Best Free Password Managers

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Summary: The Best Free Password Managers

Finding the best free password keeper app to store and generate your passwords can be difficult because of the number of options you have to choose from online. In this article, we’re going to provide you with our picks of the top 5 best free password managers you can use, as well as answer some of your frequently asked questions about password managers. 

In summary, these are our picks for the top free password manager apps:

1. NordPass
2. RememBear
3. Blur
4. Dashlane
5. LastPass

For more information about these password managers, and to discover the answers to common questions about using this type of browser extension, continue reading the full article.

A password manager is a program that lets you store, generate, and manage your passwords for the different services you have an account for online. Using a password manager makes it easier for you to generate complex passwords. You can also use a password manager to automatically input your saved password when you log into different services.

The password manager stores these passwords in an encrypted database which protects your passwords from ending up in the hands of strangers. When you use a password manager there are security settings in place for you to be able to access the password database you’ve created for yourself.

We’ve put together a list of best free password managers so you can try out the free versions of the password managers. You can find out if the features included in the unpaid accounts are enough for your needs. This article is also useful if you’d rather not spend the money paying for a password manager or want to try one out before signing up for the service offered by the manager.

When it comes to finding the best free password app for your needs you have a lot of different options. To help you narrow down the search, we’ve put together our picks of the top 5 best free password managers you can use to protect your passwords.

The Top 5 Best Free Password Managers

While you have a number of choices when it comes to free password managers, we feel that the options below are the best when it comes to features, usability, security, customer support, and the number of devices they can be used on with a single account.

Here is a table outlining which popular features the free version of each password manager includes:

With all of these apps, you get a trial version of the paid plan when you sign up for the free account. This is a great way to figure out what you need from the password manager.

1. NordPass

Visit the NordPass website: https://www.nordpass.com/

NordPass has a premium and a free plan option for you to choose from depending on your needs. The free plan gives you the ability to save unlimited passwords, keep secure notes and store credit card information, as well as sync your passwords and data on any device. You should note that you can only stay logged into the account on a single device at one time when using the free plan.

To get started using NordPass you have to download the app on your computer or mobile device. Once you have NordPass installed, you’ll need to create an account and set a master password. Once your account is set up all you need to do is start storing passwords or generating new ones using the software.

NordPass is owned by the same team behind NordVPN, one of the best-rated VPN providers you can use. This expansion of their VPN services is a clear indicator of how seriously the company takes privacy and protecting your personal data online. What makes NordPass unique from the other options on this list is that you can store and share unlimited passwords on the free account.

2. RememBear

Visit the RememBear website: https://www.remembear.com/

Made by TunnelBear VPN, RememBear is the newest password manager on this list. Like the other password managers, you have both a paid and free option available. The free version gives you basic features such as saving and auto-filling passwords on login screens. With the paid version, you get access to automatic syncing, backups, and priority customer service.

RememBear is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. You can also use it on your browser of choice. You can use the app to store secure notes, as well as credit cards. Some limitations of the free version of RememBear include no additional form fill features, having limited import options with existing accounts, and not providing traditional two-factor authentication options for securing accounts.

What makes RememBear unique is that it uses a charming interface with lots of bear puns and illustrations. These little additions go a long way to making the password manager more fun to use than alternative options on this list.

To start using RememBear, all you need to do is download the app and create an account. Once you have your account set up, you’ll create your master password and start storing passwords. Want to know more about RememBear? You can read our full review right here.

3. Blur

Visit the Blur website: https://www.abine.com/

Abine Blur is a password manager that excels more as a privacy protection app that includes password management rather than as just a manager.  The free plan gives you access to password and account management, masked emails, tracker blocking, and auto-fill for credit cards and addresses.

With the masked email feature, you get up to three custom email addresses you can use when signing up for new services. This is a nice addition if you’re trying to keep the spam out of your primary email inbox. The downside to the free plan is that syncing isn’t available, causing headaches for anyone who moves between their phone and their computer.

The premium plan does include syncing and automatic backups, as well as masked credit cards and phone numbers, and faster online support. You can get started with Blur by signing up for the service and downloading the app on your platform of choice.

The unique selling point of using Blue for your password management is that you have access to unique features like masked emails and tracker blocking. These are extra security bonuses that you won’t find on other password managers.

4. Dashlane

Visit the Dashlane website: https://www.dashlane.com/

Dashlane is a password manager that has a number of different plan options depending on your needs. With the free plan, you get access to form and payment autofill and two-factor authentication. You also get personalized security alerts and the option to store up to 50 passwords. You are limited to using one device at a time on the free plan, which is an important consideration if you use multiple devices.

The premium plan is included as part of a 30-day trial when you sign up. On the premium plan, you get unlimited passwords, can use your account on unlimited devices and have access to dark web monitoring and alerts. With Dashlane’s premium plan you also get access to their VPN service

What makes Dashlane stand out from the other options on this list is that this password manager allows sharing between 5 different accounts. This is particularly useful if you need to share your stored passwords with coworkers or family members.

Dashlane is available on browsers, as well as iOS and Android devices. To get started with Dashlane, you need to download the app or browser extension and create an account. As with the other options on this list, you’ll need to set a master password and start adding in services with their logins.

5. LastPass

Visit the LastPass website: https://www.lastpass.com/

LastPass is a password manager service that has plans for both single users and families, as well as options for business users. When it comes to single users and family plans you have three options. These include the paid premium and family plans, and the free plan.

On the free plan, you can use the save and fill password functionality. Other features of the free plan include a password generator, multi-factor authentication, secure notes, and one-to-one sharing. You can use LastPass as an extension on your browser of choice and on your Android or iOS device. One potential downside to using LastPass is that sometimes the autofill functionality can be inconsistent. This problem is especially noticeable for fields that aren’t the username and password, such as payment details or address information.

Update February 2021: from March 16 onwards, a new “device” policy will apply. At the moment, you can still use the password manager for free on multiple devices at the same time. As of next month, however, you will have to choose one type of device: a computer or a smartphone.

What makes LastPass stand out from other options on this list is the number of features they include for the free plan. You basically get everything you need without having to pay anything for the service. LastPass is also notable for how easy it is to use on multiple devices, as well as how well it syncs your passwords and other information between those devices.

LastPass ended up in the last place of this top 5 due to recent news about the data trackers present in the Android version of their app. This means your data might be sent on to other parties. When it comes to privacy, this doesn’t bode well for LastPass users. Although it’s possible to adjust this (partly) in LastPass’s privacy settings, this fact remains a serious disadvantage of this password manager.

To get started with LastPass you need to create an account and set your master password. Once you have your account set up all you need to do is add the services you have accounts with along with your username and password. LastPass will store those logins safely and automatically fill them in when you go to log in to your account.

Why Would You Need a Password Manager?

A password manager is useful if you spend a lot of time online accessing different accounts. Using a password manager encourages you to create unique and difficult passwords for each account you log into online. Password managers are also essential privacy protection tools because they provide you with a higher level of security that helps lock your accounts from unwanted access.

Another benefit of password managers is that they will sometimes provide an autofill feature. What this does is fill in the fields of websites you visit such as your username as well as your password. This saves you time and makes it easier to keep track of different login details.

Password managers keep your passwords safe, ensure you’re using high-quality passwords, and make it easier for you to log into different services online without having to remember your username and password for each account.

Is it Safe to Use a Free Password Manager?

Choosing a free plan with a password manager doesn’t change how secure the service is but rather dictates what additional features you have access to through the service. No matter what plan you choose with a password manager provider, the level of security is the same when it comes to storing your passwords and generating new ones for you to use with your accounts.

However, you should always do your research when using any password manager so you know which one you should lean towards using. Reading password manager reviews online is a great way to quickly identify the most popular options for your needs.

Free Password Managers in Your Browser

You’ve likely noticed that some browsers and devices will also ask you if you want them to store your passwords or generate new ones for you. While these are convenient options as they don’t require a new account or additional software, they aren’t as safe as dedicated password managers. The reason for this is that if someone gains access to your browser account or your device they’ll be able to retrieve all of those passwords through your settings.

Another reason that browser password managers aren’t as secure is that some of them don’t use encryption levels that are as high as password manager extensions. A lot of the extra security you get with individual password managers isn’t found in the browser password management systems, leaving you and your passwords vulnerable. Still, if you take some extra precautions, it is possible to work with an in-browser password manager relatively safely. We wouldn’t recommend it if you want the most user-friendly and safe option.

We always recommend that you use a dedicated password manager to store your passwords, as well as generate new ones. Most password managers include a browser extension that is as convenient as the password manager built into your browser. You can usually disable the browser password manager in your settings to avoid any password pop-ups and autofill requests.

Paid VS Free Password Managers

While free accounts may work for some people using a password manager, often the most useful features are locked behind paid accounts. Some of these features include automatic syncing across devices, automatic backups, being able to use multiple devices at once, saving unlimited passwords, and getting access to priority support when you need it. Typically, free accounts include a trial version of the paid plan so you can try it out. This trial is a great way to figure out what you actually need from the service before you subscribe.

If all you need is the password manager option, you can probably get away with using the free version of the program. Of course, this depends on the password manager and what its free plan includes. If you find that you access your accounts on different devices, you’ll have an easier time using a free password manager that includes automatic syncing as an option.

How We Selected Our Top 5 Best Free Password Managers

When it comes to choosing the top 5 best free password managers on our list we took a number of factors into consideration. These factors included:

• how easy the interface was to navigate for new users to the service
• how often the software was updated
• the level of security the password manager provided
• what features are available on the free plan

Some other considerations included how many devices the application was available on and whether a trial was included, as well as the quality of the customer support that’s provided with the service.

Conclusion

Using a password manager to keep your online accounts secure is essential to protecting yourself online. A password manager encourages you to use different passwords for each of your accounts and makes it easy for you to retrieve them through its autofill functionality.

The added features of password managers also make them useful for storing secure notes and credit card information, as well as generating complex passwords for new accounts you create. While some of these features are locked behind paid plans, you can use the password generator and autofill feature on all of the managers we’ve listed in this article.

Protecting yourself online doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, by using one of the free plans offered by the password managers on this list you don’t have to spend anything to keep yourself and your accounts secure.

In conclusion, here is our list of the best free password vault managers for you to try: