Today’s digital world is a blessing and a curse. You can do almost anything from the comfort of your home without going through institutions and waiting in line for hours. At the same time, however, our digital identity, personal information, and intellectual property are constantly at risk. Hacking attacks and security breaches on digital hubs and government websites are happening hourly.

To be recognized online, we are often logging in here and there. In the process of doing that, the platforms we use enforce different authorization options. The most popular one is by providing our email and password. While our email should be easily readable by others, the password is something only we should be aware of. Everyone knows that having a strong, diverse, and not obvious password will increase security. However, that comes with its challenges.

Today, on average, every single person has about 100 passwords. If you generate every password following all security recommendations, you will simply go crazy. Not to mention remembering these is unimaginably hard, especially if you have to recall which one goes where. So there is a more accessible, secure, and faster way to deal with this problem. Just use a Password manager.

What is a Password Manager, and how does it work?

As the name probably suggests, password managers are browser or desktop-based software product that stores all your passwords securely. Password Managers made the login process far easier with their further development by automatically filling in the required authentication fields. But a Password Manager is far more than just that. It allows you to store sensitive information like addresses, secure notes, and even credit/debit card details.

By using a password manager, you practically have to remember only one password for the Password Manager itself while retaining the security benefits of having different passwords across different websites.

Most password managers have browser add-ons, so whenever you are logged in, you can just go to the login page of any registered website, and the password manager will fill in the required fields automatically.

What should you know about using a password manager?

A password manager is only as good as your passwords. It doesn’t add an extra layer of protection to your accounts. It only allows you to create a more complex password, which you wouldn’t have to remember afterward.

So, if you use the same password across all your registrations, like 44 million Microsoft users do, whether you are using a password manager or not is irrelevant. Still, having diverse passwords is the first step if you care about your personal data (and you really should really do). This is where password managers excel. Most will even recommend a randomly generated password, covering all recommendations for tight account security and all you need to do is:

• Create a master account in the Password Manager of your choice.
• Download and install the desktop version and browser add-ons of the chosen Password Manager.
• Create and set a very tight and secure master password that you will remember.
• Link all your accounts to the password manager so it can store your passwords.

There are only two passwords you should remember and not add to the Password Manager – your master password and the password of the email you’ve registered in the Password Manager sign-up form.

Are Password Managers safe?

The short answer is yes – exceptionally so. Most password managers, especially the ones we will discuss a bit further down in this article, use a highly advanced encryption standard (AES) with 256-bit randomly generated keys. This sophisticated system encrypts the information stored in the passwords and protects it from outside attacks. Moreover, the password manager encrypts the data locally, so even the Password Manager provider doesn’t have access to your information.

And while there have been some security breaches, Password Managers are the safest way to secure your passwords and information. The alternative of having just a few passwords for all your accounts, or storing your passwords in a notepad document, a note, or anywhere else, is simply worse.

Having this in mind, it’s mind-boggling why only 24% of users rely on Password Managers. One valid reason is that most people have no idea which Password Managers are worth trusting. That’s why we compiled a list of the top 5 Password Managers you can trust for storing your passwords based on our experience.

LastPass Password Manager

While LastPass is outstanding, it is probably highly recommended because it’s one of the most used password managers. With 21% of the market and over 33 million users, one can hardly argue with the numbers. Moreover, LastPass is one of the first password managers out there, and naturally, they have over 14 years of know-how, making them one of the best choices you can make.

Pros

LastPass is a browser-based password manager with extensions to all the most famous browsers. You can download it on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Edge, as well as on your Android, iOS, and Windows phone.

The platform is highly secure, as it offers AES 256-bit encryption combined with the option for multi-factor authentication. This way, you will have to prove you are the correct person by entering a password on your smartphone or using your fingerprint. So naturally, this extra layer of security will immensely improve your data protection efforts.

Best of all, however, is the free features LastPass provides. Without paying a dime, you will have access to unlimited password storage, cross-device syncing, encrypted data sharing, and a digital wallet where you can store credit cards, which you can automatically fill, whenever you want. The paid version is also quite affordable, adding password sharing across multiple devices and 1GB of encrypted storage. Those are nice to have but definitely not mandatory. So we recommend that if it is for personal use, just go with the free version. It has all that you need.

Cons:

One of the most significant downsides of LastPass is its popularity. Naturally, such massive data storage is constantly under attack, and in 2015 LastPass got hacked. Thankfully, the breach was minimal, and only a few passwords leaked. Still, you should consider that at any point, you may have to change all your passwords if push comes to shove.

Another downside is the outdated desktop app and the inability to fill some types of data fields automatically.

Verdict:

Despite the minimal downsides, LastPass, without a doubt, is the best password manager on the market. With a feature-rich free version and tight security, LastPass is definitely excellent storage for your passwords.

Dashlane Password Manager

Dashlane is more than a password manager, as it allows you to follow your entire digital footprint. This way, you can ensure you have no info spills, even on the dark web, where most other security providers are helpless. This makes it a top-rated password manager among those who have crucial information and are ready to pay for its protection. So despite having three times fewer clients than LastPass (around 10 million), the French-based password manager has a higher market share (24%).

Pros

Dashlane is hands down the most secure password manager on the market. It is easily used, effortlessly synchronizable between devices, and with some very effective security features. Among them are the two unique to this product – the built-in VPN and the Dark web monitoring.

One of the best features of Dashlane, which can’t be found anywhere else, is the password changer, which will change hundreds of passwords at once. That’s a cool feature if you have doubts about a security breach. It’s convenient if you are operating an enterprise with hundreds of different passwords that need to change instantly.

Cons:

Such sophisticated protection comes at a price, and for Dashlane, it’s a lot higher than the average for the market. A premium account would cost you about $60 a year. On the other hand, a free account is followed by many limitations, like a password limit. You can store only up to 50 passwords with a free account, which is highly insufficient. Moreover, with the free version, you can only use Dashlane on a single device and have highly limited cloud storage.

Verdict:

Dashlane is an excellent option if you are ready to pay for your passwords and data protection. It’s the perfect choice for businesses with highly sensitive information that can lose a lot if breached.

NordPass Password Manager

NordPass was created by one of the best VPN providers on the market, automatically giving it a good score. Its genius is in its simplicity. It’s a pretty straightforward password manager with few other functions, perfect for those looking for a simple solution to their password storage needs. Furthermore, if you are using NordVPN, NordPass is the logical step toward protecting your passwords.

Pros:

NordPass allows users to access their password storage even if they are offline. Therefore, it is excellent if you have some additional notes like credit card pins and others. It’s straightforward, easy to use, and, best of all, it allows biometric protection with fingerprints and even a faceID function, which scans your face before letting you in the password storage.

The free version is quite enough for most users, but if you want more functionalities, you must go premium. The cost, however, is only $2.5 a month, which is quite affordable.

Cons:

The biggest con is the lack of many functionalities which other password managers already have. Moreover, if you want to make a cross-device sync, you must go premium.

Verdict:

NordPass is perfect for people who need only password storage – nothing more, nothing less. It’s a wonderful solution with practically no learning curve, and Nord VPN owns it giving you some extra sense of security.

Keeper Password Manager

Keeper is on this list only because it’s perfect for enterprise users. It’s actually a very good password manager, but for personal use, it can’t hold a candle to LastPass and many other password managers. However, when it comes to corporate use, Keeper is beyond amazing.

Pros:

Keeper offers some excellent security add-ons, which allow businesses to customize their password manager according to their needs. Its ultra-secure password sharing is perfect for huge teams, where the responsibility usually dilutes.

Moreover, Keeper has some highly advanced security, with single sign-on authentication (SAML2.0), advanced two-factor authentication, role-based access, entire password record history, and, most importantly, an admin console.

Cons:

Keeper is a bit complicated to work with for personal use. It has no quick access pin, way too many features that are irrelevant for personal use, and, worse of all, there is no free version.

Verdict:

Despite the negatives, Keeper is the perfect solution for enterprise accounts and business owners, who want to share passwords with their employees, but still have full access to the secure data. In this regard, Keeper doesn’t only have a niche, but it rules over it.

Bitwarden Password Manager

Bitwarden is a free, open-source password manager with one awe-inspiring free package. It includes free cross-device synchronization, unlimited password storage, secure notes, credit card storage, the opportunity to store your passwords offline, and two-factor authentication. Any other Password manager would ask for a premium account for these features, but Bitwarden is free for everyone.

Pros:

Being an open-source platform allows anyone to check its coding and find imperfections. This makes it somewhat more secure and better protected. In addition, fixes are made lightning fast and do not need to wait for a developer’s issued patch. Bitwarden often uses third-party companies to test their security level, which makes them one of the toughest password managers to breach.

Cons:

Naturally, the open-source part is a two-edged sword. As much as it gives security, it also allows hackers to have easier access. Still, the third-party tests make it truly hard to break. Nonetheless, Bitwarden still has some unresolved issues when used with the Edge browser. Moreover, it has limited support for iOS, which is a problem, especially in America.

Verdict:

If you are looking for a free solution, you are an android user, and Edge is not your preferred browser, then Bitwarden is for you. It has tons of features for which other password managers will ask for money. So if you want a well-functioning, secure and free password manager, go with Bitwarden.

Conclusion

All of the listed password managers have their upsides and downsides. However, if we have to be honest, LastPass is the best password manager for personal use. Even if you are a small business LastPass is a good choice, as it can offer scalability with its premium account. Otherwise, if you need something simpler or have other specific preferences, you can go with any of the other password managers we mentioned. They all have tight security and are perfect for particular situations.

HostArmada is just like LastPass but in the website hosting world. Our hosting services are perfect for both personal and enterprise use, as we offer a variety of packages. On top of that, all our services are secured with an All-In-One, AI-based security solution so our customers can enjoy one truly secure web hosting platform.  So check them out, and if you need any help with choosing the right one for you, we will be happy to assist.