The best password managers help users stay productive, protected and private. In a world where we have an ever-increasing list of passwords to remember and more and more of our sensitive data is stored online, a password manager has become a necessity.
Did you know that 80% of data breaches are still related to compromised and weak passwords? Many studies also show that weak credentials remain one of the biggest security risks, and these trends are highlighted in our guide to cybersecurity facts and statistics affecting businesses and individuals today. According to the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), not much has changed since 2017 where hacking-related breaches reached 81%. While such data was taken from businesses and companies, this can easily happen to you if you’re not careful. According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, weak or stolen passwords continue to play a major role in security incidents worldwide.
Now, to avoid having your accounts or website hacked and your credentials stolen, you will need to create unique and complex passwords. And you should avoid reusing the same password across multiple sites and networks. Because even if just one of those sites was jeopardized, you can easily lose your accounts all at once. Studies from Google Security Research show that password reuse significantly increases the risk of account compromise.
As a countermeasure, you have to create one strong password for every website you sign up into. But there’s another issue: you’ll end up with too many passwords that you won’t be able to remember. So what should you do? Install a password manager.
A password manager will remember all your passwords for you, across all of your different devices. Thus, allowing you to create much stronger passwords with the risk of getting hacked. The only password you have to remember is the password for the manager itself. Now, to help you choose the right one, here’s a list of the best password managers you can install today. Organizations like CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) recommend password managers as a secure way to generate and store complex passwords.
Best Password Managers of 2020
1. Dashlane (Free; $39.99/year)
| Pros | Cons |
| Able to change all your passwords quickly | Expensive |
| Automatic interface across all platforms | |
| Can support Edge and Linux |
Dashlane takes the top spot for the best password managers today. It has an interactive website interface and remarkable desktop software. It is easy to use and it’s the best in filling out your information on online forms. Also, there’s a scanner that can go through your email inbox to search for online accounts you may have forgotten, regardless if you’re using Android or iOS. But the biggest feature that puts Dashlane above all is its bulk password changer. This allows you to reset almost all your passwords at once, protecting you when a major data breach happens.
The only weakness Dashlane has is its expensive price. While it does offer a free version, the max passwords it can store is only 50 and will only work for 1 device. To enjoy all of its features, you have to pay $39.99 every year. Overall, Dashlane is a well-designed password manager that’s worth every penny.
2. LastPass (Free; $3/month; $4/month)
| Pros | Cons |
| Free version is already rich with features | Basic desktop apps |
| Good design across platforms | Experienced security vulnerabilities in the past |
| Two-factor authentication |
The best thing about LastPass is that its free version almost has the same fantastic features with its paid version. You can import all saved login information from any browser and you can delete data from your computer to keep it secure. There’s also its free credit monitoring, two-factor authentication process, multiple identities, and it can even automatically fill up personal information to make your shopping experience better. This manager can also store your encrypted data on its cloud servers. Thus, you can use it on other computers and share passwords with your family members.
There’s no need to install an app on your computer to use LastPass. The software exists only in browser extensions and in a web interface, which we consider as a downside. However, other than that and the fact that it experienced security vulnerabilities in the past, LastPass is still a great password manager.
3. 1Password ($2.99/month; $4.99/month)
| Pros | Cons |
| Features travel mode | Fairly expensive |
| Strong categorization options | No free version |
| Has non-subscription option | Nonintuitive design |
This password management tool offers secure sharing, credential storage, and a strong password generator. Its digital wallet is guaranteed safe, storing everything from login and credit card information to notes and passwords. There’s also a built-in service that’s designed to notify you in case of website breaches.
Aside from its slightly complicated design, the biggest drawback for 1Password is its lack of a free version. However, you can try their services for free for a limited amount of time. After your trial period, you’ll have to pay $2.99 or $4.99 a month to enjoy its features.
4. Keeper Password Manager ($29.99/year; $59.99/year)
| Pros | Cons |
| Intuitive design | Weak form-filling feature |
| Very strong security | No free version |
| Great browser and web app | Some inconveniences regarding security |
Keeper has the best security among all the password managers. Aside from that, it is fast and offers full features such as a strong web interface and storage for your files and documents. To top it all off, its premium service is cheaper than Dashlane and LastPass.
On the other hand, while the Keeper’s greatest asset is its security, it is also one of its weaknesses. To achieve its enhanced security, there are some inconveniences you’ll have to face as the user. For example, you can’t change your passwords at the same time and you can’t create a PIN to access the mobile app quickly. So, if your phone can’t read your fingerprint or face, you have to enter the master password every time you need to open it.
5. RoboForm (Free; $1.99/month; $3.98/month)
| Pros | Cons |
| Stong form filling | Read-only web interface |
| Inexpensive | Limited functionality |
| Supports most platforms | Nonintuitive design |
Here’s the cheapest software among the best password managers we’ve listed. And, this is one of the reasons why it’s included. But aside from that, it offers great security, strong form filling and it runs on most platforms and browsers. However, it is a little outdated and its interface is not for everybody.
Best Password Managers Conclusion
All the five password managers we’ve listed can secure your encrypted data on your computer as well as in the cloud. They have software for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. And, they can all protect you from data breaches and weak credentials. So no matter what you choose, rest assured that you’re in the right hands. If you’re not sure which one to go with, you can try them all out and find what best works for you. Every password management tool listed here offers free or trial versions to help you make the best decision.