Online Password Manager Comparison

Most people have heard about the basic best practices and recommendations when it comes to conducting their business online. Experts assert that your passwords should be “strong,” containing a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols, without containing any dictionary words, personally identifiable information, or predictable patterns like “password123.” The password should be long and you should have a unique password for every online service that you use, from online banking to social media to CRM to cloud storage.

Understandably, most people don’t adhere to all these rules and recommendations, because human memory is inherently limited and remarkably faulty. It is practically impossible to remember all of these strong, unique passwords for the growing number of online services being used. That’s why it’s so much easier and ultimately more secure to use an online password manager instead. The question then arises of which one is the best. Furthermore, you should enable 2-step verification on every website and online service that offers it, adding another much needed layer of security.

LastPass

Cost: Free to $4 per user/month

It’s no surprise that LastPass is the online password manager of choice for so many people around the world. For starters, many users will find that the free account is perfectly sufficient for all of your their basic needs. Secondly, the service isn’t restricted solely to the desktop environment, as LastPass will work on Android, iOS and even Apple Watch too. You get unlimited password storage, autofill management (including payment details for online shopping), security challenges, and password sharing, among other key features. The premium account for $1/month adds a shared family folder, LastPass for applications, and 1GB of encrypted file storage too. Business and enterprise solutions start from $2.42 per user per month.

Dashlane

Cost: Free or $3.33/month

Just like LastPass, you can get started with Dashlane on their free plan. This provides you with all the core features you need for life on your favorite device. Recommended by David Pogue from The New York Times, Dashlane will generate unique passwords for all of your online accounts, secure the passwords on your device where only you have access, and alert you should any security breaches get detected. While two-factor authentication is included in the free account with LastPass, you will need to upgrade to Dashlane Premium for $3.33/month to get it. This also adds password syncing, secure account backup, and unlimited password sharing. Dashlane Business accounts are $1.25 to $2 per user per month.

1Password

Cost: $2.99 to $11.99/month

While 1Password offers a 30-day free trial, it does not offer a free version of its password manager service. As its name indicates, you only need to memorize one master password, as it will be used to unlock all your other passwords and important information. With your mobile device, you can also unlock your passwords with a fingerprint or PIN code instead for added convenience, while still retaining AES-256 encryption to protect your sensitive data. 1Password also integrates using a browser extension and within your mobile apps. The $2.99/month plan includes 1GB of secure online storage, 365 day item history, and offline access, while the $4.99/month plan for families can be used for up to five people. Business and enterprise plans range from $3.99 to $11.99 per user per month.

Sticky Password

Cost: Free or $29.99/year

Earning a prestigious Editors’ Choice Award from PC Mag, Sticky Password is both a secure password manager and a form filler, saving all of your data safely for convenience and peace of mind. Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, Sticky Password can generate extra strong new passwords, store credit card information, and support biometric authentication via fingerprint scanning. It also offers two-factor authentication as standard. This is the same team that brought you AVG antivirus protection. The premium account, which costs $29.99/year or $149.99 lifetime, adds cloud backup, cloud sync, local Wi-Fi sync, and priority support.

Zoho Vault

Cost: Free to $7 per user/month

You may already be using one of Zoho’s many other solutions, like Zoho CRM or Zoho Expense Reporting. If you already like that ecosystem, then Zoho Vault will feel like a natural fit. Like the others on this list, Zoho Vault also utilizes AES-256 encryption with direct logins and access control. As Zoho Vault is focused more toward business, though, you also get in-depth reports and the ability to track user actions for each of your team members. The free account includes offline access, mobile access, browser extensions and two-factor authentication. Paid plans are generally geared more toward teams.

Author Bio: Author Bio: Lauren Johnson is a creative writer by passion and marketing professional by profession – For over 10 years she's been working with eCommerce agencies to gain more revenue and better sales. she holds relevant industry experience and writes about Fashion, Lifestyle, and trending gift ideas.