LastPass Free vs. Premium 2024: Is It Worth Paying the Fee?

If you want better digital identity management and advanced security features on multiple devices, choose LastPass Premium over the Free version. But if you need only basic password management and use one device, LastPass Free will suffice.

In this article, we’ll help you understand these two products and what each offers, so you can choose the best version of LastPass for your needs. Let’s dive right into it.

LastPass Free vs. Premium review at a glance

If you're looking for a basic password management solution for one device, LastPass Free is a great choice. However, if you require more advanced features such as access to multiple devices and secure file storage, as well as customer support, then LastPass Premium is the way to go. Your decision should be based on your budget and security requirements.

Let’s see how these two stack up against each other.

• LastPass Free: Best for one device
• LastPass Premium: Best for higher levels of security

LastPass Free vs. Premium features comparison

LastPass plan	Free	Premium
Monthly price	Free	$3.00/mo (billed annually)
Number of users	1	1
Number of devices	1	Unlimited
Number of saved passwords	Unlimited	Unlimited
Encryption	AES-256 encryption, PBKDF2-SHA-256 zero-knowledge encryption	AES-256 encryption, PBKDF2-SHA-256 zero-knowledge encryption
Account syncing
Autofill
Password generator
Security dashboard
Dark web monitoring
Secure notes
One-to-one sharing
One-to-many sharing
Secure file storage	Yes — 50 MB of storage	Yes — 1 GB of storage
Emergency access
Multi-factor authentication
Customer support	Self-service resources	Personal email support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Safari, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Microsoft Edge	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Safari, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Microsoft Edge
Learn more	View Plan	View Plan

LastPass Free vs. Premium pros and cons

LastPass plan	Free	Premium
Pros	Decent password management for free Multi-device access (limited to one device type) Basic multi-factor authentication	Unlimited device type access (both computers and mobile devices) Advanced multi-factor authentication options Emergency access feature
Cons	Limited device type access (only one device type is allowed) No emergency access feature	Requires a paid subscription Some advanced features may not be necessary for all users
Best for	Bare-bones needs for a simple password solution	Someone who needs higher security
Learn more	View Plan	View Plan

Main differences between LastPass Free and Premium

By now, you can see that the Free version does not offer as many features as the paid version. But how exactly do these two products compare on a feature-by-feature level? We’ve broken down the differences between each platform so you know exactly which product offers what.

Here are the main differences between each platform.

Prices

LastPass Free is 100% free, while LastPass Premium is $3.00/mo (billed annually) when you purchase an annual subscription.

Number of devices

With the LastPass Premium plan, you can access your account across multiple device types, which include computers (desktops and laptops) as well as mobile devices (phones, smartwatches, and tablets). This means a Premium user could simultaneously use LastPass on their laptop, phone, and tablet. There are no limitations on the number of device types a Premium user can use.

On the other hand, the LastPass Free plan restricts account access to only one device type. This means you can choose either computers (desktops and laptops) or mobile devices (phones, smartwatches, and tablets) for your LastPass usage.

For example, if a user selects computers as their device type, they can use LastPass on any computer, but they won't be able to use it on mobile devices, like phones or tablets, unless they upgrade to the Premium plan.

Essentially, the Premium plan allows you to access LastPass across both computer and mobile device types without any restrictions, while the Free plan limits you to a single device type, requiring you to choose between computers or mobile devices.

Sharing passwords

LastPass offers a secure way to share passwords with trusted people. This is helpful for sharing streaming services like Netflix or giving your partner access to your utility accounts. The free version allows you to share with only one person ("one-to-one sharing"), while Premium allows you to share with multiple contacts ("one-to-many sharing").

Secure file storage

LastPass securely stores and retrieves sensitive information through its encrypted password vault. The Secure Notes feature allows you to save important info like health insurance cards, passports, vaccination records, and credit cards.

With a zero-knowledge security model and AES 256-bit encryption, your information is protected from unauthorized access. Free users get 50 MB of secure storage, while Premium users get 1 GB.

Multi-factor authentication options

To secure your accounts, use two-factor authentication (2FA) and multifactor authentication (MFA). LastPass offers various authenticators, including biometric logins, to enhance 2FA security.

Both Free and Premium plans offer MFA, either with the built-in LastPass authenticator or with a third-party authenticator app. Use this feature to prevent unauthorized access and protect your digital data.

Emergency access

LastPass Premium lets you grant trusted contacts temporary access to your vault during an emergency. Recipients can access only encrypted data with their private key, ensuring privacy. You control access and can set a specified time for trusted contacts to wait before accessing the vault.

This feature is not available in LastPass Free.

Customer support

LastPass provides different levels of support for Free and Premium users. Premium users receive personalized email support from the customer care team, while Free users rely on self-help resources and community solutions. Only paid plans provide assistance.

From our personal experience with LastPass customer support, you’re advised to check the self-help section before contacting support — even if you pay for a Premium plan. We found this frustrating because we didn’t get our questions answered in a timely manner. We feel it would be helpful if LastPass added a chatbot to connect us with a human for quicker solutions.

LastPass alternatives

Still on the fence about LastPass? We get it. We’ve rounded up three alternatives to explore that may better suit your needs. Below is a quick summary of our recommendations.

LastPass Free vs. Premium FAQs

LastPass Free vs. Premium: Which is better?

LastPass Premium is the better choice if you want to have access to your passwords across all your devices, but if you're only looking to store your passwords on your computer, then the free version may be enough for you. You'll also get access to extra security insights, password sharing, and alerts for potential breaches.

Knowing LastPass’ history of nine data breaches since 2011, we recommend one of our top-rated password managers for your security. But if we absolutely had to choose, we definitely recommend LastPass Premium over the Free version.

At the end of the day, it is up to you to decide whether the added features of the Premium plan are worth it and if you're okay with the historical breaches, based on your specific needs and concerns.