Best Free Password Managers: 7 Top Picks

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With so much of our lives taking place online these days, it’s easy to forget a few passwords. I always find myself resetting my passwords because I can’t keep track of all of them. So I checked out a few of the best free online password managers. 

In this article, I’ll take a close look at a few of the best free password managers available in 2023.

7 of the Best Free Password Managers

If you’re thinking about downloading a free password manager, it’s important to do your research first. When it comes to storing personal information and sensitive data, you want to make sure that you’re using a trusted resource. Even then, there’s always a fear of hackers. Still, creating complex passwords and changing them frequently is safer than repeating passwords just so you can remember them.

“The way most of us, as humans, create passwords … we’re creating so much danger for ourselves,” says money expert Clark Howard. “Using a password manager, even though there’s a possibility they’ll be hacked, is vastly superior to the terrible passwords we use over and over again.”

Thankfully, you don’t necessarily have to pay for a password manager in order to store your information safely. I looked into a few of the most popular free password managers to see which ones are worth checking out.

First, I looked into the safety of each company to see how each keeps your data secure. Then I checked out their ratings and reviews on TrustPilot, The App Store and Google Play. Finally, I downloaded each program to see what’s available for free and how easy it is to use.

If you’re thinking about paying for a full password manager, these resources also offer some of the most affordable plans. 

Here are my seven top picks. 

ResourceBest For...App RatingsTrustPilot RaingPaid Version
DashlaneStoring passwords in a mobile appGoogle Play: 4.6
App Store: 4.5
4.6Starting at $2.75/month
LastPassAutomatic syncing across multiple devicesGoogle Play: 3.8
App Store: 4.5
1.4Starting at $3/month
Sticky PasswordOffline password storageGoogle Play: 4.5
App Store: 4.6
3.0$30/year or $59.99/lifetime
LogMeOnceAd-supported free password managementGoogle Play: 4.1
App Store: 4.6
4.1Starting at $2.50/month
BitwardenOpen-source password storageGoogle Play: 4.4
App Store: 4.6
4.3Starting at $10/year
AviraAn easy-to-use platformGoogle Play: 4.3
App Store: 4.5
4.2$2.99/month or $31.99/year
NordPassPassword storage on one deviceGoogle Play: 4.4
App Store: 4.8
4.5Starting at $1.49/month

Below, you’ll find more detailed information on each free password manager including how to sign up and how to begin storing your passwords. 

Dashlane

Dashlane

Best for: Storing passwords in a mobile app

Dashlane is an app and browser extension that allows you to store up unlimited passwords for free. 

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When you visit Dashlane’s website, you can click “Get Dashlane” to begin. The link will direct you to the appropriate browser extension installation page. You can also visit the App Store or Google Play to download Dashlane to your phone. 

In addition to being able to store up unlimited passwords, the free version of Dashlane also includes a password health tool, a password generator and autofill functions for filling out forms and making payments. Also, you can securely share passwords with unlimited users using Dashlane. Paid individual versions of DashLane begin at $2.75/month. You can see a full breakdown of plan pricing and features here.

When it comes to security, Dashlane’s website states that the company has never had a security breach in the 10+ years it’s been in business. Dashlane says it uses “zero-knowledge, U.S.-patented security architecture.” To learn more about Dashlane’s security, you can read the Security White Paper online.

After checking out Dashlane myself, here are the biggest pros and cons I found with the free password manager.

Pros:Cons:
Highest rated apps among competitorsWhen you first sign up for Dashlane, you’ll automatically start a free trial of the Premium plan and be asked to pay or downgrade after 30 days.
Highest rating on TrustPilot

LastPass

LastPass

Best for: Automatic syncing across multiple devices

LastPass is an app and browser extension that offers both free and paid plans for single users, families and businesses.

The free version of LastPass allows users to store an unlimited number of passwords and automatically sync them across all their devices. It also includes one-to-one sharing, save and fill password features, a password generator, secure notes, basic support and multifactor authentication. Premium access to LastPass begins at $3 monthly. You can check out a full list of features and pricing online. 

While LastPass has had problems with security in the past, the company’s website says it has added additional layers of protection since then.

“The password manager thing has always been hard for me to talk about because there’s always the chance that they’ll get hacked into,” warns Clark. “Years ago, LastPass was hacked.”

According to the website, LastPass experienced a single security incident over the past 10 years, which took place in 2015. While the company says no encrypted vault data was compromised, LastPass says it strengthened the password manager in response and says it hasn’t experienced any breaches since. You can learn more about the company’s security history online.

LastPass has the lowest TrustPilot score among competitors at 1.4/5. I read through the one-star reviews to see where the low rating came from, and it seems that many users are unhappy about the changes made to LastPass in 2021. If you’re new to the password manager, these changes won’t affect you. The free password manager still offers great features.

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After checking out LastPass myself, here are the major benefits and drawbacks of the free password manager that I found.

Pros:Cons:
You can store an unlimited number of passwords for free.Not all features are available for free; paid versions start at $3 monthly.
You are able to manage passwords in your browser or on your phone.LastPass had a security breach in 2015.
LastPass says it uses local-only, strong encryption algorithms and multi-factor authentication for password security.It’s one of the lowest-rated Google Play apps on the list.

Sticky Password

Sticky Password

Best for: Offline password storage

Sticky Password is an app and browser extension that creates and remembers strong passwords, stores logins, stores credentials and stores payment information. 

The free version includes unlimited encrypted password and data storage, automatic form filling, a strong password generator, a secure digital wallet, secure notes and two-factor authentication. It also includes a USB portable version for Windows for offline use.

The features that aren’t included with the free version are the ability to sync across multiple devices, secure cloud backup for passwords and data, secure password sharing and “priority” support. If you do decide to try out the free version of Sticky Password, you’ll get 30 days of the premium version for free without having to enter any payment information. You may also be able to grab a deal on this one: In April 2023, Sticky Password was offering a lifetime membership for $59.99.

When it comes to security, Sticky Password describes itself as being “a bulletproof vest” for your private data. The company says its program works with advanced encryption to provide the strongest protection, two-factor authentication and a master password that isn’t saved anywhere. You can learn more about Sticky Password’s security features online.

After checking out Sticky Password myself, here are a few of the biggest pros and cons that I found with the free password manager.

Pros:Cons:
You can store an unlimited number of passwords and other personal information.Syncing across multiple devices isn’t available for free.
You can download Sticky Password to your computer or USB drive to access the program offline.
When you first sign up for Sticky Password, you’ll automatically start a free trial of the Premium plan and be asked to pay or downgrade after 30 days.

LogMeOnce

LogMeOnce

Best for: Ad-supported free password management

LogMeOnce is a free password manager that lets you access your saved data across multiple devices. The free version of LogMeOnce lets you store unlimited passwords and autofills and sync the information on as many devices as you want. Whether you’re looking for a browser extension, password storage on the cloud or an app for your phone, this resource is worth checking out. 

In addition to storing unlimited passwords, LogMeOnce can also save information on as many as three credit cards. It offers five secure passwords you can share and a place to secure up to three secure notes. And it includes a password generator, password calculator, 1MB of encrypted storage and email technical support. Unfortunately, the free version will include ads. 

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The paid version of LogMeOnce begins at $2.50 monthly. It includes 1GB of encrypted storage, emergency access, unlimited credit cards, 50 password shares, 50 secure notes, a productivity dock and more. You can see a complete breakdown of features and pricing on the company’s website. Still, the free version of the software should be all you need from a password manager.

When I created an account on LogMeOnce myself, here are the biggest pros and cons I found with it.

Pros:Cons:
Store an unlimited amount of passwords and autofills.Free version includes ads.
Sync passwords across multiple devices for free.Not all features are available for free; the paid version starts at $2.50/month.
Additional free resources include identity theft protection and cloud storage encryption.Offers a limited amount of storage.

Bitwarden

Bitwarden

Best for: Open-source password storage

According to the company’s website, Bitwarden guards against password theft by creating and managing strong, unique passwords across all your devices. Bitwarden says its app was developed with end-to-end encryption. The company also says it prides itself on open source transparency and global access. 

Bitwarden is the second-highest-rated app among competitors on the App Store and Google Play. It’s available on Windows, MacOS or Linux desktop and more. You can see a full list of devices online.

In addition to the basic free account, Bitwarden offers a premium account personal plan for less than $1 per month ($10 annually). Still, the free version may be all you need. The top free features include one-to-one text sharing, unlimited vault items, password syncing across all devices, secure password generation and a self-host option. For a detailed breakdown of pricing and features, visit BItwarden’s website.

Bitwarden participates in official security assessments from third parties. You can check out the company’s 2020 Security Audit here.

After downloading Bitwarden myself, here are a few of the major benefits and drawbacks I found with the free password manager.

Pros:Cons:
Ability to sync passwords across multiple devicesNot all features are free.
You can download a desktop version or app version of the program or visit Bitwarden online.No password strength gauge
Unlimited item storage (logins, notes, cards, identities)Secure password sharing isn’t available for free with personal accounts.

Avira

Avira

Best for: An easy-to-use platform

Avira is another free password manager that’s available as an app and a browser extension. I found the interface to be easy to use. 

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According to Avira’s website, the free version of the software includes all basic features. This includes generating passwords, automatically filling in your password on webpages, adding credit cards, securing notes and syncing across multiple devices. The paid pro version costs $2.99 monthly or $31.99 per year. It includes a security status feature to alert you if your accounts have been hacked, if the websites you register with are unsafe or if your passwords are weak.

Avira says it encrypts all of your sensitive data and passwords, and it’s protected with your master password. Your data is regularly backed up to prevent any loss, and you can enable two-step verification for your account. 

To get started, you can visit Avira’s website and create an account or download the app on your mobile device.

After I checked out Avira myself, here are the biggest pros and cons I found with the free password manager.

Pros:Cons:
You can sync your passwords across multiple devices for free.You can’t share data.
You can enable two-factor verification for additional safety.Form-filling isn’t available.
The interface is really intuitive, which makes it easy to use.Not all features are available for free; the pro version costs $2.99/month or $31.99/year.

NordPass

NordPass

Best for: Password storage on one device

If you’re just looking to store passwords on one device, the free version of NordPass is a great option. You can save unlimited passwords, keep notes and store credit card information. Your information also automatically syncs across devices when you sign in elsewhere; you just won’t stay logged in when switching devices with the free version. 

In addition to staying logged in, the features included in the paid version are secure item sharing, Trusted Contacts, password health ratings and data breach scanning. The full version starts at $1.49 per month. NordPass Family is available from $2.50 per month, and NordPass Business begins at $3.59 per user. 

According to the NordPass website, its apps are built around zero-knowledge architecture and are subjected to independent security audits to ensure optimal safety. 

When I downloaded NordPass myself, here are the biggest pros and cons that I found. 

Pros:Cons:
You can store unlimited passwords, notes and credit cards.You can’t stay logged in to multiple devices with the free version.
You can log in from any device with the NordPass app.Other features available only with the paid version include secure item sharing, password health and more.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still skeptical about using a free password manager, that’s understandable. However, the safety of keeping your passwords current, complex and secure is better than the alternative. 

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“I’m a fan of password managers, but they’re not completely without possible problems,” says Clark. “It is a great idea, and in practice it’s been much better than what we do for ourselves. But it’s not flawless.”

If you’re looking for a safe free password manager, consider checking out one of the resources listed here. When it comes to mobile apps, Dashlane and Bitwarden have the highest ratings. If you’re looking to sync your passwords across multiple devices, check out LastPass or LogMeOnce.  If you’re using a password manager to securely share data with your family or company, it may be worth it to pay for the full version of one of these four programs.

For a simple, intuitive platform to use yourself, try Avira first. To store your personal passwords offline, download Sticky Password to your PC. And if you’ll mostly be on just one device, NordPass may be the best resource for you.

Have you tried any of these free password managers? Let us know about your experience in our Clark.com Community!

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