Best Password Managers of 2026
Bitwarden is our top pick for most people because it pairs an always-free plan with open-source, end-to-end encrypted apps on every major platform and publishes its third-party security audits. 1Password is the most polished paid option, especially for families, and Proton Pass is the best choice if privacy and email aliases matter most. Plans and prices change, so check the current terms on each provider's site.
Our ranking of the best password managers
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#1
Bitwarden
Best overallOpen-source, end-to-end encrypted password manager with a free plan that covers every device.
- Always-free personal plan with sync across devices
- Open-source code and published third-party audits
- Passkey management and an integrated authenticator
- Families plan for up to six users
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#2
1Password
Best for familiesPolished, security-focused password manager with strong family and business plans.
- Account password plus device-generated Secret Key
- Watchtower alerts for weak, reused or exposed passwords
- Passkey support
- Families plan for five users
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#3
Proton Pass
Best for privacyPrivacy-first password manager from Proton with email aliases and a generous free plan.
- Free plan with unlimited logins, devices and passkeys
- Hide-my-email aliases built in
- Zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption (as stated)
- Open source and independently audited (as stated)
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#4
Keeper
Best for business complianceZero-knowledge password manager with a long list of stated certifications for business.
- Zero-knowledge, zero-trust architecture (as stated)
- Lists SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP High and FIPS 140-3 validation
- Passkey storage and autofill
- Family plan for five users with private vaults
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#5
Dashlane
Best with a built-in VPNBrowser-based password manager with phishing protection, breach alerts and a VPN on Premium.
- Local, zero-knowledge encryption with AES-256 and Argon2d (as stated)
- Passkey support and phishing protection
- Breach alerts and Dark Web Insights
- VPN included with Premium
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#6
RoboForm
Best for form fillingLong-running password manager and form filler with a free single-device plan.
- Free plan with unlimited passwords on one device
- Zero-knowledge design with AES-256 and PBKDF2 SHA-256 (as stated)
- Passkey-based Passwordless Unlock
- Family plan with five Premium accounts
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#7
NordPass
Best for Nord usersPassword manager from the makers of NordVPN; check current plans on its site.
- Free and paid tiers (check current limits)
- Family and business plans (check site)
- From Nord Security, the maker of NordVPN
A password manager stores your logins in an encrypted vault, creates a strong, unique password for every site, and fills them in for you on your phone, computer and browser. The best ones also store passkeys, warn you about weak or reused passwords, and let you share logins safely with family or coworkers.
We ranked seven well-known password managers on how they protect your vault, which devices they cover, how well they handle passkeys, how they support families and teams, and how clear their free and paid plans are. We describe each product in general terms based on its own website; features and plans change, so always check the current details on the provider's site.
Password Managers compared side by side
Sort by rank, name or score. Tick "Compare" on any two or three providers above to see them side by side.
| Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Security model (as stated) | Link | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Bitwarden |
Best overall | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browser extensions, web, CLI | Yes, always-free personal plan | End-to-end encrypted vault; open source; publishes third-party audits | 9.4 | Visit site (Bitwarden, opens in a new tab) |
| #2 | 1Password |
Best for families | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, browser, CLI | No; free trial available | Account password plus Secret Key; states SOC 2 Type 2 and independent assessments | 9.3 | Visit site (1Password, opens in a new tab) |
| #3 | Proton Pass |
Best for privacy | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browser extensions, web, CLI | Yes, unlimited logins and devices | Zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption; open source; independently audited (as stated) | 9.0 | Visit site (Proton Pass, opens in a new tab) |
| #4 | Keeper |
Best for business compliance | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, browser extensions, web | No full free plan; free trial available | Zero-knowledge, zero-trust; lists SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP High | 8.8 | Visit site (Keeper, opens in a new tab) |
| #5 | Dashlane |
Best with a built-in VPN | Browser extension, iOS, Android | No; free trial available | Zero-knowledge; AES-256 with Argon2d key derivation (as stated) | 8.5 | Visit site (Dashlane, opens in a new tab) |
| #6 | RoboForm |
Best for form filling | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, browser extensions, web (Premium) | Yes, single device | Zero-knowledge; AES-256 with PBKDF2 SHA-256 (as stated) | 8.3 | Visit site (RoboForm, opens in a new tab) |
| #7 | NordPass | Best for Nord users | Desktop, mobile and browser (check site) | Reported; check current limits | Check NordPass's security page | 8.1 | Visit site (NordPass, opens in a new tab) |
Top picks by use case
An always-free plan, open-source code, published audits and apps for every platform.
Read our Bitwarden reviewPolished apps, a clearly documented Secret Key design and a Families plan for five users.
Read our 1Password reviewZero-knowledge encryption, hide-my-email aliases and a generous free plan from a Swiss company.
Read our Proton Pass reviewA zero-knowledge, zero-trust design backed by a long list of stated certifications.
Read our Keeper reviewUnlimited passwords and strong form filling on one device at no cost.
Read our RoboForm reviewHow we chose
We score password managers on how well they protect your vault and how clearly they explain what you get, based on each provider's own security pages, plan pages, download pages and published audit or certification claims. We do not run our own penetration tests and we do not copy other sites' rankings. Each product gets a weighted score out of 10 across five criteria.
Whether the vault is encrypted on your device so the provider cannot read it (often called zero-knowledge or end-to-end encryption), how clearly the provider documents its encryption, and whether it states independent audits, certifications or open-source code you can check.
Apps and extensions for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the major browsers, and how smoothly saving and autofill work day to day.
Support for storing and using passkeys, two-factor options for the vault itself, and breach or weak-password alerts.
Secure sharing, family plans with private vaults for each member, and business features such as admin consoles, SSO and provisioning.
Whether a genuinely useful free plan exists, how clearly paid tiers are explained, and how open the provider is about trials, renewals and cancellation.
Buying guide: how to choose
What a password manager does
A password manager saves your logins in an encrypted vault, generates a strong, unique password for each account, and fills them in automatically. You remember one master password (or use a passkey or biometrics to unlock), and the app remembers the rest.
Most also store passkeys, cards and secure notes, alert you to weak, reused or breached passwords, and let you share logins safely. Read our guide: How password managers work and are they safe?
Look for zero-knowledge encryption
The most important feature is that your vault is encrypted on your own device before it is synced, so the provider cannot read it. Providers call this zero-knowledge or end-to-end encryption.
Also check whether the provider publishes independent audits or certifications, or makes its code open source. We note these only when the provider states them on its own site.
Free or paid?
- Bitwarden and Proton Pass have free plans that sync across devices.
- RoboForm has a free plan limited to one device.
- 1Password, Keeper and Dashlane offer free trials rather than free plans.
Paid plans usually add extras like file storage, emergency access, family sharing, breach monitoring or a VPN. See our free vs paid password managers guide.
Passkeys are the next step
Passkeys replace passwords with a cryptographic key pair stored on your device or in your password manager. They resist phishing because they only work on the real website.
All of the main password managers here support passkeys in some form. Storing them in a cross-platform manager means you can use them on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android alike. Read our passkeys and switching guide.
Check platforms and family sharing
Make sure the manager has apps for every device you use, including Linux if needed. Dashlane relies on browser extensions and mobile apps rather than desktop apps, for example.
For households, compare how many people a family plan covers and whether each person gets a private vault. Our how we rank page explains how we weigh these factors.
Head-to-head comparisons
1Password vs Bitwarden
Choose Bitwarden if you want a capable free plan, open-source code and published audits.
ComparisonBitwarden vs Proton Pass
Choose Bitwarden if you want the most mature free password manager with strong business and self-hosting options.
Comparison1Password vs Dashlane
Choose 1Password if you want native apps on every platform, including desktop and Linux, and a Secret Key security design.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best password manager?
In our editorial ranking, Bitwarden is the best password manager for most people because of its always-free plan, open-source code, published audits and broad platform support. 1Password is our pick for families and Proton Pass for privacy.
Are password managers safe?
A reputable password manager that encrypts your vault on your device is much safer than reusing passwords. The provider cannot read a zero-knowledge vault. Protect the account with a strong master password and two-factor authentication.
What is the best free password manager?
Bitwarden and Proton Pass both offer free plans that sync across your devices. RoboForm has a free plan limited to one device. 1Password, Keeper and Dashlane offer free trials instead of free plans.
What happens if my password manager is hacked?
With zero-knowledge encryption, stolen vault data is encrypted and cannot be read without your master password, so a strong, unique master password is essential. If a provider reports a breach, change your master password and your most important passwords.
Is the password manager built into my browser good enough?
Browser and operating system password managers are free and far better than reusing passwords. A dedicated password manager adds cross-browser and cross-platform sync, secure sharing, breach alerts and support for passkeys on all your devices.
What if I forget my master password?
Because zero-knowledge providers cannot see your master password, they usually cannot reset it for you. Set up any recovery options your provider offers, such as an emergency kit, recovery codes or emergency access, before you need them.
Do password managers support passkeys?
Yes. Bitwarden, 1Password, Proton Pass, Keeper and Dashlane all support storing passkeys, and RoboForm supports passkeys for unlocking and two-factor sign-in. Passkeys only work on sites that offer them.
How do you rank password managers?
We score each product on security model and transparency, platforms and everyday use, passkeys and account protection, sharing and family and business plans, and free plan and value transparency. See our full methodology on the How We Rank page.
Password Managers guides
All password managers guidesFree vs Paid Password Managers: Which Do You Need?
Free password managers like Bitwarden and Proton Pass cover the basics on every device. Paid plans add sharing, family plans, extras and support. Here is how to choose.
Password Managers guideHow Do Password Managers Work, and Are They Safe?
Password managers encrypt your logins on your own device so the provider cannot read them. Here is how zero-knowledge encryption works and how to stay safe.
Password Managers guidePasskeys Explained, and How to Switch Password Managers
Passkeys replace passwords with phishing-resistant keys stored on your devices or in a password manager. Here is how they work and how to switch managers safely.
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