Keeping track of all the passwords you use every day can be a challenge. Most people have multiple social media logins, accounts for different shopping sites, and both work-related and personal email accounts. With all these apps and services, the number of passwords you need to remember can quickly add up. And since you shouldn’t be using the same password for two services, it’s time to get organized. Use one password manager can help you store your passwords in a secure location so you can easily find them when you need them. One password manager that comes up in many recommendations is LastPass, but if for some reason you’re looking for a LastPass alternative, you’ve come to the right place.
Password managers are among the most useful (and important) tools anyone can use, yet I know far too many people who keep writing down, forgetting, and resetting the same few easily hackable login credentials. I’ve even seen people with sticky notes with passwords on monitors, which is terrifying. If that’s you, it’s time to get started with the program, or in this case, the app.
Worried about costs? Have no fear: many great password managers have very capable free versions. But those versions — including the one in our roundup of the best password managers — are limited in one important way: they keep your passwords limited to one device.
My top pick doesn’t have that limitation; it syncs your passwords across all your devices. It is called Bitwarden.
What exactly is a password manager?
Simple. It is an encrypted database with all your passwords. Instead of trying to remember the same handful of (probably not very secure) passwords you use everywhere you go online, you only need to remember one: the one that unlocks Bitwarden.
Why choose any of these over 1Password, Dashlane, Keeper, Password Vault, Sticky Password, and other products, which are all fine? As mentioned above, only the free version of Bitwarden supports password sync. That means you can access your data on your phone, tablet and PC – a benefit that’s absolutely essential if you use more than one device.
In addition, they offer general tools such as generating strong passwords, auto-filling forms, encrypted credit card storage (for easier online shopping), a digital safe, and so on.
Read more: The Best Password Managers and How to Use Them
Useful features like these help explain why I prefer a good password manager over the rudimentary capabilities built into Android, iOS, and your web browser. Once you get used to having such tools at your disposal, you will wonder how you managed to do without them for so long.
Make no mistake, there is a learning curve for Bitwarden – and for any password manager, really. It may take a few weeks to really get used to using the app and banishing your old password habits.
But such issues are largely overshadowed by the overall convenience. Your goal as an internet citizen should be to use a different, robust password for every app, site, and service, and a password manager is the only practical way to make that possible. You should use one. Bitwarden is, in my opinion, the best free option out there.
Other free password management options
Should you bother with the premium version? Bitwarden charges just $10 annually for it, a price that gets you 1GB of encrypted cloud storage and password health reports. There’s also a family option ($40 per year) that gives you premium features for up to six users and adds unlimited sharing.
I’d say most of these features are unnecessary for most people, although it’s obviously up to you to decide.
For the record, LogMeOnce without password is another tool that supports password synchronization in the free version. I don’t like it that much, but it’s worth a look.
In case you’re wondering, I now use Bitwarden full time. Previously, I was a Dashlane user but became frustrated with the bloat and high price. Bitwarden has proven to be a solid product that I have no qualms about recommending.
What’s your favorite password management method these days? And if you refuse to use any of these tools, I’d like to know why! 😜
Look at this: This free password manager offers one crucial feature
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