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Best for Premium Security
Best for Bundling
Best Free Password Manager
We’ve chosen Keeper Password Manager, NordPass, and Bitwarden 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.
Keeper Password Manager: Best for premium security
NordPass: Best for bundling
Bitwarden: Best free password manager
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 2024
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:
- Keeper Password Manager: Best for premium security
- NordPass: Best for bundling
- Bitwarden: Best free password manager
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 | Keeper Password Manager |
NordPass |
Bitwarden |
Starting price | Starts at $1.45/mo (billed annually) | Starts at $1.29/mo (billed every two years) | Paid plans start at $0.83/mo |
Password sharing | |||
Two-factor authentication | |||
Form filler | |||
Password generator | |||
Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, Opera | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, Tor Browser, DuckDuck Go for Mac |
Learn more | Get Keeper Password Manager Read 1Password Review |
Get NordPass Read NordPass Review |
Read Bitwarden Review |
Keeper Password Manager: Best for premium security
Who it’s best for
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 with Keeper Family, which comes with five private vaults.
Keeper is also committed to keeping your data secure. It undergoes annual third-party audits, uses military-grade encryption, and offers plenty of options for logging in to your vault.
What we liked
We like that Keeper has a bunch of options for two-factor authentication (2FA) and passwordless authentication. This includes biometrics like Face ID and fingerprinting, time-based one-time password (TOTP) codes, authenticator apps, and more. It uses AES-256 encryption, which is the industry-standard, and it has zero-knowledge architecture, meaning that you're the only person with the ability to encrypt and decrypt your Keeper data.
Keeper's premium plans also come with unlimited password storage, devices and sync, secure password sharing, and identity and payments. It also comes with additional security features, like emergency access and secure record sharing.
What we didn’t like
Keeper offers a bunch of neat features, but some of them come at an additional price. BreachWatch, the dark web monitoring tool, and secure file storage are add-ons that don't come with a Keeper plan. Keeper Family does come with 10 GB of secure file storage, at least, but it's not offered at all with the personal plan.
Keeper Password Manager specs
Price range | Free-$3.12/mo |
Free version | Yes |
Password sharing | Yes |
Two-factor authentication | Yes |
Form filler | Yes |
Password generator | Yes |
Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera |
Learn more | Get Keeper Password Manager Read Keeper Password Manager Review |
NordPass: Best for bundling
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.
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 | Free–$3.69/mo |
Free version | Yes |
Password sharing | Yes |
Two-factor authentication | Yes |
Form filler | Yes |
Password generator | Yes |
Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave, Opera |
Learn more | Get NordPass Read Our NordPass Review |
Bitwarden: Best free password manager
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.
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 | Free–$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 | Read Our Bitwarden 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 - 1Password: 1Password is a popular password manager that offers unique features like a travel mode, which 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.
Read Our 1Password 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're suckers for a good password generator, and Dashlane has customizable password-creation options.
Read Our Dashlane 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 Keeper Password Manager, NordPass, and Bitwarden 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 2024
Starting price | Best for | Learn more | |
Keeper Password Manager |
Starts at $1.45/mo (billed annually) | Best for premium security | Get Keeper Password Manager Read Keeper Password Manager Review |
NordPass |
Starts at $1.29/mo (billed every two years) | Best for bundling | Get NordPass Read NordPass Review |
Bitwarden |
Paid plans start at $0.83/mo | Best free password manager | Read Bitwarden 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