Why password managers matter
A manager keeps every credential encrypted, creates unique passwords, fills forms securely, shares secrets with teammates without losing control and alerts you when a login is weak or exposed. It turns strong passwords into an everyday habit.
Hosted and subscription managers (SaaS)
| Manager | Model & platforms | Key capabilities | Pricing snapshot | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Password | Subscription (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, web) | Secret Key, travel mode, rich admin controls, CLI and tight OS integration | From $2.99/mo individual, $7.99/mo family, business/enterprise tiers | Hybrid teams that need premium UX, fast support and granular policies |
| LastPass | Freemium (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, web) | Simple onboarding, emergency access, sharing folders, breach monitoring | Free tier with device limits; Premium $3/mo; Families $4/mo | Users who value ease of adoption and broad integrations |
| NordPass | Subscription (desktop, mobile, browser, web) | XChaCha20 encryption, passkey support, continuous breach alerts | Free tier (1 device at a time); Premium from €1.79/mo billed annually | Customers already invested in Nord products (VPN, cloud, etc.) |
| Proton Pass | Freemium (browser, iOS, Android, desktop apps in beta) | Privacy-first Swiss infrastructure, email aliases, Proton ecosystem benefits | Free sync; Proton Unlimited €9.99/mo adds extra vaults and storage | Privacy-conscious users who rely on Proton Mail/VPN/Drive |
| Dashlane | Subscription (web app, mobile, browser extensions) | Reliable autofill, live dark web monitoring, VPN bundled in premium tiers | Premium from $3.99/mo; family/business plans add SSO and provisioning | Organisations wanting an all-in-one bundle with VPN and detailed reporting |
Free and open-source (or built-in) options
| Manager | Model & support | Highlights | Considerations | Technical effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitwarden | Open source, cloud hosted or self-hosted | Zero-knowledge, open audits, full-featured free tier, CLI & API | Advanced features (U2F, reports, file storage) live behind the $10/year premium | Beginner to intermediate |
| Psono | Open source + enterprise (self-hosting/cloud) | Team-centric sharing, granular policies, secrets automation via API | Requires server deployment, upgrades and monitoring | Advanced / DevOps teams |
| Passbolt | Open source for teams, available self-hosted or SaaS | GPG encryption, detailed audit logs, role-based access control | Designed for technical teams; UX less friendly for solo users | Advanced / IT administrators |
| KeePass / KeePassXC | Open source, local database (Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile ports) | Total control, no vendor lock-in, rich plugin ecosystem | Manual sync or third-party storage needed; interface varies across ports | Intermediate users comfortable managing files |
| Apple Passwords (Keychain) | Built into macOS, iOS, iPadOS and Safari for Windows | Transparent experience, passkey support, iCloud sync and device autofill | Few admin tools, limited sharing, little insight outside the Apple ecosystem | Entry level / households invested in Apple hardware |
Key takeaways
Relying on your operating system’s manager (macOS Keychain, Windows Credential Manager or the browser vault) is fine when you stay inside a single ecosystem. Activate MFA and keep devices patched. If you need cross-platform workflows, policy enforcement or shared vaults, a hosted service or open-source deployment delivers the flexibility and transparency you need.
- SaaS tools simplify onboarding and give you support, audits and automation hooks.
- Open-source managers offer full control and the option to host everything in-house.
- Whatever you choose, enable MFA everywhere and review breach alerts regularly.
Generate unique passwords with our service and validate them in the password strength checker before saving them in your vault.