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iCloud Keychain vs. 1Password: Which is best? [2024]

Well, first off, this is only a choice for Apple users. If you use Windows or Android devices, you're better off checking out another of the best password managers . Both 1Password and iCloud Keychain are on that list, as well as great cross-platform options like Dashlane and Bitwarden . Still, for Apple users, it often is a choice between using iCloud Keychain (your iPhone and Mac's built-in password manager) or paying for 1Password's premium service. If that's the decision you're trying to make, let me break things down for you. 

iCloud Keychain vs. 1Password at a glance

iCloud Keychain and 1Password both have a lot going for them. Here's a quick comparison, or read on for a detailed breakdown.

Both iCloud Keychain and 1Password are way better than not using a password manager

Before diving into the head-to-head between iCloud Keychain and 1Password, let's have a quick look at what using them is like, and how it compares to not having a password manager. 

Both iCloud Keychain and 1Password hit all the bases you could want in a password manager. And, assuming you have them set up with the relevant browser and smartphone extensions installed, using either of them should be absolutely seamless. Instead of having to remember your login details, everything will be taken care of automatically. 

When you go to log in to an account, you'll have to confirm your identity with a password, your fingerprint, or face unlock, and your login details will be automatically filled—including two-factor authentication codes, if you've added them to your app of choice. 

When you create a new account, both iCloud Keychain and 1Password will generate a secure, random password for you and save it. You don't have to worry about remembering it: it's kept safe in your secure vault. Best of all, this experience is universal. With both services, all your logins sync between your devices. If you create an account on a Mac, you can log in to the app on your iPhone a few moments later. 

Sure, there are a few small workflow differences like the desktop versions of 1Password using a keyboard shortcut instead of just filling your logins by default, but the process really is as seamless as I've described it. Take a moment and think how this compares to not having a password manager. 

Both apps are a lot better than nothing.

Both apps are very secure

Of course, all this only works if your password manager actually keeps your passwords safe ( looking at you, LastPass ). The good news is both iCloud Keychain and 1Password are incredibly secure and have never had a meaningful data breach.

Apple takes security extremely seriously . Without diving too deep into the specifics, iCloud Keychain encrypts and stores your passwords in such a way that they're only accessible to you, from trusted devices. No one at Apple can look through your passwords, they aren't stored in plain text somewhere on your iPhone, and they're as locked away as current industry standard encryption allows them to be. Of course, if someone has access to your iPhone or hits you with a wrench until you tell them your password , your login details may not be safe—but the same is true of almost every password manager.

1Password is similarly secure . Your account data is encrypted with both a master password and a secret key. Most of the time, you just need your master password to unlock your vault. You only need to enter the secret key when you're setting up a new device, which can be a bit inconvenient. Still, it means that even if a hacker stole your data from 1Password, they couldn't unlock your vault—even if they also knew your master password.

All this is to say, unless you're an incredibly high-profile figure who's targeted by state-supported hackers, you probably don't need to worry if iCloud Keychain or 1Password is marginally more secure. If you use them as intended, they both have your logins locked down tight.

iCloud Keychain works best with Apple devices

While the basics are much the same, there are still plenty of differences between iCloud Keychain and 1Password. One of the most important is cross-device compatibility. 

To make the most of iCloud Keychain, you need to stay playing in Apple's walled garden. iCloud Keychain comes built in on Macs, iPhones, and iPads—it's essentially part of the operating system. On macOS, you can use it with Safari or Google Chrome . On your iPhone and iPad, it works with your browser and can also fill in passwords in any app. 

There is an iCloud for Windows app that enables you to access your passwords on a PC, and with the browser extensions, use it with Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, but the whole experience feels like more of a workaround. If you have an Android phone, you're out of luck. 

1Password, however, is available everywhere. There are Windows, Mac, and Linux desktop apps, extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, and iOS and Android apps. It doesn't matter if you use a Linux desktop at work, an Android smartphone out and about, and an iPad at home—you'll have essentially the same experience everywhere. 

If you're all in on Apple devices, then you really do have a choice. iCloud Keychain works great, and it's available where you need it. But if you have an old Windows PC that you use from time to time, or an Android smartphone that you need for work, 1Password is the better option. 

The whole point of password managers is that they let you use really long, awkward passwords without having to type them; it gets really annoying if you regularly need to look up a password on your iPhone, so you can type it into your Android smartphone.

1Password gives you more control

When it comes to logging in to your accounts, both iCloud Keychain and 1Password are pretty interchangeable. But overall, 1Password gives you a bit more control over your password security, even though both apps have a lot of the same extra features.

The biggest difference is that 1Password offers actual apps. They're really nice, and they allow you to browse your passwords, securely store other important information, like credit cards and ID documents, and generally just manage your passwords as you see fit. You can have multiple vaults with passwords for different things, you can share vaults and individual passwords, and the Watchtower will even tell you if you've got any insecure, leaked, or duplicate passwords that need updating. 

When you're generating a new password, you can set specific options, like how many characters it is, whether you want to use numbers, symbols, or even words, and if you are using words, what the character that separates them is.

iCloud Keychain actually does much the same, but it's all a bit weirder and more awkward. Your passwords are managed through the System Settings app on Mac and Settings on mobile devices. 

Here, you can scroll through a list of all your passwords, see any insecure ones with security recommendations, and even share certain passwords with friends and family—but it's all tucked away in a preferences pane. It's just weird, and it doesn't encourage you to take control over your password security.

Similarly, when you're creating a new password, you can click or tap Other Options to edit the suggested password, get a new one, get one with numbers and letters, or get one that's easier to type.

But I'll be honest, despite using iCloud Keychain for years, I only found out about these settings while doing a deep dive on it for the articles I write here at Zapier. It just wasn't obvious to me as a regular user.

Both apps support passkeys

As you've probably picked up on by now, passwords are a poor way of securing accounts. An industry group called the FIDO Alliance—made up of companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, 1Password, Dashlane, American Express, Intel, Mastercard, Meta, PayPal, Samsung, Visa, and lots more —has developed an alternative called passkeys, which use public-key cryptography to keep your logins safe. Passkeys are much better than passwords , though they are still very much rolling out. 

iCloud Keychain supports passkeys right now, and they're in beta with 1Password. If you want to test them out, check out the demo site at Passkeys.io . Unfortunately, because they're not widely supported everywhere yet, this isn't a major win for either service. iCloud's integration is a little more mature, so if you're a passkey early adopter, it may be the better choice, but 1Password's integration works too if you want to try them out. 

iCloud Keychain is free—1Password isn't

While I've been trying to compare iCloud Keychain and 1Password as objectively as possible, there's one major elephant in the room we haven't looked at: iCloud Keychain is free.

1Password costs $36/year for a Personal account or $60/year for a Families plan with up to five accounts; there's no free option unless you're a journalist or politician .

If you want total control over your passwords, I feel 1Password is worth the money. But it's impossible to argue that iCloud Keychain doesn't offer much the same security—at least on Apple devices.

1Password vs. iCloud Keychain: Which should you choose?

Both iCloud Keychain and 1Password are secure password managers that make your life easier and your accounts safer. Really, if you only use Apple devices, iCloud Keychain does more than enough and is a super solid default choice (especially since it's free). But if you want more control over your account security and cross-platform support, then 1Password is the best bet, as long as you're prepared to pay.

Related reading:

How to change your passwords in 6 steps

How to disable 1Password for certain sites

What is a passkey?

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Harry Guinness

Harry Guinness is a writer and photographer from Dublin, Ireland. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Lifehacker, the Irish Examiner, and How-To Geek. His photos have been published on hundreds of sites—mostly without his permission.

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iCloud Keychain vs 1Password

• Thread starter PandaNix
• Start date Jul 27, 2022
• Sort by reaction score
• Mac Basics, Help and Buying Advice

macrumors member

• Jul 27, 2022

I see a lot of suggestions to use 1Password - is it much better than iCloud Keychain? If yes, what makes it better? I have been using iCloud Keychain for my passwords for some years on my iPhone. It never worked well with my old MBP but synced perfectly with the iPad I got last year. I want it to work fluidly with my brand new MBP. But I find that it doesn't suggest strong passwords like it does on the phone/iPad when I need to create a new one. Also it doesn't alway suggest the password that is saved there - but it does on my iPhone 13PM. They are all logged on to my Apple ID.  

macrumors Core

I use iCloud Keychain. I find it does what I need.  

Nigel Goodman

Macrumors regular.

• Jul 28, 2022

I used to use 1Password but migrated to Bitwarden (free). Now I use both Keychain and Bitwarden: Keychain for passwords which sync across devices; and Bitwarden for items that cannot be held in Keychain such as extended credit card details, etc. The same scenario can be used with Keychain and 1Password.  

macrumors 68040

A whole LOT of people are moving away from 1Password, which is miles better than using iCloud Keychain. Keychain is fine for simple password saving, but fails miserably when the list of passwords grows too large. It's also limited to passwords used in web browsers (for the most part), while most Password Managers allow you to store passwords for things like FTP sites, other computers/devices, serial numbers and purchase info for software, attachments (such as PDF receipts and license files), credit card and bank info, and much more. Keychain is also somewhat archaic in function, and quite frankly, ugly. That being said, I left 1Password when it switched to subscription only. It's not that I mind paying for it, it's that it's limited in how and where your data is stored (their servers only). It has also gotten more convoluted in use, in my opinion. And I hate the fact that you have to install a separate extension for each browser you use along with the app itself. I switched to Minimalist . It's from a former Apple Developer, and as its name implies, it's less "pretty" than 1Password, but offers almost all the same functions — with the notable exception of Auto-Fill only working in Safari right now. The best part is that it uses Apple's built-in Auto-Fill functionality, so there is no "extension/plug-in" to install for it to work. It's also not a subscription app. You can purchase a regular perpetual license for $60 (or you can choose a $20 per year subscription). There is a demo available on the website.  

• Keychain can't store multiple URLs for a login entry. This means sites like microsoft.com, xbox.com, and live.com which share the same login information must be separate entries in keychain. If you update your password on one entry, you have to remember to update it for all.
• For sites that don't autofill correctly, it's not easy to find/copy/paste your password from keychain.
• Keychain has no password history. If you update an entry, but the website didn't accept the new password, you just lost your original password.
• Keychain doesn't really have a concept of family sharing (i.e., shared vaults in 1password)

macrumors 65816

Keychain is fine for 90% of what I do. I've now moved to Bitwarden from 1Pasword for the rest; no regrets.  

Contributor

Also interested in a migration path from 1password, between the sub and client issues I have been reading about here I am starting to want out. Thanks to all providing feedback, especially @MacGizmo , I never heard of Minimalist before your post, looks like a solid option.  

macrumors 6502

MacGizmo said: It's not that I mind paying for it, it's that it's limited in how and where your data is stored (their servers only). Click to expand...

MarineBand5524

MacGizmo said: A whole LOT of people are moving away from 1Password, which is miles better than using iCloud Keychain. Keychain is fine for simple password saving, but fails miserably when the list of passwords grows too large. It's also limited to passwords used in web browsers (for the most part), while most Password Managers allow you to store passwords for things like FTP sites, other computers/devices, serial numbers and purchase info for software, attachments (such as PDF receipts and license files), credit card and bank info, and much more. Keychain is also somewhat archaic in function, and quite frankly, ugly. That being said, I left 1Password when it switched to subscription only. It's not that I mind paying for it, it's that it's limited in how and where your data is stored (their servers only). It has also gotten more convoluted in use, in my opinion. And I hate the fact that you have to install a separate extension for each browser you use along with the app itself. I switched to Minimalist . It's from a former Apple Developer, and as its name implies, it's less "pretty" than 1Password, but offers almost all the same functions — with the notable exception of Auto-Fill only working in Safari right now. The best part is that it uses Apple's built-in Auto-Fill functionality, so there is no "extension/plug-in" to install for it to work. It's also not a subscription app. You can purchase a regular perpetual license for $60 (or you can choose a $20 per year subscription). There is a demo available on the website. Click to expand...

• Jul 29, 2022

Droid13 said: I remember that they used to let you use e.g. DropBox for their "password vault" (this is years ago). Is that gone now? Click to expand...

MacGizmo said: No more Dropbox, iCloud, or local storage. Everything is on their server. Click to expand...

macrumors 6502a

• Dec 21, 2022

Keychain now has notes, and it is easy to export passwords for backup, contrary to comments in prior threads. Apple Notes has lockable notes and is moving to end-end encryption. Not sure I need a 3rd party password manager now.  

• Jan 9, 2023

I'm about ready to cancel my subscription to 1Password - especially after this last update - it's atrocious. And they have zero tech support ... unless you consider endless back and forth emails "tech support". Beyond frustrating. I'm going to try iCloud Keychain.  

macrumors 603

1Password migrants thread

macrumors G4

I don't mind keeping my vaults at 1Password.com. They're encrypted and safe. I still have local copies on all of my devices. My data is available on all platforms.  

iCloud Keychain.  

chabig said: I don't mind keeping my vaults at 1Password.com. They're encrypted and safe. I still have local copies on all of my devices. My data is available on all platforms. Click to expand...

macrumors Haswell

• Jan 10, 2023

bradl said: That's what the users of LastPass Click to expand...

1Password is best but since they stop stand alone vaults and charge subscription for it. So I have moved to Enpass stand alone using wifi sync. I got discount to buy app. Bitwarden also good. Enpass is closest to 1Password. Enpass and Bitwarden not as smooth as 1Password but works fine for me. Password manager do more than Apple keychain (I also use them too) like add far more extra info like security questions and answers (some websites still use them!!) and some have multiple login like banking use ID and email and some code as well so keychain can’t save all that info. Other personal info like ID and passport etc need password manager to save info and my credit card info too. So much more than apple keychain can do.  

• Jan 14, 2023

If I had to make a choice between 1Password & Apple Keychain I’d still go for KeePassXC or Strongbox for using safe (well tested) encryption algorithms and open source platform.  

chillvisio said: If I had to make a choice between 1Password & Apple Keychain I’d still go for KeePassXC or Strongbox for using safe (well tested) encryption algorithms and open source platform. Click to expand...

Compliance, Audits, and Certifications | Bitwarden Help Center

Mr. Heckles

bradl said: Umm.. Bitwarden is open source and SOC types 2 and 3, and ISO 27001 compliant, using those same well tested encryption algorithms. Compliance, Audits, and Certifications | Bitwarden Help Center Review information about third-party security audits, our open source codebase, and our zero knowledge encryption model. bitwarden.com BL. Click to expand...

Minimalist is my preferred password manager. I stopped using 1Password due to complexity and pricing, but wanted more functionality than just Keychain.  

Big Bad D said: Minimalist is my preferred password manager. I stopped using 1Password due to complexity and pricing, but wanted more functionality than just Keychain. Click to expand...

macrumors newbie

• Jan 17, 2023

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Reasons to make the leap from iCloud Keychain to 1Password

Tips & advice.

Apple’s iCloud Keychain is a password manager built right into the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. And, thanks to a Chrome extension , it now works with Windows PCs, too. We support any tool that helps you keep your passwords safe from would-be hackers, including iCloud Keychain. But if you want to get serious about protecting your personal information, there are a few reasons why you should choose 1Password instead.

iCloud Keychain vs 1Password

Icloud keychain vs 1password business, switch to 1password.

1Password is available on every major platform. That includes Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and Chrome OS. Sure, iCloud Keychain works with Chrome on Windows. But what about Firefox? With 1Password, you get a robust Windows app and a password manager that works in any browser. You can even sign in and access your information at 1Password.com . If you own a variety of devices – maybe you have a personal Android phone and a work MacBook – you always have access to your passwords whenever you need them.

It works with your Apple Watch. Sometimes you want to leave your phone tucked away in a bag or pocket. With the Apple Watch, you can look up sensitive information , like a Wi-Fi password or credit card number, right from your wrist. The wearable can also unlock 1Password for Mac — no need to type in your Master Password or reach for the Touch ID button on your MacBook.

1Password is always convenient. Plowing through a to-do list that involves multiple websites? We don’t want to get in your way. With 1Password in the browser, you can generate and autofill passwords without opening the desktop app. It has a built-in search bar, too, as well as the option to edit and create new items. That means you can be productive without sacrificing any strong security habits.

One-time passwords when you need them. Many services offer a second layer of protection called two-factor authentication (2FA). These special codes can be picked up via text message, which isn’t very secure, or a dedicated app like Authy and Google Authenticator, which aren’t always convenient. Enter 1Password. Our service can scan the QR codes that are required to set up 2FA. We’ll then act as your chosen authenticator app and autofill one-time passwords whenever you need them.

Keeping your financial information secure. Like iCloud Keychain, you can keep your debit and credit card information stored in 1Password. But thanks to a partnership with Privacy , we’re also able to offer virtual payment cards in the U.S. So if a service you use was ever breached – and heaven forbid, exposed card details – no one would have access to your hard-earned money.

1Password is for all the family. Sometimes you need to share a password. You might have replaced the router in your living room, or signed up for a streaming service like Disney+. Sure, you could text everyone the new password. But what happens when a family member buys a new phone tablet or PC? The inevitable question: “What’s the Wi-Fi password again?” You can avoid all of this with a shared vault in 1Password. Keep everything your family needs in one place – with credentials that are always up to date – while maintaining privacy with your own personal vault. Bliss.

More than just passwords. Unlike iCloud Keychain, 1Password isn’t limited to passwords, credit cards, and digital sticky notes. Our service gives you dedicated options for storing your passport information, Social Security number, reward schemes, and more. You can then find these in a flash using the Categories section inside 1Password.

1Password is the right choice for businesses of any size. Here’s why:

1Password is built with teams in mind. 1Password’s shared vaults aren’t just for families. With 1Password Teams and 1Password Business, you can share passwords, credit cards, and important documents with all of your colleagues. No more insecure and out-of-date spreadsheets. Employees can be invited via email or Slack, and if you need to work with someone outside your company – a client or contractor, perhaps – you can give them a guest account. To top it all off, there are administrator tools to ensure that sensitive information is kept on a need-to-know basis.

Protection that extends to the home. Every employee using 1Password Business also gets a free 1Password Families membership. That means you get two separate accounts, each with their own set of vaults, to keep you safe online, both inside and outside of work. It’s a great way to ensure that everyone in the office is familiar with 1Password and using features that will make your life easier, such as shared vaults. 1Password Families also means that everyone you love can create an account and start strengthening their own passwords.

Watchtower has your back. Watchtower lets you know if you’ve reused any passwords and when any of your credentials have appeared in known data breaches. Apple’s iCloud Keychain offers something similar called Security Recommendations . 1Password goes a step further, however, with domain breach reports for 1Password Teams and 1Password Business. These let you know if anyone with a company email address has been affected by a known breach.

There’s nothing wrong with iCloud Keychain. It’s just a little basic. If you feel like you’ve outgrown the service, you’re not alone. 1Password is for people who want to store more than passwords, credit cards, and sticky notes. It’s also for people who want an easy and secure way to share login information with their family or team. If you’re one of those people, consider making the switch to a 1Password membership. You won’t regret it.

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iCloud Keychain vs 1Password: Which Password Manager is Better for You

Both Google and Apple are making it easier than ever to store and manage the complex passwords for you. Google offers Chrome Password manager and a built-in option on Android devices to keep the passwords. Apple also has steadily improved the iCloud Keychain functionalities to make it on par with the often-superior third-party password managers.

While we already have compared the iCloud Keychain to LastPass in depth, in this post, we will pit it against another popular alternative called 1Password .

While both the password managers get the basics right, they differ in many aspects such as functionalities, price, cross-platform availability, and more. Let’s jump in for more details.

Cross-Platform Availability

Let’s first talk about the most important parameter while choosing a password manager — cross-platform support. And as expected, the iCloud Keychain is only available on Apple devices such as iPhone and Mac. You can’t access it on Android, PC, or Web.

1Password has covered all the major options such as Android, iOS, PC, and Mac. And if you are using devices from various platforms then stop reading the comparison and go with 1Passwprd.

iCloud Keychain is a part of iOS package that comes with the device and takes up to 14GB of space out of the box. 1Password takes about 109MB of space, which is sufficient enough to download over the mobile data.

Download 1Password for iOS

User Interface

As you might have guessed, Apple has kept it simple with the Keychain. It displays the number of added accounts in the alphabetical view. The major options, such as the ability to search for an item, or adding a new account, are kept uncomfortably at the top.

Swipe right on any account to delete the item. You can tap on an item to see the further details of the website. My only concern with iCloud is that it doesn’t offer a separate app, and you will always have to go to Settings > Password & Accounts to access the details.

1Password has adopted the bottom bar UI featuring Favorites, Categories, and Settings options. It nicely lays out the accounts in the Login, Identity, Credit Card, and Secure Notes option. You can add to favorite the most used items for easy access from the favorites menu.

Add a New Item

iCloud Keychain comes by default on every iPhone. As you add login data through applications and Safari browser, it automatically gets added to the iCloud servers.

You can also manually add a new item by tapping on the ‘+’ icon at the top. It will ask you website name and login info.

1Password will first ask you to choose a template such as a login info, Credit Card, or Secure note. As you select a website to add info, the app will suggest you use the randomly generated complex password. You can either use that or opt for your own password.

One can also customize the auto-generated passwords and add notes to it. I wish 1Password would have offered security questions option while adding new info for a website.

The Keychain data is stored on iCloud, and as a result, it has the same security measurements as Apple’s cloud storage service. The service also requires Face ID (if you have set it) whenever you try to access the iCloud data.

1Password is flexible on that front. You can choose to sync all the data to its servers or opt for the personal Dropbox account to store the data. As always, it requires the biometrics to access the app details.

Auto-Fill Login Info

By default, iCloud works as an auto-fill login service across the apps and websites. And thankfully, with the introduction of iOS 12, the company has added an option to let the third-party password managers access the function.

The major password managers already support that functionality, and 1Password is no exception here. But first, you will need to change the option from the Settings menu. Simply head to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Autofill > and select 1Password from the list.

After that, all the data will be stored with 1Password automatically and you can directly auto-fill the info whenever any website requires them to add.

The highlight of the iCloud Keychain is the convenience. It excellently works in the background and you can even forget its existence. And also, if you are a Mac user, then all the auto-fill functionality applies to macOS as well.

1Password is offering ton more features compared to the basic iCloud. You can create multiple vaults, add family members to your vault, generate OTP from the app, attach pdf in the entry, has the Apple Watch support, and most importantly, it’s available on all platforms.

But then again, not everything comes with a free tag. Let’s talk about the price.

As you might have guessed, iCloud Keychain data is counted against the iCloud storage, which only comes with 5GB of storage. Once you run out of the space, the premium plans start at $1/month. For 1Password, you will have to shell out $12/year to use at full potential.

Safely Locked in a Vault

As you can see from the above list, 1Password trumps the iCloud Keychain in all areas with ease. But if you are looking for something that works as flawlessly as it could be out of the box, then go with iCloud Keychain.

Next up: LastPass is also an excellent alternative to 1Password. Read the post below to see how it fared against the iCloud Keychain.

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Last updated on 03 February, 2022

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

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Parth Shah is an evergreen freelance writer covering how-tos, app guides, comparisons, listicles, and troubleshooting guides on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and smart TV platforms. He has over five years of experience and has covered 1,500+ articles on GuidingTech and Android Police. In his free time, you will see him binge-watching Netflix shows, reading books, and traveling.

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I can finally use iCloud Keychain and ditch 1Password thanks to this key new feature

iCloud Keychain just got useful.

Passwords are important. Strong passwords are even more important, as is using unique passwords, and above all, keeping them private is a pretty good idea as well. To make all of that easier, I've long recommended that people use a good password manager . I still do. But my thoughts on which password manager people should use have just changed. And not in the way that I expected.

See, I've been using 1Password for a long time now. I can't remember exactly when I started, but it was back in the days of buying it and syncing vaults using Dropbox. There was no built-in syncing and no subscription pricing, not that I mind the latter. The former is a necessity for anyone using multiple devices, but it's table stakes at this point.

Over the years I've used 1Password because of the cool apps, easy syncing, and above all, shared vaults. Being able to have a vault that has all of the family's passwords in is a lifesaver, especially when one of the kids needs the Netflix password or gets logged out of Disney Plus . Shared vaults were enough to keep me using 1Password and I basically ignored iCloud Keychain as a result. Sure it's free, and yes, it's built right into everything I use on the daily. But there's no way to have one password easily accessible to multiple people at all times.

Or at least, there wasn't. And now that there is, I figured it was time I take another look at Apple's password management system and potentially save a few dollars every month. And I liked what I saw.

Free as in beer

The obvious thing that iCloud Keychain has going for it is that it's free, which means that just by having the minimum features — so long as they actually work — it's going to be a winner for a lot of people. I could myself in that because while I'm more than happy to pay for software that makes my life easier or better, I'd rather use a free one so long as it does the same job as well or even better. It's with that mindset that I took a deeper look at what iCloud Keychain has to offer.

In use, it's almost identical to using 1Password which is a testament to Apple's APIs. The fact that third-party password managers function in the same way as iOS 17 's built-in manager shows that Apple isn't blocking developers from competing here. The experience isn't going to be impacted by Apple.

So if entering a password when asked for it by a website or app is basically the same, it's time to look beyond that — how iCloud Keychain works.

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In the case of sharing passwords, it's great. You create a shared group and tell the system who to send an invitation to and you're off to the races. It couldn't be easier, so long as they're using Apple devices of course. My family uses iPhones and iPads, so there were no issues there and anything I add to the shared group instantly appears on their devices. It's like magic, but better — it's free magic!

Beyond the shared vault situation, there was one smaller thing that kept me with 1Password — the lack of an actual iCloud Keychain app. That still irks me and I can't understand why one doesn't exist. But there are ways around that. There's a shortcut that can be used to instantly access the portion of the Settings app that currently holds all of our passwords, and it works. Add that to your Home screen and you can almost convince yourself it's an app. It's fine, but I still want a proper app in iOS 18.

Decision time

So with all of that said, I sit here with my 1Password subscription canceled and iCloud Keychain doing its thing. It manages my usernames and passwords and even hosts my one-time passcodes as well, so multi-factor authentication is taken care of.

Now yes, I know some people store much more than passwords in 1Password so for those people this might not work — although locked items in Notes might fit some of your needs, and credit/debit cards can be saved in Safari, too. But if you're just storing passwords and want to save some cash, iCloud Keychain is finally a viable option for me. I reckon it could be for you, too.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.

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iMore.com said: With the addition of shared password groups, iCloud Keychain is finally a viable alternative to 1Password and similar apps and services. I can finally use iCloud Keychain and ditch 1Password thanks to this key new feature : Read more

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Why Do I Need a Password Manager if I Have iCloud Keychain?

• June 4, 2021 June 4, 2021

Recently in one of our community channels we were chatting about the announcement that 1Password is now available for Linux , and someone said that they use iCloud Keychain and that it’s good enough for them. I’ve heard this before, and I never sat down to really outline what a password manager gives you that iCloud Keychain does not.

I wanted to understand what people are missing if they only rely on iCloud Keychain and there’s no better way to learn than to try to explain it. After listening to my arguments, you may still feel that iCloud Keychain gives you what you need, but maybe you’ll learn something that would be valuable to you in a password manager.

My recent experience is all with 1Password, but I used to use LastPass years ago. They’re both terrific services and have many of the same features. The names of the functions may be different, but I think if I use 1Password as an example you’ll get the point of the advantage of using a password manager.

iCloud Keychain

Let’s start by understanding what iCloud Keychain does for you because it really is a terrific service.

According to Apple’s support article HT204085 :

iCloud Keychain stores credit card numbers and expiration dates—without storing or autofilling the security code—and passwords and usernames, Wi-Fi passwords, Internet accounts, and more.

Obviously, this is the kind of data we want to protect. Apple explains that iCloud protects your information with end-to-end encryption. They protect it in transit and at rest. This is all terrific. Even Apple can’t get to your data.

However, this data is protected on your device only by your login password/passcode. How many digits long is your Mac login? Do you have numbers and letters and special characters in it? I have to admit that while my login password is probably better than average, it’s definitely not worthy of protecting my bank login. How about your iPhone’s login password/passcode? I wouldn’t trust my family jewels to mine!

Bad actors won’t get to your data stored in iCloud Keychain on the Internet because Apple is protecting it really well, but there’s still a huge vulnerability in your own device passwords.

The weakest link in passwords is us. Humans are not good at thinking up long, complex, random passwords. It’s not our fault, we’re simply not designed to do it. The non-complex passwords we think up are naturally repeated across websites because it’s just too hard to do anything else.

One of the great things about iCloud Keychain is that it suggests long, complex passwords for you when you first need to create one. If you allow iCloud Keychain to create your passwords and store them, you will be leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else. And this really is a game of being ahead of the pack.

The passwords that iCloud Keychain creates are long and complex as I said, but they’re also difficult to type and impossible to remember. They’re a random glop of numbers and letters and special characters. This is normally just fine because the goal is not to try to remember your passwords (you can’t), it’s to trust the systems, either iCloud Keychain or a password manager. Unfortunately, sometimes you do have to type them in and it will be quite the chore if you use iCloud Keychain to create your passwords.

The only way that these great passwords will be any help is if they’re always there for you. The fact that iCloud Keychain syncs across your iPhone, Mac, and iPad means that you’ve got them at your fingertips. If you know you can trust that iCloud Keychain will have your passwords when you need them, you’re more likely to let it choose your passwords for you, which is a good thing.

But what if you have a Mac with an Android phone? Or maybe you’re an iPhone user but you use a Windows PC. iCloud Keychain won’t be there for you. If you don’t have the passwords when you need them, you won’t trust iCloud Keychain and you’ll go back to using less-secure and reused passwords.

And what about passwords to accounts you share with others? Maybe you and your partner have a shared bank account or credit card; what happens if you have to change the password for some reason? How do you let your partner know? Maybe your memory is perfection itself but the rest of us have about a 50% success rate.

If something were to happen to you, I would assume that at least one person you love has access to your phone or Mac or iPad. They could log into your accounts because of iCloud Keychain which is great. But how do they know what accounts exist? If you take care of the phone bill, do they know what website to go to? How would they figure that out from iCloud Keychain?

Password Managers

Let’s switch gears and compare iCloud Keychain to using a password manager. Like iCloud Keychain, 1Password information is encrypted in transit and at rest with AES 256-bit encryption. If you lose your 1Password login, they simply cannot retrieve it for you ( 1password.com/… ).

Let’s go through some of the features and advantages you get with 1Password.

One Long Complex Password

I explained that iCloud Keychain protects your passwords with your Mac or iPhone’s login, and it’s highly likely that you have fairly simple passwords on both. With a password manager, you create one wicked long password with numbers and letters and special characters and a goat in it. You make it this complex because it is literally the key to the kingdom.

You will have to type it in from time to time but in most cases, you won’t.

• Touch ID or Face ID on your iPhone and iPad can unlock 1Password
• If you have a MacBook with Touch ID, you can open 1Password with your fingerprint
• If you have a Mac with a T2 security chip, you can even use your Apple Watch to authenticate to 1Password.

1Password will ask you to type in the full password from time to time just to make sure you never forget it. With a password manager, this is the only password you have to remember.

Generated Passwords

1Password will suggest passwords for you just like iCloud Keychain when you’re first setting up an account. With 1Password you can choose an unmemorable pile of glop password just like iCloud Keychain, or you can use a setting in 1Password to have it offer to you a memorable password. Memorable passwords include a series of human-readable words with separators between them.

You can use a slider to set how many words you want, whether to intermingle words with all caps and what kind of separator it should use. This is almost as good as Bart’s XKPasswd.net service . Of course, Bart has a lot more options but if you’re in a hurry, 1Password has your back.

I want to emphasize that there’s nothing wrong with iCloud Keychain’s passwords from a security standpoint, but if you ever have to type them in, you’ll wish you had 1Password.

Two-Factor Authentication

Many accounts these days allow you or even make you have two-factor authentication with an authenticator code. They often refer to it as Google Authenticator, but you can create these same authenticator codes with 1Password. It’s a bit buried, but once you know where it is and how to turn it on, it’s really easy .

If you use iCloud Keychain, you’d have to use a secondary app (like Google Authenticator) in order to protect your most important accounts with two-factor authentication. With 1Password, it’s built right in.

Cross Platform

We talked about iCloud Keychain working across all your devices … but that’s true if you use only products from Apple. With 1Password, your passwords are available on your Mac, iPhone, Windows PC, Android phone, and now they even have a native client for Linux. If you live in a cross-platform world, a dedicated password manager is a much better option than iCloud Keychain.

Sharing With Others

If you use iCloud Keychain and change a password, you have to remember to tell your partner, other family members, or roommates. With a dedicated password manager, you can share specific passwords so that if you change the password they get the change automatically.

1Password does this through what they call Shared Vaults. Steve and I have our own private vaults because I don’t need access to his Apple ID, and he doesn’t need to log into my podfeet.com admin account. But we share credit cards and bank accounts and even more critical things like our Netflix password. Those all go in a shared vault. If for some reason I need to change a password on a shared account, I don’t have to remember to tell him.

In the most recent versions of 1Password, they’ve made it super easy to move items in and out of shared vaults; you simply drag and drop between them. The last time I used LastPass they allowed you to share logins one-by-one, which in some cases has advantages over the vault concept.

Remember we can have two-factor authentication with 1Password. If the site you’re authenticating to is smart enough to use an authenticator instead of insecure SMS, then the two-factor authentication is available to you and your partner with 1Password.

Things You Can Store

Every year 1Password adds new things you can store in your vaults. We’ve been talking about logins to online services but it’s so much more than that. 1Password has categories for the different types of data you may want to store in your vaults. Categories are very useful because they are tailored to prompt you to store exactly the right information for that piece of data.

For example, if you choose to add a Wireless router, it will ask you the base station name and password, but it will also give you fields for the IP address, the type of security and any attached storage passwords.

It took me a long time to trust 1Password with my credit cards, but it’s glorious to have them autofill for me after I authenticate into 1Password. Like you can with macOS and iOS natively with iCloud Keychain, 1Password can also store identity information so you can have your address, phone number, and birthday auto-filled. It was interesting to me that iCloud Keychain doesn’t store the CVV number from the card, but 1Password definitely will save it for you.

1Password recently added bank accounts as a specific category. I created my entries before this category existed, but they’re so much easier because it has dedicated fields for things like the routing number.

I won’t go through every type of account, but 1Password has categories for databases, driver licenses, email accounts, medical records, memberships, passports, reward programs, servers, and social security numbers.

They also have plain old garden variety secure notes. If you don’t use a password manager, and you need to write a secure note for yourself, you can easily use Apple Notes. It’s not a bad solution and the protection there is very good, but now you’ve got two places where you’ve stored information, iCloud Keychain and Notes.

One of the most valuable things 1Password can store is software licenses. While they don’t require the high security of a password manager, it is delightful to have them all collected in one place. It even picks up the pretty icon of the application so it’s easy to scan to look for the app license you need. I use this all the time.

I mentioned passports earlier and we actually used this feature of 1Password. When Steve and I were in Peru, someone stole his backpack at the airport in Cusco as we were leaving to go to Lima to then fly home. It had a lot of electronics in it, but more importantly, the backpack contained Steve’s passport. In order to get a new one, you need to know your old passport number. We had scanned in our passports to 1Password years before so we were able to not only give the number to the passport office, we were able to make a printout of it. I’m not sure it made a big difference but it did seem to help smooth out the process.

Finding Problems

All of us have the goal of having accounts that are impenetrable. The threats to our accounts can come from so many different places, that I count on 1Password to watch for them for me.

They tell you if you’ve used a weak password and especially if you’ve reused a password. I’m pretty sure iCloud Keychain doesn’t tell you this. Remember, if you reuse a password, and one of the sites gets hacked, your other site is easy pickings.

I think that the reused password section in 1Password could be improved. Not because it won’t show me where I’ve duplicated a password but because it shows me duplicates that I can’t do anything about. There are at least a dozen services and websites that have two ways for me to get into them, so I have two entries with the same username and password combination. I guess it’s better that they don’t miss any but I’d sure like to be able to see a clean bill of health someday.

They also have a section for vulnerable passwords. They take the hash of your password, which is where they run your password through the algorithm that disguises it, and then they compare the disguised version to an online database of security exploits provided by haveibeenpwned.com .

I want to emphasize that your plain-text password is never exposed through this process, but if your hashed password is in this database, then it means the bad guys can recognize your hashed password when they attack other sites. You really truly do not want to use a password that’s in this database. This vulnerable password check is another service you get with 1Password that you don’t get with iCloud Keychain. You can always check every password of yours one by one at haveibeenpwned, but that’s pretty tedious!

1Password will also reveal to you if any of the websites for which you have a login have been compromised since you last changed your password. It then prompts you to log into the site and create a new one.

A recent addition in the last few years is that 1Password will show any logins you’ve stored that point to unsecured websites. If you’ve been at this for a long time, it’s highly likely that you’ve stored a lot of logins using the HTTP version of the web service. With 1Password, you can ask it to check all of your insecure sites to see if HTTPS is available. I’ve been fixing these as I use them but I really should spend some quality time fixing them all.

Another cool feature of 1Password is that it will tell you in a bright red banner if two-factor authentication is available but you haven’t yet set it up. I tend to fix these as I go too but I really should buckle down and do them all.

Notification of the availability of the option for two-factor authentication is yet another thing iCloud Keychain doesn’t give you.

Managing a Family

As the nerds-in-residence, most of us are also in charge of keeping our family members safe on the Internet. I’m sure your partner has very fine qualities, but maybe taking security seriously isn’t their top priority. With 1Password for Families, you can help manage the passwords of your family members. You can even reset their 1Password if they ever forget it which could be really handy.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that iCloud Keychain is a great service and I think it has helped many people to become much more secure in their digital life. But it’s pretty obvious that 1Password and other password managers offer a lot more than iCloud Keychain does to keep you safe online. I highly recommend you go check out 1Password at 1password.com . It’s $3/month for individuals and $5/month for families. If I had to narrow down my subscriptions to just one, the last one standing would probably be 1Password. That, or maybe TextExpander…

9 thoughts on “ Why Do I Need a Password Manager if I Have iCloud Keychain? ”

… and I’m betting 1Password and TextExpander are the first two apps you load after a nuke & pave.

This was an excellent article. I am waiting (and I’m sure it’s soon) for Apple to do a “ Eat your Lunch” revamp of keychain that will completely kill 3Rd party apps like 1password. Until then I use 1 password for all the reasons you so nicely outlined.

What is ur answer to this article ? https://markellisreviews.com/im-switching-to-1password-heres-why/amp/

@Josef there’s not much to say about it. This is a guy who used 1P, quit 1P for Keychain, and now is going to try 1P but hasn’t actually started to use it yet. What would there be to say about it before he’s even used it?

Thank you for this post – I’m glad that Keychain is a secure option because it works very well for me. One thing, you said “They tell you if you’ve used a weak password and especially if you’ve reused a password. I’m pretty sure iCloud Keychain doesn’t tell you this.” Actually, it does. In July 2020, with the release of iOS 14, “Security Recommendations” became a feature on iCloud Keychain. On iPhone, it can be accessed from Settings – Passwords – Security Recommendations. It tells you if your password was found in a data breach, if it’s easily guessed or if you’ve reused it.

Thanks for pointing out that Keychain now tells you if you have a password that is in a data breach, Vivian. However, remember that the Keychain is only as secure as your login password for your phone and for your Mac. My Mac login password is not very long and not terribly complex, while my 1Password login is 20 characters long with numbers, upper and lower case letters, and special characters. It isn’t a hassle to type once in a while because 90% of the time I’m using Face ID or Touch ID to open 1Password. If you have a really long, complex password on all of your Apple devices, then I’d call Keychain secure. If not, then I don’t think it’s a good option.

It seems that 1-password has two things going for it in your mind: a) password complexity is higher in your 1-password set up, b) windows and android compatibility. c) sharing of passwords

For argument b) I can see that another option makes sense if you use android and/or windows. For argument c) there is the inheritance option, and you can see what sites exist in an iCloud Keychain, when you go to the passwords list. Admittedly to share select passwords whilst keeping others private is clunkier, as you need duplicates. Another user has already pointed out that password security checks, including haveIbeenpwned are included in iCloud Keychain now

For argument a) I’m not sure that I agree with the “My Mac login password is not very long and not terribly complex”. That’s such an easy fix. Make your device passwords longer and more complex. You can use fingerprint or faceid for most normal logins, and you’ll still be prompted periodically… to help you remember your password. You’re way, you’re having to remember both your simple apple device passwords AND your complex 1-password password.

Well actually, I end up typing both the password to my Mac and my iPhone really often. I do use Face ID and Touch ID whenever possible but it’s very common to type one or the other of them at least once a day for random reasons. 1Password is available on all of my devices (as is iCloud Keychain) but it’s also available via the web.

On sharing passwords by duplicating them, that sounds like a terrible idea. If you need to change a password for a site or service, you have to remember to do it as many times as you’ve replicated it.

And don’t forget all of the other things you can store in 1Password, such as Driver’s licenses and passports.

If you’re happy with iCloud Keychain and you’ve made sure to protect your devices with long, complex passwords, that’s great.

Recently an acquaintance of mine was robbed at gunpoint on the street on her way home from work. The robbers took her iPhone and by holding a gun to her head forced her to unlock it. When she unlocked it, they immediately changed the passcode of that iPhone. So, now they got access to her iPhone and to all the logins and passwords in her Keychain. In a matter of hours all her bank accounts were emptied, her credit cards maxed out, her logins changed on many websites, etc. Had she used a separate (third-party) password manager that should not had happened. Even if the muggers got access to her iPhone they would have need a separate password to her third-party password manager. One could argue that they could make he unlock that password manager too. But can you imagine they standing there, taking their time and going through all her apps on he iPhone, trying to figure out which app is what, and risking being caught? So, this is an example of the advantage of having and using a third-party password manager over the Apple’s built-in iCloud Keychain.

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Keychain, LastPass, 1Password, Dashlane, Nordpass: Keep your passwords safe

Practically everything you do online requires some form of account and a username and password combination. As the most basic form of authentication, the username and password are immediately understood as a concept but can also be extremely insecure and difficult to use.

This is especially so in cases where a person may have tens or hundreds of accounts that they need to be able to log into whenever they want. With higher numbers of accounts, security becomes a bigger problem.

The biggest issue is when users try to use the same password across multiple accounts so they don't have to remember many different credentials. This time-saving idea is also very insecure, as an attacker knowing the account details for one service or app will be able to access others that use the same information.

The fix for that is to use a different password for each account, which immediately prevents anyone from using details known from one account to access another. It does introduce another problem, in that you suddenly have to remember and keep track of multiple account passwords instead of just one.

Even if you didn't choose to use different passwords, you could be forced into it anyway by account systems requiring the use of numbers, letters, upper and lower-case characters, special symbols, or other rules.

This problem could be fixed by using a text document or a physical notebook to write down the passwords, but this is extremely insecure again.

Over the years, an entire industry has developed to solve the password problem. Password lockers or password managers can offer ways to handle large numbers of unique passwords, so all the user needs to do is remember the one used to access that password locker.

Many services boast features to make their users' lives easier, such as password generation and automatic entry, which can ensure a secure password without needing the user to remember it. Then there are features like two-factor authentication systems for extra security.

But crucially, the managers all can store the passwords securely online, so they can be accessed from any device and that they can also automatically update across different platforms.

Sure, many popular web browsers provide built-in password management facilities, which makes sense as you're probably going to use them to log into websites, but this isn't necessarily the best route. Often, you run into the issue of having your passwords kept in the browser and synced between devices that also have that browser installed, but you can't easily use those saved passwords in other browsers or away from browsers altogether.

What follows are some of the major names in the password locker business, what they offer as services, and how much they cost to help you keep your accounts secure.

Apple's Keychain: Free and available

Most Apple device users probably know the Keychain as the company's password locker system. Anyone who's owned an iPhone , iPad , or Mac will have encountered the Keychain at some point.

The Keychain is used to manage usernames and passwords for apps and services, which are then stored on the device and summonable later. Thanks to Apple's foresight in designing iOS , this feature is most apparent when you're dealing with password entry screens in an app, with iOS offering to automatically enter data from the Keychain for you.

The keychain doesn't just store passwords, as it can be also used to handle other data, such as credit card numbers and bank account PINs. All of which can be offered by iOS to automatically be entered into text boxes on your behalf, and does so as unobtrusively as possible.

There's also a synchronization component, with iCloud Keychain automatically sending and retrieving passwords from Apple's iCloud to your device. All passwords are protected by end-to-end encryption, though Apple also fleshed out the service to include the ability to scan for password breaches, warning users if they repeatedly use passwords across accounts and even two-factor authentication keys.

As a free tool built into iOS and macOS and backed by arguably one of the most privacy-focused big tech companies in the world, it's something users should check out before others. Even so, it does have its limitations.

The big minus point for the Keychain is that it is incredibly Apple-centric. Suppose you're working within the Apple ecosystem. In that case, you'll have no problem using it all the time, even to update credentials via the Settings app in iOS or System Preferences for macOS.

This isn't true if you have to use those same credentials on different platforms. On Windows, you can access the iCloud Keychain via a Chrome extension, but platforms like Android are left out in the cold.

Those with multi-platform needs may want to try out one of the many other password managers on the market.

LastPass: Easy to use protection

Sporting a red and black color scheme, LastPass is one of the most prominent password management tools. The system holds credentials in its password vault, synchronized between devices using its wide assortment of apps and browser extensions.

The support is extensive, including apps for iOS and macOS for managing the vault, apps for Windows and Android, extensions for many popular browsers, and even some for Linux. That means you can add, edit, or manage your credentials from any mainstream device you want to use.

The same tools can store other information, including Wi-Fi passwords, credit card details, and additional data, all held behind a single password. It is also secured by local-only encryption, with data stored and decrypted at the device level without LastPass receiving the master password or keys for the account itself.

However, there were reports in December 2021 that some users found their master passwords were compromised. LastPass claimed users received alerts about attempts to access accounts via attempts at "credential stuffing" and other techniques and that its lack of knowledge of the user's master password meant it wasn't a source of the leaks.

To help users more, there are also built-in password generators, dark web monitoring of data breaches that could affect users, and secure sharing of credentials with family members and colleagues. All of this is in an easy-to-navigate and use system that works very similar across different platforms.

The only downside to LastPass is that its free offering is a little convoluted. The free version offers the core benefits of the service, but it is limited only to one type of device : computers or mobiles, with users encouraged to pay for the premium version for it to work properly on both types.

A free 30-day trial of Premium is also available.

LastPass costs $3 per month billed annually for its premium service, $4 per month if you go for the Families option, including six password vaults, a family manager dashboard, and sharable folders. Business plans are also available.

1Password: Great for travellers

The name is undoubtedly a clue to what 1Password offers users: Secure your accounts with unique passwords, but you only have to remember one. When invoked, 1Password will automatically fill in login screens and forms on websites for the user, using the same credentials across all of their devices.

The service uses apps on many different platforms and browser extensions, and there's even a command-line interface for those who prefer to work inside Terminal.

The macOS version of the app was updated in May 2022 to version 8, bringing with it a new look and revised workflows to streamline the experience for users.

All passwords are stored with AES-256-bit encryption to its servers, with a master password and secret key used for encryption but aren't sent to the company itself. The use of Secure Remote Password also helps authenticate credentials without sending them over the Internet in the first place.

Then there are alerts for security breaches, phishing protection, and data entry only when a user tells the app to do so. To ward off any bad actors from abusing a device's clipboard for copied data, info meant to stay secret is periodically removed from the temporary data store.

Unusually, there's also a Travel Mode, which is used for crossing borders in situations where officials may want to access your hardware. Sensitive data stored in 1Password is wiped, but can be restored with a click after leaving the security checkpoint.

Other features include secure sharing of credentials, storage of different data items, a 365-day item history for retrieving deleted passwords, and two-factor authentication. Version 8 for macOS introduced a Quick Access panel for rapid access to services and passwords, and a Watchtower tool for calculating password strength and vulnerable password detection using on-device processing.

There's also the introduction of Universal Autofill, allowing you to populate account fields from practically anywhere in macOS with a simple keyboard shortcut.

After a 14-day trial, it costs $2.99 per month , billed annually, for 1Password's individual account, rising to $4.99 monthly for the Families version. That plan works with up to five family members, with password and credit card sharing, management of what each family member can use, and the ability to recover locked-out family member accounts.

Dashlane: Browser-based security

A long-time member of the password managing market, Dashlane offers the same sort of features as its other top-tier rivals. Dashlane stores passwords, payment details, and personal info in its digital locker, which is kept on its cloud storage service.

There's also personalized security alerts, including dark web monitoring of up to five email addresses, a password health checker to see how you use weak or end up reusing passwords, and a password generator. In cases where a password needs to be updated due to being insecure, there's an automatic password changer that can do the job for many websites.

Along with passwords and essential details, there's a Secure Notes function, so you can store highly-sensitive information in Dashlane, which you can also securely share with others. Dashlane uses a "zero-knowledge, U.S. patented security architecture" to ensure only its users have access to their data, and it is something Dashlane claims has "never been breached."

To add to the security, paid plans also include a VPN, providing private browsing when users use a public Wi-Fi hotspot.

Dashlane does differ from the rest of the pack by moving away from dedicated desktop apps in favor of a browser-based interface. Mobile apps are still available, along with browser extensions, but the loss of desktop management apps may be a buzzkill for some.

Dashlane costs $6.49 per month , or $4.99 per month with yearly billing, with a family plan option also available for $8.99 per month, or $7.49 per month on annual billing. The family plan is for up to six premium accounts, with dark web monitoring for five emails per user, as well as all of the other benefits.

A free option is available, which provides storage for up to 50 passwords, password health and generator features, and personalized security alerts. The free version doesn't include elements like the VPN, dark web monitoring, and automatic password changer, nor can it be used beyond one device.

However, you could easily argue that the free plan offers a taste of the premium plan and suits users with more basic password management requirements.

NordPass: Newer but with pedigree

A sister service to NordVPN, NordPass is a more recent offering from the same organization. Like others, it offers a secure way to generate and retain unique passwords, notes, credit cards, and other personal information, which can be synchronized across a user's device collection.

Likewise, there's a wide selection of apps and browser extensions so that it can be used across multiple platforms without much difficulty. There are also the usual protection features, such as credential sharing, password health monitoring, and checking data leaks for account details.

However, as the newest kid on the block, NordPass also provides a few features quite different from the rest of the pack. For example, while there's the typical sharing facility, Emergency Access provides family members or close friends with access to the user's vault in some situations.

Then there's security, with NordPass using XChaCha20 encryption, a newer encryption algorithm that is tipped to become a replacement for AES-256. It has also undergone auditing by Cure53, which performs penetration testing, with NordPass receiving a glowing report.

Multi-factor authentication is present in NordPass, too, though you can add an OTP generator, a Bluetooth device, or a USB stick to add an extra token-based layer of security to an account. A Trusted Contacts feature lets users manually confirm that they want to set up an encrypted connection with another person, ensuring sharing passwords remains secure from man-in-the-middle attacks.

NordPass costs $4.99 per month for its premium plan, $2.99 per month if billed annually, or $2.49 per month for the two-year plan. The Family Plan costs $7.99 monthly, $5.99 per month for the annual version, and supports up to six user accounts.

A free version is available with a 30-day premium trial, which affects the trusted contacts, sharing, emergency access, password health, and data leak scanning features.

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