You need a password manager app.
Password management apps used to just be a secure place to keep your password. Now, they’re so much more. The best password apps can generate unbreakable passwords, fill them in for you, and securely store them. Imagine a world where you never have to worry about entering a password or having it stolen. That’s the world these apps offer.
Which app should you download, though? Well, that’s where things get complicated. There are many password management apps out there and most of them are pretty good. However, there is an elite group of preferred apps out there that always snag the most recommendations.
We took a look at some of those apps and came away with a ranking of the ten best.
10. Data Vault
Pros:
- Secure
- Allows you to sync between multiple devices
- Supports many different websites
Cons:
- Can be pricey
- Barren user interface
- Lacks advanced features
Data Vault is a great example of not every password manager is designed equally.
On the surface, Data Vault looks great. It promises – and offers – top-tier security options, it allows you to sync between multiple devices, and it covers a variety of password options across many different websites. If you purchase Data Vault for its one-time fee of $9.99, you’re going to get an iPhone password manager that you can trust and one that is versatile enough for even power online users.
However, Data Vault just isn’t your best option. For one thing, its user interface is pretty barren and sometimes a little tricky to navigate. That might not sound like the worst thing in the world, but it can start to wear you down after enough time. Furthermore, Data Vault lacks some more advanced password features that you’ll find in other password managers. It also sometimes struggles to create default passwords that feel appropriately strong.
At the end of the day, Data Vault is a fine service, but you can do better.
9. RoboForm
Pros:
- Very reliable
- Great automated form filling options
- Free for mobile
Cons:
- A somewhat bland interface
- Limited two-factor authentication options
- Mediocre desktop version
RoboForm is a snapshot of your average password manager.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. There are some users who just want a no-nonsense password manager that’s reliable and doesn’t put up too much of a fight. RoboForm fulfills those requirements. Once you have it installed, it recognizes when you’re logging on to a secured site and generates a “passcard” that contains your log-in credentials. It then assigns that information to a sub-folder. From there, you can log-in just by using your saved credentials. In other words, it’s a basic password manager.
However, aside from some rather diverse automatic form filling options, RoboForm isn’t exactly the most thrilling of password management apps out there. Its interface tries to utilize both file and folder formats and icon-based management, but the combination of these elements is sometimes awkward to navigate.
RoboForm’s two-factor authentication options are also a bit limited and its desktop application certainly isn’t the best that we’ve ever seen. As a free app, you can do worse than RoboForm, but you can certainly do better.
8. mSecure
Pros:
- Great mobile interface
- Active developers
- Easy to set-up
Cons:
- Many of its best features are reserved for the premium version
- The desktop design is not the best
Early versions of mSecure were not that great. The first builds of the service’s desktop app were more like a secure folder for your passwords. You could store all your favorite passwords in a way that makes you feel safe for keeping them on your computer, but it didn’t even allow you to perform simple functions like automated log-in.
Fortunately, mSecure has gotten much better in subsequent years. The latest build of the mobile app feature such modern conveniences as automated log-in attempts, a very strong password generator, multiple design templates, and an interface that is remarkably free of clutter and feels great on mobile.
However, mSecure is another app that hides its best features behind a pretty considerable paywall. For $29.99, you can upgrade to mSecure Pro and access such things as fingerprint unlocks, Apple Watch support, enhanced backup and restore options, and multiple device syncing.
Not only are many of those features the kind of add-ons you can expect to find in the free versions of some popular password management apps, but that $29.99 price point is a bit steep in terms of the market value of similar services.
7. Sticky Password
Pros:
- Does everything you’d expect a password manager app to do
- Easy to use
- Incredibly secure
Cons:
- The interface is too simplified
- Best multi-device features require an annual fee
Sticky Password isn’t really talked about quite as much as some of the “biggest and best” password management apps out there. Why is that?
On the surface, it’s hard to tell. After all, it seemingly offers everything that you’d ever want from a modern-day password manager. You just let the app recognize your existing passwords – or use its generator to create new ones – and then rejoice as your future log-in attempts become both automated and secure. On top of that, your master password is kept so secure that the service doesn’t even store it in their servers.
Sticky Password certainly functions like the best password management apps out there, but it starts to fall apart when you begin to consider what makes it special. Its interface is certainly not a standout feature (that’s especially true of the mobile version), its authentication options are mostly just serviceable, and it locks cloud backup and synchronization between multiple devices behind a yearly fee.
This app’s hassle-free nature might be perfect for users who don’t want any fuss with their password managers, but it’s hard to recommend to more advanced users.
6. Enpass
Pros:
- Plenty of features
- Free desktop support
- Very secure
Cons:
- Mobile version is not free
- No two-factor authentication
Enpass is, mostly, awesome.
The service’s developers are determined to create and expand a password manager that offers a variety of features. So far as that goes, their attempts are admirable. Enpass features military-grade encryption, full backup and restoration options, fantastic autofill support, touch ID support, browser extension support, secure sharing, an incredible password generator, and an auto-lock feature that allows you to lock a lost or stolen device.
All of that sounds great. However, it does come at a literal cost.
Enpass’ desktop version is free, but if you want to continue using the mobile version past the free trial period, it will cost you $9.99 per device. That’s not an awful price for a great service, but whenever you start talking about premium password managers, you do have to start asking yourself what you need from a password manager and what this manager really has to offer.
So far as that goes, casual users probably don’t need to pay for a password manager. As for more advanced users, Enpass’ lack of a two-factor authentication feature and its somewhat dated desktop interface is means you might want to look elsewhere.
5. True Key
Pros:
- Very simple interface
- Free of clutter
- Great authentication options
Cons:
- Fairly expensive for what it offers
- Thin on multi-device transfer options
True Key is one of those password management apps that seemingly uses simplicity as a selling point.
There’s certainly something to be said for that approach, especially when it’s done as well as it is here. True Key offers all the basic password management features you want – storing, password generation, authentication, etc. – but removes some of the clutter. For instance, there’s no master password needed to access your account. True Key also bundles together its features with a bare-bones interface that emphasizes getting the information you want as quickly and easily as possible.
That’s not to say that True Key doesn’t have advanced features. Actually, its multi-factor authentication options are some of the best you’ll find in a password manager.
However, the relative simplicity of True Key in terms of its advanced features on display and the depth of its multi-device support options makes you question the price of the service. If you want to store more than 15 passwords a year, True Key will set you back $19.99 a year. That’s a pretty big price point for an app designed around simplicity.
4. Keeper Password Manager
Pros:
- Fantastic security options
- Unlimited password storage
- Capable of securing a variety of information
Cons:
- $29.99 a year price point may be too much for some
- Limited form filling options
Keeper has quickly become one of the most popular password managers out there. Considering how many password managers there are, that kind of success really makes you wonder just how this service has managed to separate itself from the pack.
Well, there’s really no great mystery here. Keeper just happens to offer one of the most diverse packages of features and functions of all the password management apps out there. It offers protection for an unlimited amount of passwords and can even store things like photos and credit card numbers. Its password generator is one of the best, it works with a variety of authentication options, it works with Apple Watch, its organization options are as good as any other app, and there are few flaws with its interface.
So what’s the catch? Well, we’re not crazy about its limited web form filling features, but the real catch here is the price. Keeper will set an individual user back $29.99 a year. That’s not necessarily a flaw, but it’s just enough to make you wonder how much you really need from your password manager.
3. 1Password
Pros:
- Simplistic design
- Truly reliable
- Great form filling options
Cons:
- Expensive for what you get
- Lacks proper authentication options
1Password is a name you’ve probably heard many times before when people are recommending password management apps. Indeed, it’s almost synonymous with the very idea of password managers.
So why is 1Password so popular? Well, it’s certainly one of the easiest apps of its kind to use. 1Password doesn’t want to intimidate users and its interface does a great job of slowly presenting its various features and functions. Its mobile design isn’t as robust as the desktop version, but that’s understandable given the platform.
1Password also does a great job of helping you organize all your password information. You’re never left hunting down a piece of information, yet you never feel like your passwords are unsecured. 1Password even alerts you if a site you have an account with has suffered a security breach.
That’s all great, but 1Password is a bit expensive for our taste. Its $35.88 a year price point – made via monthly $2.99 payments – is somewhat steep. It’s even harder to justify when you consider some of the things this app can’t do (such as two-factor authentication).
2. LastPass
Pros:
- Brilliant design
- So many features
- One of the best free versions out there
Cons:
- Poor desktop support options
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with LastPass.
First off, LastPass is a truly free password manager. There is a premium option – it costs $2 a month – but the features it offers are not essential. They include password sharing, advanced multi-factor options, and application support.
Everything that matters, though, is available via LastPass’ free build. LastPass is capable of storing all your important passwords in a manageable digital space. Its auto-fill options mean you’ll rarely have to enter the basic information again. The service’s password generator is just brilliant. You can even ask that the generator makes passwords you can actually pronounce.
The brilliance of LastPass is that you rarely find yourself asking why it can’t do what you want it to do. It’s easy to use, rich with features, and feels like it was made for mobile devices.
That being said, the service’s desktop functionality is pretty poor. As it stands, LastPass is only available for Mac laptop and desktop devices. It’s also clear that the desktop version hasn’t been optimized for a desktop experience
Still, this is a brilliant option for mobile users.,
1. Dashlane
Pro:
- Great mobile interface
- Some of the best features out there
- Free for life for a single device
Cons:
- Premium option is pretty expensive for what you get
There’s no definitive best password manager out there, but it’s hard to argue against Dashlane for that title.
First off, Dashlane has one of the best mobile interfaces out there. Its storage options are robust, but you’ll never struggle to navigate them. Dashlane is designed to allow you to utilize the most complex passwords with minimal effort. It succeeds at that goal. Dashlane doesn’t stop there, though. It can also sync your apps for expedited checkout. The app can organize the credit cards in your mobile wallet. There’s a feature for managing and storing online receipts. Its security has never been called into question.
Best of all, Dashlane is free for life for a single device.
But what about multiple devices? Well, that’s where things get tricky. Dashlane’s $3.33 a month premium account makes it one of the most expensive managers in the market. To be honest, you’re really only paying for multiple device support and syncing. It offers other options, but they’re not mind-blowing.
However, Dashlane is a brilliant one device free option. Actually, it might just be the best in its class in that respect.
Do you have a favorite password management app that’s better than the ones above? Let us know about it in the comments below.
