Best Password Managers of 2023

Best password managers

Best overall: LastPass

Best for iOS and macOS: 1Password

Best for usability: Dashlane

Best for business: Keeper

Best for a budget: RoboForm

Best free option: Bitwarden

Best no-cloud password sync: Sticky Password

Password manager features

Password managers, in general, have identical core features. Below we go more in-depth with some of these basics to better understand why they’re important.

Password generator

While having a password vault is great, chances are many of those passwords are repeated across services, are too easily guessed, or were unearthed in a data breach. A password generator is essential because it can create a strong, random password based on absolutely nothing. It’s just a long string of letters, numbers, and symbols that don’t link back to your favorite pet or TV show. 

Of course, the iPhone, iPad, and Android will generate a password for you. However, using a universal password generator found in a password manager allows you to quickly apply new passwords across all devices.

Item sharing

Item sharing is an essential tool if you plan to share account credentials. A good example here is a streaming service like Netflix or Disney+ where someone inside or outside the household wants access to the service. Item sharing doesn’t just apply to passwords either: you could share notes, credit cards, and so on—any data you don’t want to convey outside secure means.

Dark web monitoring

The dark web is a part of the internet that is accessible only by specific web browsers. Search engines do not index these sites, so you won’t find them using traditional browsers like Chrome and Safari. It’s a place where users conduct activities behind the public-facing side (the open web). 

That doesn’t mean these activities are instantly nefarious, but stolen user credentials are typically broadcasted, sold, and purchased on the dark web. The monitoring process scans these websites for anything related to end-users, like email addresses, passwords, credit card numbers, and so on.

Cloud storage

There are two aspects to this feature to consider. First, data is synchronized across devices using cloud storage. Developers don’t have access to this data—it’s just an encrypted blob that’s uploaded and downloaded as needed. 

As shown above, Sticky Password has a Wi-Fi option, while Bitwarden has a tool to create a local service. Regardless, uploading and downloading data is required for multidevice synchronization, whether it’s local or in the cloud.

Second, premium services typically provide general online storage to back up sensitive documents and send them as encrypted attachments. Examples would be tax forms, scanned personal ID cards (like your driver’s license), a Social Security card, a passport, and so on.

That doesn’t mean these activities are instantly nefarious, but stolen user credentials are typically broadcasted, sold, and purchased on the dark web. The monitoring process scans these websites for anything related to end-users, like email addresses, passwords, credit card numbers, and so on.

Emergency access

Being able to grant someone access to your password manager account is a good thing. For example, you created and maintained accounts for Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and so on. But your significant other can’t log in to these services, you’re tethered to a hospital bed, and you can’t provide the login credentials. Granting access to your password manager allows the individual to sign in and obtain the login credentials for these services.

For instance, with LastPass, you can give one individual access to your password manager. 1Password, meanwhile, has a tool to create a PDF with the master password stashed inside.

That doesn’t mean these activities are instantly nefarious, but stolen user credentials are typically broadcasted, sold, and purchased on the dark web. The monitoring process scans these websites for anything related to end-users, like email addresses, passwords, credit card numbers, and so on.

Zero knowledge

When choosing a password manager, documentation should list this feature. “Zero knowledge” means that your data is inaccessible by the password manager developer, even if said data resides on their cloud servers. Because the encryption key resides on the end user’s device, there is no unpacking the data on the server-side. Cloud-based data is used only to synchronize multiple devices and is nothing more than a pile of digital junk for hackers.

As for master passwords, they’re stored locally on your device. When entered, passwords convert into a key that unlocks a data key that decrypts and encrypts the password vault. All of this happens on the device side, so developers have “zero knowledge” of unlocking and retrieving your data on both ends.

That doesn’t mean these activities are instantly nefarious, but stolen user credentials are typically broadcasted, sold, and purchased on the dark web. The monitoring process scans these websites for anything related to end-users, like email addresses, passwords, credit card numbers, and so on.

Our verdict

LastPass has been our favorite password manager for some time, and that likely won’t ever change even though developer LogMeIn discontinued multidevice synchronization in the free version.

Overall, LastPass is a solid pick as a free password manager, but it’s even better through its paid tiers, thanks to cloud storage, multidevice support, dark web monitoring, and emergency access.

Still, you really can’t go wrong with any of our recommended password managers. Just weigh your exact needs against what you’re willing to pay. If you want a free client, stick with Bitwarden. If you don’t mind an annual fee, LastPass is your best option, although 1Password comes in at a close second.

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Why should you use a password manager?

You should use a password manager to keep your online accounts more secure. It’s a safer option than using the same password across sites or writing your passwords down.

How does a password manager work?

Once users sign in to a password manager, they manually add login credentials for services like Google, Netflix, Amazon, and so on. All login information goes into a digital “vault” stored as an encrypted ”blob” in the cloud unless the service specifically uses on-device storage.

When you log in to the password manager using another device, it generates a new encryption key and stores it locally. The service then downloads the encrypted blob, granting you access to your stored credentials.

To provide better security, password managers include a password generator that allows you to create unique passwords across the board.

Are password managers safe to use?

Yes, password managers are safe to use because they encrypt login credentials on a device level. Even if hackers manage to break into a password manager server, they cannot access your information without obtaining the encryption key stored on your device(s).

Free or premium?

There’s always a tradeoff between using a free password manager and paying for a premium account. For instance, LastPass allows only one device type when using the free plan: computer or mobile. The Premium plan eliminates this restriction. Ultimately, you need to decide what you need from a password manager and if its free features best address those needs.