar to its competitors. This feature not only assesses the strength of your passwords but also checks if they are being reused. Additionally, Dashlane, like 1Password, claims it can automatically update your passwords, although this feature may not always work effectively.

Similar to 1Password, Dashlane has a user-friendly interface that is easy for most individuals to navigate. Despite its simplicity, Dashlane still includes advanced features such as key-based multi-factor authentication and secure note sharing. However, it is worth noting that Dashlane only provides 1GB of encrypted storage, which is relatively small considering its higher price compared to Bitwarden.

Dashlane, like other password managers, includes a highly efficient form-filling tool. During our testing, we were amazed by the exceptional performance of this feature. In just a few days of usage, we never had to manually open the browser extension while browsing. Dashlane effortlessly handled all form-filling tasks without the need for any copy-pasting. It was an outstanding experience.

You'll also be pleased to discover that Dashlane performs similarly across all platforms, including the iPhone and Android mobile app versions, with comparable functions to the desktop version. Unlike other password managers, Dashlane seamlessly translates its features onto mobile devices.

is the best choice for a password manager and VPN combo. It not only offers reliable password management but also comes with a built-in VPN service. By purchasing Dashlane, you can enhance your digital security in one fell swoop.

Best Offline Password Manager: KeePassXC

KeePassXC is a unique password manager that stands out for being community-driven and fully open-source. This means that not only is it free of charge, but also, it requires your involvement to set it up and make it functional as there is no cloud or cross-platform synchronization available.

Your passwords are securely encrypted and stored locally. Therefore, to access them on a different device, you must save the password file, upload it to a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox, and then proceed to download and import it onto the new device.

Despite the additional effort required, this method offers higher security compared to cloud-based storage and syncing. It gives you complete control over the security of your passwords.

However, this also means you won't have access to features such as 1GB of encrypted file storage, one-to-many sharing, or other functionalities commonly found in other password managers on the list. This intentional lack of features is a deliberate decision.

Creating a basic password manager allows KeePassXC to maintain its free and secure nature, without concern for data breaches or service shutdowns.

In terms of platform compatibility, KeePassXC provides software for Mac, Linux, and Windows. For mobile devices, users can utilize third-party apps that are compatible with KeePassXC. Additionally, there are KeePassXC browser extensions available for autofill functionality. Fortunately, an auto-fill shortcut key enables convenient auto-fill without the need for constant copy-pasting.

So, if you're wondering whether or not to try KeePassXC, it's definitely worth considering. This password manager offers an intriguing approach, although it does require sacrificing some convenience. On the bright side, using KeePassXC means you won't have to rely on others for your password management. And the best part? It's completely free! Give it a shot and see if it suits your needs.

Best Offline Password ManagerKeePassXC doesn't offer cloud-based syncing, but that's the point. It's the perfect product if you want to be in charge of your own security.

KeePassXC

What About LastPass?

Our previous recommendation for LastPass has changed due to recent events. Unfortunately, in August 2022, the password manager experienced a security breach. Initially, LastPass provided reassurances that no sensitive information had been compromised. However, based on these developments, we can no longer endorse the use of LastPass with confidence.

However, in December 2022, LastPass revealed the complete extent of the security breach. The compromised data encompassed essential details such as company names, user names, billing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and the IP addresses associated with customers' use of the LastPass service.

Additionally, a "backup" of the service's password vaults was obtained. Although these vaults are encrypted, it is important to note that the website addresses stored within them are not encrypted. This represents a significant vulnerability. In the event of a weak password, an attacker could potentially use a brute force attack to gain access to the entire vault. Furthermore, if a phishing attack successfully recovers the old LastPass master password, it would grant the attacker the ability to unlock the vault as well.

While LastPass claims that users are secure due to the encryption of the vault data (excluding website addresses stored within), this breach remains highly concerning. We suggest opting for a service with a stronger history of safeguarding user information.

For detailed information on the security breach of LastPass, please refer to our report.