8 Password Managers Compared: Free and Paid Options

A password manager creates a strong, unique password for every account, stores them in an encrypted vault and fills them in for you, so you only remember one master password. This page compares eight password managers on what actually differs between them: whether the free plan is usable, how they sync, sharing and their security record.

Why it matters: if you reuse a password and one site leaks it, attackers try the same email and password on every other service you use. Unique passwords stop one breach turning into many.

What to look for

• Zero-knowledge encryption. Your vault is encrypted on your device with a key derived from your master password, so the provider can't read it.
• Two-factor authentication on the password manager account itself.
• Syncing across your phone, laptop and browsers. Some free plans limit you to one device.
• Sharing with family members or colleagues without sending passwords by email.
• Passkey support, since more sites now offer passkeys instead of passwords.
• Export. You should be able to take your data with you if you switch.

1. Bitwarden

The strongest free option. Bitwarden's free plan includes unlimited passwords on unlimited devices, plus sharing with one other person. It's open source, and technical users can host their own Bitwarden server. Premium adds a built-in authenticator for two-factor codes, file attachments and emergency access, and a Families plan covers up to six people.

Best for: anyone who wants a capable free password manager.

2. 1Password

1Password is not free: there's a 14-day trial, then a paid Individual or Families plan. The Families plan lets you share vaults with family members and control who can view or edit each one. Older versions could keep vaults in iCloud or Dropbox; since 1Password 8, everything syncs through a 1Password account instead. Its Watchtower feature flags weak, reused and breached passwords.

Best for: families and households that want polished apps and easy sharing, and don't mind paying.

3. Dashlane

Dashlane is known for being easy to use. It stores passwords, payment cards and personal details, fills forms, and warns you when your details turn up in a data breach. It ended its free plan on 16 September 2025, so it's now a paid-only service.

Best for: people who value a simple interface and breach alerts, and are happy to pay.

4. Keeper

Keeper works like a locked filing cabinet: records are organised into folders, and you can share individual records or whole folders with other Keeper users. It supports two-factor authentication and includes a password generator and autofill. Keeper's free plan is limited to a single mobile device, so for a computer and phone together you need a paid plan.

Best for: people who like organising passwords into folders, and small teams.

5. RoboForm

RoboForm started as a form filler and is still one of the best at it. Besides passwords, it stores identities, secure notes, bookmarks and contacts, and fills long forms in one click. It works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. The free plan stores unlimited passwords but works on one device; syncing between devices needs a paid plan.

Best for: people who fill in a lot of web forms.

6. Enpass

Enpass takes a different approach: it doesn't keep your vault on its own servers. The vault stays on your device, and you choose whether to sync it through a cloud storage service you already use, such as iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive. Vaults are encrypted with AES-256, and you can unlock with your fingerprint or face on supported devices. The free version is limited, so check Enpass's current item limits before you rely on it.

Best for: people who don't want their passwords on a password company's servers.

7. LastPass

LastPass encrypts your vault with AES-256, syncs across devices, fills forms and supports two-factor authentication. Before choosing it, know its history: in a 2022 breach, attackers stole copies of customers' encrypted vaults along with some unencrypted data such as website addresses. Vaults with strong master passwords stay hard to crack, but if you used LastPass in 2022, change your master password and the passwords for your most important accounts.

Best for: existing users who have taken those steps. New users have better choices above.

8. Password Boss

Password Boss stores passwords and fills web forms, with two-factor and multi-factor authentication and access from several devices. It's now aimed mainly at businesses and IT providers managing passwords for teams, with access controls and encrypted backups.

Best for: small businesses that want an IT provider to manage staff passwords.

What about the password manager built into your browser?

Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari all save and sync passwords, and Apple's devices now have a dedicated Passwords app. They're far better than reusing passwords, and fine if you only use one browser and one family of devices. A separate password manager is worth it when you switch between Apple, Windows and Android, or need to share passwords with other people.

Which one to choose

• Want it free: Bitwarden.
• Sharing with a family and willing to pay: 1Password or Bitwarden Families.
• Fill in lots of forms: RoboForm.
• Don't want your vault on a provider's servers: Enpass.

Whichever you pick, turn on two-factor authentication for the password manager itself, and use a long passphrase as the master password. If you run a WordPress site, give every administrator their own login stored in a password manager, and read our comparison of WordPress security plugins. If an account has already been taken over, our guide to recovering a hacked WordPress site covers changing every password in the right order. For staff who work away from the office, see protecting your business from the downsides of mobile working.

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