Roundup: The Best Password Managers

Everyone needs a password manager.

- Neil J. Rubenking

Most sites you visit insist you create a username and think up a password, from dating apps to hyper-secure banking websites. The human memory can’t keep up with dozens and dozens of these arcane combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols. Some folks get the bright idea to use the simplest possible passwords, easy-to-remember phrases such as “12345678” or “password.” Others memorize one superbly random password and use it for everything. Either path is likely to make you a victim of identity theft.

With a password manager, you don’t have to remember a strong, unique password for every website. The password manager takes care of that and even helps you come up with random passwords. We’ve tested and analyzed dozens, so you can pick the password manager that best suits your needs.

All the products in this story earned at least 3.5 stars, and all of them cost money, though you can use some of them for free by accepting certain limitations. Most free tools lack advanced features, but they get the job done. Whether free or paid, a password manager is essential for everyone.

THE PASSWORD BASICS

The typical password manager installs as a browser plugin to handle password capture and replay. When you log in to a secure site, it offers to save your credentials. When you return to that site, it can automatically fill in those credentials. If you’ve saved multiple logins for the site, the password manager offers you multiple login options. Most also include a browser toolbar menu of saved logins, so you can go straight to a saved site and log in automatically.

Some products detect password-change events and offer to update the existing record. Some even record your credentials when you sign up for a new secure website. On the flip side, a password manager that doesn’t include password capture and replay automation needs to offset that lack with significant perks.