Best password managers for all your devices

We've taken a closer look at the top password managers available on the market and narrowed it down to the most secure and most reputable.
Best overall
1password logo
1Password
  • pro
    Password generator
  • pro
    Unlimited devices
  • pro
    No data breaches
Best features
Dashlane
Dashlane
  • pro
    Password generator
  • pro
    Free version
  • pro
    Optional VPN
Best free version
LastPass
LastPass
  • pro
    Password generator
  • pro
    Free version
  • con
    History of breaches
Best local password storage
KeePass
  • pro
    Password generator
  • pro
    Always free
  • con
    Clunky UI
Best customer support
Keeper
  • pro
    Password generator
  • pro
    30-day free trial
  • con
    Not the cheapest

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review. We may earn money when you buy through our links.

Between bank accounts, your favourite online stores, remote schooling, working from home, and social media, it’s hard to remember all your passwords. We took a closer look at password manager software like 1Password which protects your data and the accounts they work with.

The most important thing to consider when choosing a password manager is security - after all, if you're entrusting all your sensitive login credentials to a company, you want to make sure you choose the right one, which is why 1Password is our top pick.

The program works with major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari as well as mobile platforms like iOS and Android. And with over 15 years in business and no data breach, it’s no wonder 1Password boasts service for over 100,000 companies and 15 million users.



Compare the best password managers

Brand
Starting price
Free version
Encryption
Form Autofill
Browser support
Learn More
bulletNo (14-day free trial)
AES-256
bulletYes
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave
bulletYes
AES-256
bulletYes
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, Brave
bulletYes
AES-256
bulletYes
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari
bulletYes
AES-256
bulletYes
Chrome, Firefox, Edge
bulletNo (30-day free trial)
AES-256
bulletYes
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer
bulletYes
AES-256 with PBKDF2 SHA256
bulletYes
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer

Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

bullet
Did you know?

According to a survey by Digital Guardian, more than 50% of the general population reuses passwords, with the worst offenders being those ages 18–24, and 64% of passwords are rated as "weak."

Best password manager reviews

1. 1Password: Best password manager overall (and best for security)

Best security
1Password Password Manager Logo
1Password
Starting from
US$35.88
/yr
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

1Password has an attractive interface that's easy to use. Its password security features are top-notch, and although there's no dedicated phone support, its user forum is a great place to get answers to questions.

What we love most about 1Password, however, is its reliability. Having been in business since 2006, the service has yet to experience a single data breach. No wonder it's a top pick among businesses.

pro
Pros
pro Client encryption
pro No history of breaches
pro Full transparency
pro Phishing protection
pro Command-only autofill
pro Travel mode
con
Cons
con No free version
con No automatic password updates

1Password uses end-to-end encryption to secure files, which means that they are encrypted and decrypted on your device, so no one—not even 1Password—can access them without your master password.

There are times when you may need to copy and paste a password into an online field, which can leave that password exposed on your device's clipboard. 1Password detects passwords on your clipboard and clears them automatically.

It's easy to be fooled by fake sites posing as real ones, and hackers count on you not knowing the difference so they can steal your password and other information. 1Password checks a site's authenticity and will only fill in a password on the site where the password was created.

We also like that 1Password has an active and comprehensive support forum frequented by its own programmers. If you have any questions about your software or problems with it, you'll be able to easily and quickly find the help you need in the forum.

Downsides of 1Password

Unlike Dashlane and LastPass, 1Password does not have an automatic password changing feature. Company representatives say the programming required would be cumbersome for their team and that changes in a website could affect the programming of this feature, leaving you locked out of your account.

We'd also like to see a free version, but the 14-day free trial is better than nothing.

2. Dashlane: Best password manager for features

Best features
Dashlane
Dashlane
Paid plans from
US$32.99
/yr
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Dashlane is easy to use and intuitive, but the additional features make it pricier than more basic password managers.

Here are some of our favourite Dashlane perks:

  • If you're switching to Dashlane from another password manager, Dashlane can import your passwords for a seamless switch.
  • Dashlane knows when you're shopping online and can automatically save your receipts.
  • Dashlane's user interface is well-organised and intuitive. When you enter a credit card number for safekeeping, the site uses an icon that looks like the actual card to make it just like a digital wallet.
pro
Pros
pro Password generator
pro Optional VPN
pro Two-factor authentication
pro Free version
pro Touch and Face ID
con
Cons
con Limited auto-password changing
con Reports of high memory use

But it doesn't all come up roses.

The auto-change password feature is a great time-saver, but it only works on the most popular sites on the web.

And some users report that Dashlane uses up a lot of memory, which could cause your computer to run more slowly or limit valuable storage space on your handheld device.

Learn more in our full Dashlane review.

bullet
Pro tip

A great way to create a stronger password is to use a series of words, like lyrics to a favourite song. This gives you a long string of characters that will be hard for a computer program to hack but easy for you to remember.

3. LastPass: Best free password manager

Best free version
LastPass
LastPass
Paid plans from
$54
/yr
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

LastPass password manager offers many of the same features as Dashlane, like a strong password generator and document storage, but at a lower price. It's not quite as user-friendly as some of the other password managers, and it doesn't have a great reputation for customer service. It's also important to know that LastPass suffered a major security breach in 2022.

LastPass allows you to sync passwords across all your devices. And it encrypts and decrypts data with 256-bit encryption only on your device, not through its servers.

pro
Pros
pro Inexpensive price
pro Free version
pro Secure input fields
pro Multiple device syncing
pro Machine level encryption
con
Cons
con Expensive
con Glitches
con History of breaches
con Limited automatic password changing

Best free password manager

While the LastPass free version limits you to one type of device (computer or mobile), you get quite a few features with LastPass premium.

Unlike Dashlane, LastPass offers free two-factor authentication using the Google Authenticator app or a texting option. 

LastPass doesn’t charge for other perks like Secure notes and access to your cloud vault either. The Free version also comes with unlimited password storage (not bad for free). 

While we understand the appeal of free (who doesn’t?) the paid versions of LastPass only start from $4.50/month. So it’s worth checking out or at least trying the trial. 

LastPass details and extras

To avoid keylogging threats, LastPass uses on-screen keyboards for you to enter in passwords and other important info by clicking rather than typing, protecting you from keyloggers.

Most password managers require you to completely wipe your system and start over if you forget your master password, but LastPass lets you create a password reminder and will let you reset your password.

Another great perk: LastPass Portable lets you install a version of the LastPass browser extension on a USB drive so you can take it with you and use it on other computers. The LastPass Pocket mobile app lets you sync different devices manually using a USB stick, so you never have to put your data online.

LastPass has a variety of categories for different types of information you may want to store, but some of the categories are unusual and probably unnecessary for most users. The overabundance can be confusing for new users.

What are the disadvantages of LastPass?

Watch out for glitches—some users report that LastPass tries to save passwords more than once, which results in duplicated or outdated information.

Dashlane limits the number of sites where passwords can be automatically changed. LastPass suffers from the same problem, but even more so—it includes just fifty popular sites on its list (versus Dashlane's 500).

As we mentioned earlier, LastPass has experienced significant breaches in the past. Though the service maintains that its customers will be protected as long as their master password meets certain criteria, it's something you should know before signing up.

4. KeePass: Best local storage password manager

Best local password storage

KeePass is a cross-platform, open-source, free password manager that’s popular with self-proclaimed computer geeks. It has solid security features, and it keeps its database in a single file that you can store locally on your computer or sync to Dropbox.

But the interface is dated. There’s also no customer support except for online tutorials created by users, so it’s not for the casual computer user.

pro
Pros
pro Always free
pro Virtually unhackable
pro Full transparency
con
Cons
con Too technical for some
con No customer support line
con No VPN
con Limited browser support

5. Keeper Security: Best password manager for customer support

Best customer support
Keeper Security
Starting from
US$50
/yr
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Keeper Security offers a free 30-day trial of their paid Keeper Backup program, and it has all the security features you’d expect from a password manager.

But its interface isn’t quite as polished as other top products on the market. Its autofill feature can be tricky to use, and it doesn’t offer a password strength report for existing passwords like other password managers do. We do like its around-the-clock customer support, which is uncommon for many password managers.

pro
Pros
pro Biometric logins
pro 24/7 customer support
pro 30-day free trial
con
Cons
con No free version
con Tricky autofill
con Doesn't evaluate existing password strength

6. RoboForm: Best password manager for batch login

Best batch login
RoboForm
Paid plans from
$25
/yr
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

We like that the free version of RoboForm includes a mobile app, and the Batch Login feature allows you to log in to up to five sites at once, which is great for those who like to get a jump start checking email and messages in the morning.

But, like most free password managers, the free version of RoboForm only lets you store ten passwords, and the autofill doesn’t work on mobile apps. And if you have a Mac, you won’t be able to import passwords.

pro
Pros
pro Free version works on mobile
pro Two-factor authentication
pro Secure password sharing
pro Affordable
con
Cons
con Only 10 passwords with free version
con Annual payments only

Final word

Logging into your favourite accounts shouldn’t leave you worrying about your data or take forever to do. Password managers like 1PasswordDashlane and LastPass meet at the crossroads between convenience and security. 

FAQs

Security experts agree that not using a password manager puts you and your data at high risk for identity theft. But if you put all of your eggs in one basket, make sure that basket's built like a tank.

A password manager is like a digital vault where you can store all the passwords you use for different online accounts, like banking, email, online shopping, social media, and more. You only need one master password to access that digital vault, so it's important to memorize it or keep a hard copy in a safe location.

Most password manager apps act as browser extensions so they can assist you in creating new passwords, changing old passwords, and auto-filling online forms with your name, address, phone number, and even credit card information. If you're security-minded, it may feel counterintuitive to put all of that sensitive information in one place, but reputable password managers encrypt your information, making it impossible for even the password management provider to access it. Some password managers include additional security features like two-factor authentication to keep your information extra safe from hackers.

Start with your most sensitive accounts, like banking, credit cards, and email. Use your password manager to create a complex, unique password for each of those accounts first. 

Because password managers do not have access to your files or your master password for security reasons, most password managers will require you to wipe your account and start over. For this reason, it’s important to memorise your master password or keep it in a safe location.

Two-factor authentication (sometimes called multi-factor authentication) adds an extra layer of security to a password-protected account by requiring an additional password, PIN, or action on the part of the user.

Usually, this involves using a device you own, like a mobile device, to authenticate your identity. While hackers may be able to crack a password, it’s unlikely they’ll also have access to your phone.

Reading reviews is helpful, but once you’ve narrowed it down, search for videos of your top picks. It’s important to choose a password manager that’s easy and intuitive to use, or you won’t use it. Watching videos of password managers in use can give you a feel for the user interface and help you decide which one will be most comfortable for you.

How we chose the best password managers

To review the best password managers on the market, we studied each program's features, strengths, and weaknesses. We learned more about the pros and cons of each from security experts and users, and we compared our findings to write the top-ranked password managers. To learn more, check out our methodology.


Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of publish and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer’s website at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise Australia utilises paid affiliate links.
Kasey Tross
Written by
Kasey Tross

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