Overview
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![NordPass]()
NordPass
Best Streamlined Password Management -
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![Proton Pass]()
Proton Pass
Best Overall -
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![LastPass]()
LastPass
Best for Ease of Use -
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![Symantec Norton Password Manager]()
Symantec Norton Password Manager
Best for Unlimited Free Password Storage
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On a tight budget and need password protection? Good news: Some of the best password managers we've reviewed also offer free service plans. A password manager is vital to keep track of all your passwords and keep your accounts secure, which is why PCMag has been testing security services for more than 30 years. Proton Pass is our Editors' Choice winner in the category because it's a feature-rich free password manager with a modern and intuitive user interface. But it isn't the only service we recommend, so read on for more of the best free password managers we've tested, followed by everything you need to know to pick the right one for you.
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![NordPass]()
NordPass
Best Streamlined Password ManagementWhy We Picked It
NordPass, from the team behind NordVPN, is a streamlined, easy-to-use service for securely accessing your passwords via desktop and mobile apps or on the web. The service's free version logs you out when you switch devices and doesn't allow password sharing.
Who It's For
People hoping to secure their accounts with multi-factor authentication (MFA) should consider NordPass. Nord Security is one of the few companies that offers MFA options for all its customers.
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![Proton Pass]()
Proton Pass
Best OverallWhy We Picked It
Proton Pass is a solid and secure password management option. We like the app's minimalistic but eye-catching user interface, the fact that the free version gives you unlimited password syncing across all your devices, and the speed with which the company has improved its service.
Who It's For
Free users will get a lot of value out of this capable credential storage system. We really like that Proton makes password hygiene via Proton Pass Monitor and temporary email aliases available for free accounts, too. Those kinds of perks are often locked behind a paid subscription. The premium version also has some interesting bonuses, like extensive dark web monitoring tools, and privacy settings for those needing high security, like journalists or politicians.
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![LastPass]()
LastPass
Best for Ease of UseWhy We Picked It
LastPass has been dealing with years of reputational fallout after someone swiped its customers' information. Since then, it has separated from its parent company to become fully independent. Meanwhile, the new additions to the app are pretty good: free dark web monitoring and a helpful tutorial system.
Who Its For
LastPass is a great option for those needing a simple, easy-to-use app. That said, some of the specters of the security concerns revealed in 2022 still linger as LastPass continues to store unencrypted user data in vaults, so we recommend this app, but with a note of caution.
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Pros
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![Symantec Norton Password Manager]()
Symantec Norton Password Manager
Best for Unlimited Free Password StorageBottom Line:
Norton Password Manager is a free app for popular browsers and mobile devices that lacks useful features offered by the competition.-
Pros
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Learn More Symantec Norton Password Manager Review -
Buying Guide: The Best Free Password Managers for 2025
Look for Free Versions of Paid Password Managers
If you see a paid password manager with features you like, you might be able to check it out during a free trial or use a free, feature-limited version of the premium password manager. All of the free password managers on this list are feature-limited versions of a company's premium password manager.
For example, some companies let you create and store passwords but not sync them across your devices, share credentials, or set up a password inheritance contact without subscribing to the premium service. Some services—Bitwarden and Proton Pass are good examples—are less stingy with their free versions.
This list doesn't include free password managers that limit the number of credentials you can store in your vault or have other major restrictions, such as device or platform limits. For example, the free version of Dashlane limits subscribers to 25 stored logins, only the desktop version of Enpass version is free, and customers who use the free versions of Keeper and NordPass can only use the app on one device.
How We Test Password Managers
Each app undergoes functionality tests on multiple platforms to ensure it captures and replays credentials, stores user data in an encrypted vault, fills in web forms, and creates new and unique passwords. For details, check out this in-depth article about our password manager testing process.
To summarize, we prefer products that include the following:
- A diverse selection of multi-factor authentication options
- A password generation policy that creates strong, unique passwords
- Security features such as password inheritance, secure credential sharing, dark web monitoring, and password hygiene monitoring
We compare each app's price to similar products in the category. Each year, we interview company representatives via email about the product to hold companies accountable for the trust their subscribers have in them. We also take time to check out the company's data security policies and public responses to past security incidents.
Should You Use a Passkey Instead of a Password Manager?
Passkeys are a relatively new way to log in around the web. Instead of using an email address and password combination, you create a unique key for each website and store it on your device.
We contacted Steve Won, the chief product officer at 1Password, to discuss the benefits of widespread passkey adoption. He told us that passkeys could solve serious security issues by replacing traditional username and password combinations.
"If we reduce 30% of our footprint of passwords being used on the web," Won explained, "it makes a meaningful dent in terms of our surface area of attack."
However, widespread passkey adoption will take time, so experts recommend keeping your password manager and using it to store passkeys, too. Many of the password managers we've tested, including Bitwarden, allow customers to store passkeys in their password manager vault. Try out passkeys by creating one for one of these websites.
How Does a Free Password Manager Work?
For most people, getting started means installing a password manager's desktop and mobile apps and an extension for your browser of choice. When you log in to a secure site, the password manager captures the username and password and saves them to your vault. The best password managers capture your credentials during account creation, and when you change your password online, they offer to update the stored password for that site.
When you revisit a site, most password managers can automatically fill in the saved data. If you have more than one set of credentials, you can choose which to use. Another handy (and common) feature of most of these browser extensions is that clicking an entry sends you directly to the site and logs you in.
(Credit: LogMeOnce/PCMag)Many of us are just as likely to log into a secure site from a mobile device as from a desktop computer, so finding a password manager that syncs your credentials between all your devices is vital. Most password managers use encrypted cloud storage to sync between devices. Some keep your data local, syncing between databases on different devices without keeping anything in the cloud. The real benefit of having your password manager on your phone is that you can autofill credentials for any mobile apps you use.
One great thing about free password managers is that you can try several and find out which one you like best. If you're considering doing such a survey, look for products that can import from other password managers. Otherwise, you have to go through the password capture process again for each candidate.
What Else Can Password Managers Do?
The point of adding a password manager to your security arsenal is to replace each weak and duplicate password with an unguessable, strong password. But where do you get those strong passwords? Most of these apps have a password generator, many of which give you control of things like password length and which character sets to use. The very best ones perform password auditing to ease the process of identifying and fixing poor passwords.
(Credit: Bitwarden/PCMag)Automatically filling in usernames and passwords isn't so different from filling in other data in web forms. Many paid password managers can streamline the process of filling forms with personal data, such as addresses or payment card details. Another thing password managers sometimes give you is storage space for secure documents, though the allotted storage is typically insufficient to replace a dedicated cloud storage service.
In addition to using your passwords on multiple devices, you may want to share logins with other users. Some free password managers do not support secure sharing. It's also uncommon for free password managers to let you choose someone to inherit your passwords.
Free Password Manager Security Features
(Credit: LogMeOnce/PCMag)When you put all your passwords into one repository, you must be extremely careful to protect that repository. That's where your master password comes in. This is the password used to encrypt the contents of your password vault, so it needs to be as strong as possible. On the flip side, it is unlikely you can recover it if you forget it. Store your master password in a secure place or risk permanently losing access to your password manager.
Setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA) is another way to mitigate the risk of possible attacks. MFA could be biometric, requiring a fingerprint, facial recognition, or even voice recognition. Some password managers rely on mobile authenticator apps; others use SMS-based methods or hardware security keys to authenticate. Allowing access only from registered, trusted devices is yet another form of MFA.
Free Password Manager Customer Support Options
When it comes to customer service for free apps, you usually get what you pay for. This is why it isn't surprising that most of the apps on this list offer free customers self-service options, such as troubleshooting via instructions on a support website or with help from a chatbot. We highlight companies that go beyond the minimum for all customers, not just the paying subscribers. In our reviews, we mention the types of support each company offers, and we also note how difficult or easy it is to cancel the service and delete your data.
