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Best for security
Best for ease of use
When looking for the best free password manager, it’s better to go with a well-known security company or a trusted brand. We’ve tested and reviewed the top password management solutions, including NordPass, RoboForm, Keeper, Proton Pass, and Bitwarden, so we know they’re reliable and secure.
Here, we take a look at whether their free plans live up to their top-rated premium versions, so you can get the best free password manager now.
NordPass: Best for security
RoboForm: Best for ease of use
Keeper: Best for mobile security
Proton Pass: Best for features
Bitwarden: Best for compatibility
Can free password managers be trusted?
FAQs
Bottom line: The best free password manager
Compare the best free password managers
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| Best for | Best for security | Best for ease of use | Best for mobile security | Best for features | Best for compatibility |
| Star rating | |||||
| Starting price for premium plans | Starts at $0.99/mo | Starts at $0.99/mo | Starts at $3.33/mo | Starts at $2.99/mo | Starts at $0.83/mo |
| Max # devices on free plan | 1 | 1 | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Import/export tool | |||||
| Password sharing | |||||
| Encryption | XChaCha20 | AES-256 | AES-256 | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-CBC |
| Password generator | |||||
| Password strength report | |||||
| Autofill | |||||
| Digital legacy | |||||
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, Opera | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave | Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, Tor |
| Learn more | Get NordPass | Get RoboForm | Get Keeper | Get Proton Pass | Get Bitwarden |
NordPass: Best for security
Who it’s best for
If you’re willing to pay, NordPass is our pick for best overall password manager. However, its free tier is a bit too limited to earn the same title.
That said, the free NordPass plan is a solid choice for NordVPN or other Nord services users. The main downside is that, while it lets you store as many passwords as you want, you’re limited to one active device at a time. It’s also great for trying the service if you’re not sure you want to commit yet.
What we liked
Backed by a solid company: NordPass is made by Nord Security, the same company that makes NordVPN. Nord is one of the biggest names in the industry and has a strong track record of security and trustworthiness.
Strong security features: NordPass Free offers the same security assurances as NordPass Premium, including advanced xChaCha20 encryption, automatic syncing, a password generator, and multi-factor authentication.
Wide compatibility: NordPass supports a wide range of operating systems and browsers, including less popular options like Linux and Opera. That gives users more flexibility in choosing the devices and software they prefer without worrying about whether their passwords will be accessible.
Premium trial: When you download NordPass Free, you automatically enroll in a 30-day free trial of the Premium plan, allowing you to experience advanced password management features at no cost.
What we didn’t like
Free tier limited to one active device: The free tier of NordPass allows you to be signed in on only one device at a time. That means you need to log in every time you use the service on a different device. It’s workable in theory, but gets aggravating quickly if you do a lot of device switching (say, between desktop and laptop, or laptop and phone).
Limited features compared to the premium version: Although this is expected, NordPass Free doesn’t include advanced features such as data breach alerts, a password health checker, password sharing, or digital legacy access.
RoboForm: Best for ease of use
Who it’s best for
RoboForm is a great choice for anyone who prioritizes a simple, intuitive experience. The interface is straightforward, and it includes useful tutorials to help new users learn the ropes. The paid plans also offer a lot of value for the money if you decide to go that route.
What we liked
Ease of use: In our testing, we found RoboForm to be exceptionally easy to use. Saving new passwords and autofilling existing ones was consistent and straightforward, and the new-user onboarding helps you get up to speed quickly. It even includes simple prompts to import passwords from another password manager.
Good security features: With RoboForm Free, you can still receive emergency access to accounts and securely send (but not share) individual items. Additionally, your data will still be synced with RoboForm's secure servers, not just stored on your device.
Advanced features for cheap: The extremely affordable paid RoboForm plans offer many advanced features, for as low as $0.99/mo. Digital legacy, data breach monitoring, and secure shared folders are all useful additions.
What we didn’t like
Limited features on the free plan: Predictably, many of RoboForm's best features are excluded from the free plan, like digital legacy, cloud backup, secure sharing, password syncing across all devices, and data breach monitoring. The free plan is also only available on desktop, but you can still use the browser extension to access autofilling features via the web vault.
Free plan is limited to one device: The RoboForm free plan allows use on only a single device. It’s still useful, but it misses one of the best aspects of using a password manager: syncing your passwords across all your devices.
Keeper: Best for mobile security
Who it’s best for
Keeper’s free tier is very limited, so it’s hard to recommend it if you’re looking for a free password manager to use long-term. However, it’s a great option for trying out the service before committing to a paid plan.
What we liked
Excellent security: Keeper takes security seriously, and it shows. The service uses a zero-trust, zero-knowledge architecture. This essentially means that nobody, not even Keeper itself, can see your passwords or other data. The company has numerous security certifications to back this up. Keeper Free also offers 2FA.
Relatively beginner-friendly: Keeper includes a guided walkthrough that helps new users get used to how the service works. This is particularly nice for those who haven’t used a password manager before.
What we didn’t like
Very limited free plan: The Keeper free plan is limited to just 10 passwords on a single mobile device. This is one of the more limited free tiers we’ve seen. It’s useful for checking out the app and service, but not really viable as a long-term solution.
Proton Pass: Best for features
Who it’s best for
Proton Pass has a very generous free plan. It’s especially nice if your main focus is privacy — it’s made by Proton, one of the biggest names in the online privacy space.
Additionally, users who want to upgrade to a paid plan can take advantage of Proton’s bundle, which combines Proton Pass with Proton VPN, Proton Mail, and several other useful tools.
What we liked
Backed by a company with a strong reputation: Proton Pass is made by Proton, the maker of Proton VPN and Proton Mail. The company has an outstanding reputation for privacy-focused tools. It emphasises open-source software and independent audits to ensure its services are trustworthy.
Generous free plan: Proton Pass offers one of the best free tiers among password managers, with no device limits, which is often what cripples other free plans. It also supports passkeys and includes up to 10 email aliases for advanced online privacy.
What we didn’t like
Missing security features on the free plan: The Proton Pass free plan lacks key security features, including two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, and secure sharing of individual items, links, and vaults. Users will need to spring for the paid plans to access these essential features.
Can’t save personal information: Although Proton Pass Free allows unlimited passwords, it doesn’t let you save your personal information, so you can't autofill forms. When we tested the free plan, there was no way to access identities or store addresses, phone numbers, and other key autofill information.
Bitwarden: Best for compatibility
Who it’s best for
Bitwarden stands out for its open-source nature and broad compatibility. Users who dabble in a variety of platforms will find apps for nearly all of them, including Linux and browsers like Opera, Vivaldi, and Tor.
What we liked
Compatibility: Bitwarden stands out for its broad compatibility. It’s got apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS, plus browser extensions for a number of less mainstream options like Opera and Vivaldi.
Generous free tier: Bitwarden is one of the few password managers that doesn’t limit the number of devices on the free plan. This means you could effectively use the free plan forever (although you’d miss some useful features). Bitwarden Free offers unlimited saved passwords across unlimited devices. It even offers 2FA on free plans.
Some password sharing: Bitwarden Free allows you to securely share passwords with other Bitwarden users. However, you’d have to upgrade to share passwords with users outside of the Bitwarden ecosystem.
What we didn’t like
Clunky and not user-friendly: Bitwarden Free is a solid free password manager, but like most open-source software, it’s not especially user-friendly and has an outdated interface. So even though it includes extras like limited password sharing, actually using the feature is clunky. The advanced settings are also not for less tech-savvy users.
Lacks some advanced features: Bitwarden does the basics of password management very well, but it lacks some of the extra features that competitors offer. For example, instead of live dark web monitoring, it simply checks your info against known data breaches.
Can free password managers be trusted?
Whether free password managers can be trusted depends on the software in question. Many password managers offer free plans to let users try the software, and these companies tend to be trustworthy. All of the free password managers in this article fall into this category.
When it comes to totally free software, you’ll have to use a little discretion. It’s an unfortunate reality that free software isn’t always free — you often end up paying in other ways. Companies may make money through advertising or by selling user data.
When choosing a password manager, look for the following security measures:
- Zero-knowledge architecture: The company should not have access to your passwords.
- Secure encryption: Look for tools that use AES-256 or XChaCha20. If they don’t make their protocols public, that could be a warning sign.
- Two-factor authentication: This is extremely important because if someone gains access to your password manager account, they could access all your accounts.
- Independent audits: While not strictly necessary, companies get bonus points from us if their security has been audited (and the results made public).
FAQs
Is NordPass really free?
NordPass does offer a totally free plan. However, its features are limited compared to the premium plans. NordPass is very affordable, so if you like the free version, we highly recommend checking out the paid plans.
What is considered the safest password manager?
All of the options in this list are secure. However, Proton Pass and Keeper both put extra emphasis on privacy and security. Keeper, in particular, is designed for enterprise and government use and has numerous security certifications.
Does Google have a free password manager?
Yes, Google has a free password manager that’s built into the Chrome browser and Android devices. It’s relatively bare-bones, but it does the job of storing passwords and syncing them across devices. That said, we don’t recommend using it for two reasons: first, you’re tied to Chrome and Android.
Second, and more importantly, it’s tied to your Google account — if someone gets access to that account, they’d get access to all of your passwords. Third-party password managers use a master password that (ideally) is a strong password that isn’t used anywhere else. Someone would have to get that password before they could get into any of your accounts, including your Google account.
What is the easiest free password manager for seniors?
The easiest free password manager for seniors to use is probably RoboForm. It’s very easy to use and includes useful tutorials to help new users get to know the software.
Bottom line: The best free password manager
NordPass offers the best security for a free password manager, with MFA, secure autofill, and a complex, random password generator. Although NordPass Free is limited to one device, it’s a viable password vault for an individual who needs to protect only one computer or mobile device.
RoboForm is a simple, user-friendly solution for a single desktop, while Keeper offers good security for a single mobile device. However, both impose restrictions on the number of devices or saved passwords.
Proton Pass and Bitwarden offer robust free password managers that don’t cap the number of passwords or devices. The downsides are that Proton Pass makes you upgrade for 2FA, while Bitwarden is a bit clunky and less user-friendly.
How we test and rate password managers
We put every password manager through vigorous hands-on testing by downloading the software to our own devices. We test how the product works on both mobile and desktop, evaluating how well we're able to save, share, and use passwords across a variety of situations.
By taking a fine-tooth comb through all available features and settings, we carefully compare each product using our proprietary grading rubric. The star ratings take into account price, features, extras like cloud storage and data breach alerts, plus looks at security and privacy features like encryption levels and past data breaches.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full testing methodology here.