The Best Password Managers 2024 (original) (raw)

Best Overall

5.0

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

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On NordPass's website

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Best for Simple Password Management

4.3

AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

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On RoboForm's website

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If you're seeking a secure password manager, our testing showed that NordPass offers the best set of features at a reasonable price point. Whereas Roboform is merited for being super user-friendly, Keeper Password Manager is a cloud-based solution best for high-end security. Other password managers, like Bitwarden and 1Password, also have their merits.

All 5 password managers we evaluated offer browser extensions and mobile apps so you can easily create complex passwords, save new passwords, and log in on any platform. Read on to learn more about the best password managers and why we chose them.

In this article

The best password managers 2024
How we tested the best password managers
NordPass: Best overall
RoboForm: Best for simple password management
Keeper Password Manager: Best for high-end security
Bitwarden: Best free password manager
1Password: Best for organizing your passwords
How to choose the best password managers
Do I need a password manager?
The best password managers FAQs
Bottom line: The best password managers

The best password managers 2024

So what's the hype about dedicated password managers? Password managers allow you to securely create, store, and manage passwords for your online accounts across all your devices and platforms. With built-in random password generators, you can say goodbye to weak passwords.

But good password management solutions go beyond these basic services and offer much more, like data breach notifications, reports on compromised passwords or reused passwords, biometric authentication, secure sharing, a private key (or strong master password), and more.

• NordPass: Best overall
• RoboForm: Best for simple password management
• Keeper Password Manager: Best for high-end security
• Bitwarden: Best free password manager
• 1Password: Best for organizing your passwords

Top 5 password managers for 2024 compared

Password manager	Best Overall
Star rating	5.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.3 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.2 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.5 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.5 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Starting price	Starts at 1.29/mo(billedeverytwoyears)∣Startsat1.29/mo (billed every two years)	Starts at 1.29/mo(billedeverytwoyears)∣Startsat0.99/mo	Starts at 1.45/mo(billedannually)∣Startsat1.45/mo (billed annually)	Starts at 1.45/mo(billedannually)∣Startsat0.83/mo	Starts at $2.99/mo (billed annually)
Import/export tool
Password sharing
Encryption	XChaCha20	AES-256	AES-256	AES-CBC 256-bit	AES-GCM-256
Two-factor authentication
Password generator
Password strength report
Autofill
Digital legacy
Cloud storage
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, Opera	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, Tor Browser, DuckDuckGo for Mac	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave
Learn more	Get NordPass Read Our NordPass Review	Get Roboform Read Roboform Review	Get Keeper Password Manager Read Keeper Password Manager Review	Read Bitwarden Review	Get 1Password Read 1Password Review

How we tested the best password managers

Finding the best password manager was no easy task since there are quite a few on the market. To start, we researched top password managers and compared their overall solutions and features.

From that list, we picked our top five and started testing. We signed up for an account with each service, downloaded the macOS desktop app, and started setting up our accounts.

We installed the Chrome extension and mobile app for each password manager so we could test them alongside the desktop app. We found that the browser extension and the mobile app are more important — and used more frequently — than the desktop app.

Once we set up our accounts with each password manager, we tested the ease of adding passwords and other information, how simple it was to share a password with a friend, and how any additional features performed.

NordPass: Best overall

Who it’s best for

NordPass is a great solution for people who want to use a password manager to organize their important and confidential information. You can store your passwords, notes, credit cards, and personal information inside your NordPass vault.

NordPass is also beneficial for someone who needs more guidance as they build their digital vault. NordPass walks you through the setup, and all of the elements are fairly self-explanatory, so you don’t have to search too hard to add any type of information.

NordPass also offers other solutions, like NordVPN and NordLocker cloud storage, so if you’re already using one of its other apps, you’ll likely understand the user interface pretty easily. These bundled security features are ideal for people who need more encrypted file storage.

What we liked

The first things that stood out to us were how simple NordPass was to set up and the prompts it gave us to add the browser extension and download the mobile app. It almost felt like someone was there walking us through how to get the most out of the password manager.

The overall design of NordPass was also one of our favorites. It was easy to navigate through all the different categories, such as passwords, secure notes, and credit cards. We liked that you can attach files within each password, and it shows you the strength of your current password, too.

What we didn’t like

NordPass offers quite a few additional features with its Premium plan, including the password health feature, data breach scanner, and emergency access. We think these are all beneficial tools to have available, so we don’t like that they’re an additional cost. Other than that, there wasn’t much we didn’t like about NordPass.

NordPass specs

RoboForm: Best for simple password management

Who it’s best for

RoboForm is the most simplistic password manager we tested. It’s great for password management, but it’s focused on just that: managing credentials (though you can save a few other items, including contacts, personal information, and notes).

What we liked

We appreciated the simplicity of RoboForm. From inside the Chrome extension, you can find your passwords and form fills, generate passwords, and oversee your password manager vault. (Note: The password generator is indicated by a slot machine icon in the top right-hand corner of the window, which took us a second to figure out.)

RoboForm is bare-bones but functional, especially in its free version. If you want a simple password manager, you’ll be able to easily navigate this one. RoboForm also has a mobile app and browser extensions, which make it easy to use on any device.

What we didn’t like

One aspect of RoboForm we didn’t like was that two-factor authentication is not available unless you have a paid plan. For a solution designed to keep your accounts secure, it seemed odd to have to pay extra for added security.

RoboForm was also the hardest to use. To add your secure passwords, you must navigate to the website and input your credentials; you can’t just add passwords manually through the desktop app. It seemed as though the Chrome extension and the desktop app had problems working together as well.

RoboForm specs

Keeper Password Manager: Best for high-end security

Who it’s best for

Keeper Password Manager is a user-friendly password management tool that's dedicated to keeping your login credentials, credit card details, and other personal data secure. It uses military-grade encryption, has zero-knowledge architecture, and comes with plenty of useful security features.

What we liked

We liked that Keeper is dedicated to creating a secure product. It undergoes annual security audits with third parties and publishes compliance reports to share its progress. It also uses AES-256 encryption, which is considered unbreakable, and zero-knowledge architecture, meaning that only you have access to your master password.

Keeper also allows for secure password sharing, which helps shield your data, even while it's in transit. You can use one-time secure sharing, or you can add people and designate their level of security access. It even offers a self-destruct feature should any hackers try to log in to your digital vault too many times.

What we didn’t like

During our testing, we found that Keeper had some struggles with autofill. When we tried to sign in to our online banking account, KeeperFill only entered our password but not our username. Luckily, this was the only site that gave us issues.

If you're seeking a budget-friendly password manager, Keeper is one of the more expensive products on the list, and some features must be purchased as add-ons (like BreachWatch for dark web monitoring).

Keeper Password Manager specs

Bitwarden: Best free password manager

Who it’s best for

If you’re looking for a quality password manager that emphasizes security and ease of use, Bitwarden is a great choice. All Bitwarden plans are built on zero-knowledge encryption and allow you to save unlimited passwords on an unlimited number of devices.

However, Bitwarden isn’t as intuitive as some of the other options. If you’re not tech-savvy or you don’t want to have to learn how everything works, you may want to take a look at NordPass or RoboForm instead.

What we liked

Bitwarden’s functionality is simple and easy to use. You can add passwords quickly, and Bitwarden pings to ask if you want it to remember a password when you’re on a site that isn’t already saved in your password vault.

Bitwarden offers some useful vault health reports about your passwords and their overall security as well.

With the free plan, you can also receive a data breach report to see if your username has been involved in a breach. Bitwarden Premium includes reports that show whether you’ve had any exposed passwords or any reused or weak passwords.

These password health reports can help ensure you’re using strong passwords and practicing good cybersecurity habits.

On top of all this, Bitwarden is an open-source password manager, which means it’s constantly being tested and analyzed for potential vulnerabilities that are quickly patched and secured.

What we didn’t like

Bitwarden doesn’t make it easy to share passwords with people without a little bit of legwork. To share a password, you need to organize passwords into different categories or, as Bitwarden calls them, “collections.”

Once you’ve established a collection, you can share it with someone to give them access to the passwords inside. However, there isn’t the functionality to just share a one-off password outside of a collection.

Setting up the collection isn’t difficult; it’s just an additional step. The free and premium accounts limit you to two collections, but the Families plan allows you to have unlimited collections.

Signing in to Bitwarden is also a bit unusual. First, you log in to your Bitwarden account, and then you have to enter a different master password. On the one hand, it’s added security, but on the other, it seems like an unnecessary step. We had to complete a captcha each time we logged in, too, which got a bit annoying.

Bitwarden specs

1Password: Best for organizing your passwords

Who it’s best for

Originally only for Apple users, 1Password is an impressive password manager with a variety of bells and whistles to make password management more convenient for all types of devices. 1Password is definitely for someone who understands the value of a trusted password manager and is willing to pay for it since it doesn’t offer any free plans.

Similar to NordPass, 1Password walks you through the setup process and provides tips and tricks for password management. 1Password also allows you to create collections that can include a combination of different vaults and groups.

If you remember 1Password from its iPhone-only days, it’s undergone quite a few changes. The biggest of all is that it now offers cross-platform compatibility with additional operating systems, including macOS, Microsoft Windows, Android, and Linux, as well as Chrome, Brave, Firefox, Edge, and Safari web browsers.

What we liked

1Password has some nice features that make it easy to organize passwords. You can create multiple vaults to house different passwords. From each vault, you can search for passwords, share individual passwords, or give someone access to the entirety of the vault.

While we were testing 1Password, it released version 8. Overall, the update was mostly cosmetic, but it brought 1Password up to the same user-experience standards as some of the easier-to-use password managers. The update also gives you more flexibility for reorganizing fields in iOS and Android.

One of our favorite features of 1Password 8 is Watchtower. The Watchtower section is where you can check on the overall health of your passwords and the security of your digital vault. 1Password almost gamifies the Watchtower portion and makes it fun to have a great score.

What we didn’t like

One downside to 1Password is that it doesn’t have a free version, so there's a monetary commitment to using it. 1Password offers a 14-day trial that you can use to test its password storage. Outside of having to pay for 1Password, there wasn’t much we didn’t like, especially with the latest version that was recently released.

1Password specs

How to choose the best password managers

Choosing the best password manager depends on your individual needs and how you plan to use it. Here are some questions to ask to help narrow down exactly what you need from a password manager.

• Would you like to save other information besides passwords?
• How often and with how many people will you share passwords?
• How much money do you want to spend on a password manager?
• Would you like the flexibility to organize your passwords based on the type of account or other qualifiers?
• Do you want the ability to give emergency access to a family member?

These are only a few aspects to consider when picking a password manager. It’s best to find the solution that works best for you and your family. Since many password managers offer a free version, you can try a few to see which one works best with your lifestyle.

Looking to change up your password manager? You can import your passwords and other password manager data into a new account.

Do I need a password manager?

If you’re still writing down your passwords on a sticky note or saving them in a Google Doc, you definitely need a password manager. In some cases, someone having access to your confidential passwords could give them access to every facet of your life, including bank accounts, social media accounts, and others. Password managers can help keep this information secure.

If you’re using a built-in password manager like Google’s, you may want to consider switching to a dedicated password manager so you can ensure your data is encrypted and safe. Google Password Manager isn’t safe since it gives someone access to all your passwords if they have access to your Google account.

Password managers work by providing a guarded place to store passwords. It's also a good way to leave a digital legacy for your family in the event that they need to access your passwords in an emergency. You don’t want a family member rifling through your house looking for a colored Post-It note with the password to your life insurance policy, right?

FAQs

Bottom line: The best password managers

According to a 2022 study by SpyCloud, a cybersecurity service, reused passwords have been the leading cause of cyberattacks for the past few years.[1]

NordPass, Keeper, RoboForm, Bitwarden, and 1Password can help you avoid being part of that statistic. By using the built-in password generators and saving your unique passwords in a password manager, you can strengthen your online security and still remember your passwords.

Overall, these five password managers offer a variety of features to help make account and password management more efficient. Based on our testing, we found NordPass to be the best overall solution. It's newer to the market, but it helps you remember passwords, share information, and protect your personal information easily.

Five best password managers 2024

| | Starting price | Best for | Learn more | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | Starts at $1.29/mo (billed every two years) | Best overall | Get NordPass Read NordPass Review | | | Starts at $0.99/mo | Best for simple password management | Get RoboformRead Roboform Review | | | Starts at $1.45/mo (billed annually) | Best for high-end security | Get Keeper Password Manager Read Keeper Password Manager Review | | | Starts at $0.83/mo | Best free password manager | Read Bitwarden Review | | | Starts at $2.99/mo (billed annually) | Best for organizing your passwords | Get 1Password Read 1Password Review |

Author Details

Andrew Strom Adams is a freelance writer focused on online privacy and digital security. He writes on various topics to help individuals protect themselves on the internet. Andrew has worked in legal marketing, technology, and startups. He has more than 12 years of experience in marketing and communications. He holds an M.B.A. from Westminster College and a B.A. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University. When he’s not writing, he’s playing with his two kids or watching reality TV.