What Is A Password Manager?

A password manager is essentially an encrypted vault for stores passwords with a protected master password. Users have to know the master password to gain access to the passwords stored in the password manager; in most cases, it requires a second authentication factor. Besides, password managers don’t just store your passwords — they help you generate stronger and unique passwords when you register to new websites.

Password Manager That You Should Look Out For

There is a wide range of password managers for business and home users, and many of these options offer similar features. Below, we’ll take a brief look at some of the best password management software on the market.

1. LastPass

LastPass gives users the choice to manage their passwords via a browser extension and a mobile device application. It stores all your online accounts passwords in one centralized vault, which is secured by a master password, salted hashes, AES-256-bit encryption, two-factor authentication, and device level encryption. LastPass stores your encrypted data on its cloud servers, which means you can easily share passwords with family or colleague and use LastPass on other computers instead of your personal PC. This software offers both personal and business package costing just a few dollars.

2. 1Password

1Password provides a place for its users to store passwords and other sensitive information in a virtual vault. The software offers a browser extension that is supported by Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer. 1Password also provides multi-factor authentication to help your business with an extra layer of protection. Users can store passwords locally on a PC or a smart device, but files can also be synchronized through iCloud and Dropbox.  1Password offers personal plan starting at 2.99 per month and family plan at $4.99 per month. The team plans start at US$3.99 per user per month while the business plan costs $7.99 per user per month.

3. Dashlane

Dashlane offers the same features as LastPass. It provides users with a more secure way to manage their passwords, logins, and payment information online. Dashlane features include a password generator, which creates and stores unique and complex passwords for you. The software also scans the Internet for stolen or leaked personal data, automatically alerting users if their personal information is found somewhere it shouldn’t be. Dashlane has free, premium, and premium plus accounts with each having their own unique features.

4. Keeper Security

Keeper offers more flexibility than most password managers available on the market when it comes to what data you can store. It uses secure file storage and two-factor authentication to keep your data protected. Keeper also has a lot of features that personal users will appreciate, including emergency access for five different devices that will be able to access your passwords and version history — which restore previous versions of your records in case something goes wrong. Keeper is available in Business, Personal, Enterprise, Family, and Student plan all at an affordable price.

5. KeePass

KeePass offers its users robust security, multiple user support, and downloadable plugins. This software can generate a password that is suitable for those annoying sites with specific requirements. It’s free, open source, extensible and it can work entirely offline with no cloud component if you want. The password manager supports export and import of credentials in the form of HTML, XML, CSV, and more. The fact that KeePass is an open source means any security issues can be identified and fixed quickly.

Use Password Managers Cautiously

The above password managers are some of the best you can find on the Internet with each having their own advantages and disadvantages. Keep in mind that you can switch them anytime and don’t forget to delete all your data before abandoning a password manager app.