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6 min readBetween 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.
Best password managers
- : 1Password
- : Dashlane
- : Bitwarden
- : KeePass
- : NordPass
- : RoboForm
Compare the best password managers
Brand | Starting price (for paid plans) | Free version | Encryption | Form Autofill | Browser support | Learn More |
| US$35.88/yr |  No (14-day free trial) | AES-256 |  Yes | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave | View on 1Password | |
| US$59.99/yr | Yes | AES-256 | Yes
| Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, Brave | View on Dashlane | |
| US$10/yr | Yes | AES-256 with PBKDF2 SHA-256 | Yes
| Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera | View on Bitwarden | |
| Free | Yes | AES-256 | Yes | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | View on KeePass | |
| US$25.35/yr | Yes | XChaCha20 | Yes | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, Brave | View on NordPass | |
| US$32/yr | Yes | AES-256 with PBKDF2 SHA256 | Yes | Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer | View on RoboForm |
Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
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 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.
Pros
Client encryption
No history of breaches
Full transparency
Phishing protection
Command-only autofill
Travel mode 
Cons
No free version
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 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.
Pros
Password generator
Optional VPN
Two-factor authentication
Free version
Touch and Face ID Cons
Limited auto-password changing
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.
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. Bitwarden: Best free password manager
Best free version
If you're after a password manager that won't cost you a cent, you can't beat Bitwarden.
Its free version offers all the same key features as its premium offerings, including a username and password generator, sharing with another user, passkey management, credit card storage, and unlimited passwords on unlimited devices. Although its autofill feature isn't the best, it's still amazing for a free password manager.
And if you decide you need premium features, like encrypted file attachments, unlimited sharing or collections, and storage for your organisation (or family), plans start from just US$10 per month.
Pros
Full-featured free version
Cheap premium plans
Unlimited passwords and devices
Passkey management
Password generator Cons
Fewer features than other password managers
Autofill isn't the best 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.
Pros
Always free
Virtually unhackable
Full transparency Cons
Too technical for some
No customer support line
No VPN
Limited browser support 5. NordPass: Best password manager for customer support
Best customer support
If NordPass sounds familiar, that's because it's part of the NordVPN (a.k.a. our pick for the best VPN) family.
It offers all the usual features, like password generation, passkey management, credit card storage and weak password alerts. But what we love most about NordPass is its ability to scan the web for data breaches, meaning you'll get notified if any of your passwords have been compromised and leaked.
We're also big fans of NordPass's 24/7 customer support for quick and easy help.
NordPass offers a 30-day trial for those who want to test the service first, and there's also a free version, which is admittedly quite bare-bones.
Pros
Password generation
24/7 customer support
30-day free trial
Free version
Data breach alerts Cons
Free plan limited to one device
Autofill isn't perfect 6. RoboForm: Best password manager for batch login
Best batch login
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.
Pros
Free version works on mobile
Two-factor authentication
Secure password sharing
Affordable Cons
Only 10 passwords with free version Final word
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.
