The Best Password Managers for Families 2024

We know keeping your loved ones’ information safe is invaluable. One way to enhance your family’s online security is by using a password manager. Based on our extensive testing, we’ve determined that the best password managers for families are NordPass, 1Password, and Dashlane.

NordPass is our top pick for its high security standards. Runners-up 1Password provides unique features like Travel Mode, and Dashlane has a great free password manager that you can test out risk-free for as long as you like. 

Keep reading to learn how these top password manager providers can secure your family’s sensitive data.

The best password managers for families

• NordPass: Best for security
• 1Password: Best for features
• Dashlane: Best free password manager

Top 3 password manager for families compared

Password manager
Star rating	5.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.9 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.6 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Family plan price	$2.79/mo (billed every two years)	$4.99/mo (billed annually)	$7.49/mo (billed annually)
Import/export tool
Password sharing
Encryption	xChaCha20	AES-GCM-256	AES 256-bit
Password generator
Autofill
Digital legacy
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Learn more	Get NordPass Read NordPass Review	Get 1Password Read 1Password Review	Get Dashlane Read Dashlane Review

The best password managers for families were chosen based on several core factors. Having no prior breaches, fair pricing, unique features, and free plans, or at least time to try a product without committing to a purchase, are just some of the features we considered:

• Pricing: Although finding the cheapest password manager isn’t the goal, getting one at an affordable cost is only reasonable.
• Unique features: Some password managers include only the basics, and we know some users want more, like 1Password’s Travel Mode.
• Security: We chose only password managers with no history of breaches because we believe they’ll provide your family with the best security. Strong encryption like AES-256 or XChaCha20 was also necessary to keep your personal data safe.
• Ease of use: Families need a password manager that’s easy to use without a steep learning curve.
• Password strength reports: Having a feature that points out your weak passwords and other vulnerabilities will enable you to use the most secure credentials in the future.

NordPass: Best for security

Who it’s best for

If you’re looking for standout security measures, NordPass checks those boxes. NordPass doesn’t just provide two-factor authentication (2FA), it also allows for biometric logins and other forms of multi-factor authentication. While using strong passwords is important, it can be more secure not to use one at all.

NordPass also has standard password manager features, like autofill and a password generator. With six premium user accounts for just $2.79/mo (billed every two years), NordPass can make most families happy.

What we liked

We like that NordPass participates in external and internal audits. Third-party audits are useful because they give an objective look into a password manager’s security. If any issues are found, it gives the company a chance to correct them.

NordPass allows you to store passwords, passkeys, and credit cards in your password vault. It uses XChaCha20 to encrypt your vault rather than industry-standard AES-256, which is great because XChaCha20 is faster to implement than AES-256, simpler, and doesn’t need hardware support.

We also liked that NordPass is simple to download and use, and it offers extensive compatibility with browser extensions as well as desktop and mobile apps. Beyond biometric logins, NordPass also allows you to use authenticator apps, USB security keys, and backup codes. Password vaults keep your credentials secure, but not all offer these types of authentication. Everything that NordPass offers comes at a reasonable price for families.

What we didn’t like

We’ll begin by admitting there’s not much we don’t like here. When we tested the free plan, it was a bit annoying that we kept getting prompts suggesting we upgrade to the Premium plan.

We also aren’t thrilled that NordPass records logs, but at least it does so on your device with no identifying information. Critical errors are shared only with NordPass and contain no identifiable information, so we can live with that. Understandably, NordPass wants to make the product better, and it’s hard to do that without some data along the way.

Read Our NordPass Review

1Password: Best for features

Who it’s best for

If you’re looking for a family password manager with unique features, 1Password will be your friend. Beyond the standard password manager functionality, 1Password includes two proprietary features, Travel Mode and Watchtower.

Travel Mode makes keeping your credentials safe a breeze if you and your loved ones are hitting the road for a trip. It allows temporary vault removal in case you come in contact with curious customs agents.

The Watchtower feature is unique because it summarizes data breaches or vulnerabilities from websites you may frequent. Plus, you get this for a fair price of $4.99/mo (billed annually), covering up to five family members.

What we liked

We liked how easy it was to install 1Password on our device. We tested it on an older machine with Windows 10. The Chrome browser extension was a breeze to download and took us immediately to the tutorial for the software. The user interface was simple to navigate, and you can organize your account by creating separate vaults for your credentials.

Another thing we liked about 1Password was its privacy policy. The information is transparent and written in understandable language, so you don’t need a technical degree to decipher the lingo. 1Password doesn’t sell your data to third-party entities, and if any of your information needs to be shared with a third party, you’ll be informed ahead of time.

1Password also has third-party audits conducted. The last browser audit we found was from June 2022, and it displayed the vulnerabilities that could be associated with the software. This wasn’t alarming to us, as we know that even the best password manager apps aren’t perfect, and we respect 1Password for being honest about its vulnerabilities.

What we didn’t like

If you need customer support, you may be at a loss with 1Password. Although it remains user-friendly, it seems designed for users who can solve their own issues without assistance. There’s no phone number listed for support, so you can only use the help center or send an email with your questions.

Also, the free trial is only for 14 days. That seems to be not enough time to fully test the product and we think 30 days would be more sufficient. There’s no money-back guarantee, either, which struck us as odd.

Read Our 1Password Review

Dashlane: Best free password manager

Who it’s best for

Dashlane provides security for 10 accounts with one Friends & Family subscription. If you have a large family or would like to include some trusted friends, Dashlane may be the plan you need. The price is a bit higher than some other plans, but at Free for family coverage, we don’t think it breaks the bank. If you're trying out the product first to see what you think, you’ll get most of the features with the free password manager plan for individuals.

What we liked

Dashlane stands out because you get so much with the free plan. It allows you to put it to the test before you buy it for the entire family. You won’t find that with all password managers on the market today. We also liked the password generation, because of the customizable options. You’re allowed to generate passwords according to the websites you visit.

We think the included virtual private network (VPN) with the Premium and Family plans is a nice touch. Just be mindful that only the administrator will have that access. Everyone also has access to the dark web monitoring feature, and that’s an option not all password managers offer.

What we didn’t like

Although we love seeing password managers include digital legacy, sometimes the other party isn’t required to have the same product. That’s not the case with Dashlane, as the emergency contact must also have this software to access your passwords. That could be a pain if the other person doesn’t want to use Dashlane. It’s not a deal breaker because we understand that the other party can set up a free account. As a note, password sharing works this way as well.

We aren’t thrilled with the privacy policy. Dashlane is hazy about how it shares data with affiliates. While that’s not the worst case we’ve seen with software, it doesn’t bode well with users who want clarity and transparency.

Read Our Dashlane Review

FAQs

Bottom line

NordPass has strong encryption and plenty of features to suit the user who wants reasonable pricing, with options like passwordless authentication and XChaCha20 security, making it our #1 choice.

If your family is frequently on the go, 1Password has the Travel Mode feature, which keeps your credentials safe while you are going through busy airports. Dashlane allows you to test the product for free before you buy it and comes with unlimited password sharing.

3 best password managers for families

	Family plan price	Best for	Learn more
	$2.79/mo (billed every two years)	Best for security	Get NordPass Read NordPass Review
	$4.99/mo (billed annually)	Best for features	Read 1Password Review
	$7.49/mo (billed annually)	Best free password manager	Get Dashlane Read Dashlane Review