Best Password Managers for Windows 2023

Q: Does Windows 10 have a password manager?

Yes, Windows 10 has a password manager that’s called Credentials Manager . It’s located in the settings, so you have to search for it. Unfortunately, there are several reports that, like Google’s proprietary password manager, it isn’t secure.

Mary James, Author

Catherine McNally, Editor

Last updated Sep 14, 2023

We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

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Best for Bundling

On NordPass's website

Strong encryption and security
User-friendly interface
Free version is limited to one device at a time

Best Free Password Manager

On Bitwarden's website

Fully functional free plan
Open-source software
Sharing limited to one person with paid plan

Best for Travelers

On 1Password's website

No history of being hacked
Unique features, like Travel Mode
No free version

We’ve chosen NordPass, Bitwarden, and 1Password as our recommendations for storing passwords on your Windows devices. Each of these options is user-friendly, comes with additional features on premium plans, and works with a variety of web browsers.

You may have heard of LastPass, but there are safer and more effective password managers that boast ease of use, extra security features, multi-factor authentication through biometrics and authenticator apps, and cross-platform compatibility so you have access to your accounts no matter where you go.

In this article

The best password managers for Windows 2023
NordPass: Best for bundling
Bitwarden: Best free password manager
1Password: Best for travelers
Honorable mentions
Best password managers for Windows FAQs
Bottom line: The best password managers for Windows
How we tested the best password managers for Windows
How to choose the best password managers

The best password managers for Windows 2023

A password manager can help you create and remember all the strong and complex passwords you’re supposed to use to protect your data. Password managers save login information for all your accounts and integrate across various platforms. Whether you’ve never used one or are shopping for a new one, these three options are solid and secure choices:

NordPass: Best for bundling
Bitwarden: Best free password manager
1Password: Best for travelers

Weak passwords are one of the most popular ways hackers steal your personal data with 81% of cyberattacks worldwide being executed through improperly secured credentials like passwords. Even if you have dark web monitoring alerts set up, data breaches happen at such an alarming rate that you may not be able to catch a breach of your online accounts before your sensitive data is accessed.

If you reuse passwords or use similar variations of passwords, your stolen credentials from one data leak can open the doors to all your online accounts.

Top 3 password managers for Windows compared

Password manager	NordPass	Bitwarden	1Password
Starting price	Starts at $1.69/mo for 2 yrs	Paid plans start at $0.83/mo	Starts at $2.99/mo
Password sharing
Two-factor authentication
Form filler
Password generator
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Vivaldi, Opera, Brave, Edge, Tor, DuckDuckGo for Mac	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Brave, Edge
Learn more	Get NordPass Read Our NordPass Review	Get Bitwarden Read Our Bitwarden Review	Get 1Password Read Our 1Password Review

NordPass: Best for bundling

Save 26% on NordPass Premium

On NordPass's website

Strong encryption and security
User-friendly interface
Free version is limited to one device at a time

Who it’s best for

NordPass is best for anyone looking to bundle several services into one. Since NordPass comes from the Nord family, you’ll be able to bundle your VPN, password manager, and cloud storage into one unit. Everything is manageable from a single dashboard that’s compatible with multiple devices, so you can protect mobile and desktop devices from one place.

NordPass has an easy-to-follow walkthrough to get you started when you first set up your account.

What we liked

We found NordPass to be intuitive and easy to use. During our installation process, we were able to download, install, and set up our NordPass quickly. It prompted us to input passwords from our browsers and made the transition experience seamless.

There were also several settings we found helpful. The customizable auto-lock setting made it easier to use the app so we didn’t have to enter our master password every 15 minutes. We also liked that we could decide how long a copied item stayed on our device’s clipboard. Overall, we found it to be a very useful tool.

What we didn’t like

If you decide to use the free version, you’ll be limited in what you can do. While we get that free versions don’t give you everything, we’d like to see some features or extra devices unlocked, especially if you purchase other Nord products like NordVPN. It’s still a great tool for saving passwords however, even if you’re using the limited free version.

NordPass specs

Price range	$1.69–$2.79/mo (for paid plans) (for paid plans)
Free version	Yes
Password sharing	Yes
Two-factor authentication	Yes
Form filler	Yes
Password generator	Yes
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome
Learn more	Get NordPass Read Our NordPass Review

Bitwarden: Best free password manager

On Bitwarden's website

Fully functional free plan
Open-source software
Sharing limited to one person with paid plan

Who it’s best for

If you’re looking for a free password manager that offers great features and organizes your passwords, Bitwarden may be for you. Its free product is fully functional, and it offers some cool features.

Bitwarden's Premium plan includes reports that show whether you’ve had any exposed passwords or any reused or weak passwords, and it includes a data breach report.

What we liked

We really enjoyed testing Bitwarden. Both the web portal and mobile app were easy to use. We found the help section to actually be helpful. And we were huge fans of the ability to organize our passwords into categories, and the email alias feature was particularly impressive. If anyone’s looking to break up with their iPhone but will miss the benefits of the iCloud keychain, Bitwarden could fill that gap.

What we didn’t like

Free products usually aren’t fully loaded, so we were surprised when Bitwarden was. However, you’ll need the paid plan to share passwords. This isn’t great if you want to send your mom the login for Hulu for the thousandth time.

Bitwarden specs

Price range	$0.83–$3.33/mo
Free version	Yes
Password sharing	Yes
Two-factor authentication	Yes
Form filler	Yes
Password generator	Yes
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Vivaldi, Opera, Brave, Edge, Tor, DuckDuckGo for Mac
Learn more	Get Bitwarden Read Our Bitwarden Review

1Password: Best for travelers

On 1Password's website

No history of being hacked
Unique features, like Travel Mode
No free version

Who it’s best for

Losing your phone when you’re traveling can be inconvenient, but if someone is able to get into your accounts through your phone, that can be disastrous. 1Password has a travel mode that will automatically remove your password vaults as soon as you cross country lines. You can even specify which ones to leave and which vaults can vanish.

1Password's Watchtower feature with its password strength report.

What we liked

Travel mode is such a great safety tool, and we were impressed by its functionality. It allows you to toggle off or on if the password vault is safe for travel or if it should disappear when you cross country lines. If you’re thinking, “Yeah, I’m not an investigative journalist who is going to be taken hostage across country lines,” that’s okay too. You’ll still enjoy 1Password’s other features. 1Password has never been hacked even while some password managers have been hacked multiple times. We love that.

What we didn’t like

This is the only password manager on our list that doesn’t offer a free version. While we appreciate all the paid features and functionality, we would take 1Password’s protection even in a lite version. Otherwise, we were pretty impressed.

1Password specs

Price range	$2.99-4.99/mo
Free version	No
Password sharing	Yes
Two-factor authentication	Yes
Form filler	Yes
Password generator	Yes
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Brave, Edge
Learn more	Get 1Password Read Our 1Password Review

Honorable mentions

Password managers can almost seem like an afterthought, but with the need for more complex passwords also comes a need for a way to remember them. A password manager could save you a lot of time and password reset requests. If you aren’t vibing with the password managers above, one of these other services may be what you need.

Aura: Not just a password manager, Aura is mostly an identity theft protection service that offers features like a password manager. If you’re looking for a bundled product that isn’t NordPass, Aura offers a VPN as well. It’s also one of the most trusted products in the industry, so you don’t have to worry about whether or not your data is safe.

Get Aura | Read Our Aura Review
Dashlane: Dashlane is a free password manager option that also includes paid tiers. If you’re looking for a one-device product that has great features, Dashlane could be it. We are suckers for a good password generator, and Dashlane has customizable password-creation options.

Get Dashlane | Read Our Dashlane Review
Keeper: Keeper has password managers for any situation. Are you single and looking for yourself? They have one for that. Need a family plan to save and share passwords? Keeper has you covered. Is your small or enterprise-level business in need of safe password storage? Keeper’s got you.

Get Keeper | Read Our Keeper Review

Best password managers for Windows FAQs

Does Windows 10 have a password manager?

Yes, Windows 10 has a password manager that’s called Credentials Manager. It’s located in the settings, so you have to search for it. Unfortunately, there are several reports that, like Google’s proprietary password manager, it isn’t secure.

How safe are passwords stored in Microsoft Edge?

The passwords stored in Microsoft Edge are not safe. Edge uses Windows Credentials Manager, too, which is not a trusted password storage system. It’s much better to use a secure password manager with AES-256-bit encryption and third-party independent testing.

Should I really use a password manager?

Yes, you should really use a password manager. It’s possible to keep track of all your unique passwords with one of these tools. Poor password hygiene like weak passwords or reusing the same password is one of the largest reasons for identity theft in our modern world. It can also lead to online harassment, fraud, and financial abuse.

What is the best free password manager for Windows?

The best free password managers for Windows are definitely Bitwarden and Dashlane. They’re both fully functional, free password managers that can keep track of all of your unique passwords that you definitely don’t reuse.

Bottom line: The best password managers for Windows

We chose NordPass, Bitwarden, and 1Password as the best password managers for Windows because they’re trusted, offer a lot for either free or a nominal monthly fee, and have secure encryption. They all have their unique properties that add value to the paid plans and help you create and keep unique passwords. The three runners-up are great options, too, and we’re comfortable using and recommending any of the products mentioned here.

3 best password managers for Windows 2023

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
NordPass	Starts at $1.69/mo for 2 yrs	Best for bundling	Get NordPass Read Our NordPass Review
Bitwarden	Paid plans start at $0.83/mo	Best free password manager	Get Bitwarden Read Our Bitwarden Review
1Password	Starts at $2.99/mo	Best for travelers	Get 1Password Read Our 1Password Review

How we tested the best password managers for Windows

We’ve tested password managers on Windows, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android phones. Our testing included trying out all features and functions. We frequently send each other and our family members passwords to test the sharing features. We log out of things and then log back in to make sure our passwords are actually being stored. So far, we haven’t been able to talk the powers that be into letting us jet set around the world to try out 1Password’s travel mode, but we have hope it’ll happen soon. Anything to make sure you’re getting the best password manager experience.

How to choose the best password managers

A good password manager can have fun features like a VPN or cloud storage, which are great for security bundling, but functionality is the most important if you’re looking for security. The features and functions essential for a password manager are:

Password vaults to organize your passwords
Password generator
Browser extension autofill to make logins painless
Biometric or two-factor authentication
Password sharing
Compatibility with multiple browsers and operating systems
Legacy contact for emergency access
Military-grade AES-256-bit encryption
Transparent third-party audits
Unlimited password storage
The ability to control password access for shared passwords
User-friendly customer support

Save 26% on NordPass Premium

On NordPass's website

Strong encryption and security
User-friendly interface
Free version is limited to one device at a time

Author Details

Mary James

About the Author

Mary lives in Los Angeles and has been writing about tech for over 5 years. When she's not writing for work or fun, you'll find her in a theatre, at the movies, volunteering, or hiking the gorgeous SoCal landscape.