These Password Managers Are Consumer Reports’ Top Picks for Protecting Your Data

If you adhere to strong password practices, chances are you use a password manager or, at the very least, know what they are. Simply put, these digital devices act as a vault for your various login credentials, requiring you to remember a single advanced password that is not easily cracked. But there are plenty of options, and given that some, like LastPass, have been affected by security breaches, there’s something to be said for choosing the right one.

To help you sort through password managers, Consumer Reports ranked these services using its own internal research and incorporating millions of consumer surveys who have hands-on experience. So let’s take a look at what these popular password managers actually are. Consumer Reports’ top picks largely reflect the best password managers that users swear by, with a few extras if you want other options to consider beyond what’s listed here.

Before we delve into third-party options, know that Apple’s iOS has a built-in password management feature, and it’s free if you don’t want to pay for a premium service. Google also has a password manager that works on Android and Chrome devices. Samsung Pass is another solid alternative if you own a Galaxy device. While most of these tools are free, especially if you’re using a compatible device or browser, they may not include some of the extras you’d get with a premium or subscription-based manager.

Premium password managers can include personal and shared vaults, with the ability to share your accounts and information with trusted contacts, built-in VPNs, scam detection tools, and real-time security alerts, to name a few. Additionally, standalone password managers may have better security and privacy protocols than built-in options thanks to advanced encryption and a higher level of security. If you want to strengthen your password security, this benefit alone may be worth it.

1Password Families has the highest overall score on Consumer Reports’ list, along with Dashlane Premium and Keeper Unlimited. 1Password is the service, while 1Password Families is the group component that lets you share password management with your loved ones. Up to five people are included in a single subscription, and there are expansion options if you want more extensive coverage. What’s best, besides everyone having their own private vault for logins, is that you can share information between family members, if, for example, your spouse wants to log into a credit account.

Private and shared vaults are managed separately, which can be useful if you share the premium plan with multiple people. Consumer Reports gives 1Password Families high marks for usability, security, and data privacy. Like the other password managers here, 1Password Families supports Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Prices start at $6 per month and there is a 14-day free trial period. It also received positive reviews from PCMag and ZDNet, with the latter media outlet saying 1Password is “well worth the price.”

Another password manager highly recommended by Consumer Reports is Dashlane Premium, which is perhaps best known for its professional services. Don’t let that scare you away, though, as there’s a personal component that tackles scam protection and cross-platform login support. Overall, Consumer Reports gave Dashlane a lower data security score than 1Password Families, but it scores well in the usability and data privacy categories. According to TechRadar, Dashlane’s service is expensive, but “impressive and comprehensive.”

It’s worth noting that Dashlane Premium includes a built-in VPN for Wi-Fi protection, so you can save money if you already subscribe to a VPN. The Premium plan is for a single user and starts at $5.42 per month. But if you want a family plan – allowing up to 10 users on a single subscription – prices start at $8.13 per month, which is a bit more expensive than what 1Password offers.

Most password managers have removed their free service tier which allowed limited, free access. But Keeper continues to offer a premium plan, called Keeper Unlimited and Keeper Free, both of which rank highly in Consumer Reports. The scores for usability, data security, and privacy are actually identical. In a Tom’s Hardware review, the level of functionality left a good impression, “provided you use the paid version.”

Keeper Free is limited to a single mobile device and a total of 10 passwords, although it supports two-factor authentication. This might work if you don’t have a lot of accounts or passwords to manage. However, it’s very likely that you’ll want to upgrade to at least the Personal plan, which costs $3.58 per month. This version comes with unlimited password and device storage, biometric login options, and a 30-day free trial to see if you like it.

Bitwarden is a password management option, with a slightly lower overall score. Usability scores are high, but security and data privacy scores are a bit lower. Bitwarden is actually the password manager I use and hence I joined my family as well. I chose it because it is open source. Although it’s slightly lower on Consumer Report’s list, Bitwarden received very good reviews from PCMag and Wired, who highlighted its easy-to-use workflow and free plan with few limitations.

Bitwarden’s premium plan starts at $1.65 per month, or around $20 per year, and you can share your vault with another user. The Family plan costs $4 per month and allows up to six users, unlimited sharing, unlimited collections, and the ability to share vault items among the entire group. If you’re the only one using the tool, Bitwarden’s free tier is generous. Access is available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, and depending on which browser you use, the login tools are intuitive and work well. I’ve had issues using Bitwarden plugins with Brave. But overall, my tech-illiterate family seems to do just fine with this password manager.