Choosing the best password manager for Windows can be a challenge. There are many competing products on the market, many of which offer unique features to set themselves apart. Which one is right for you will depend on the kind of password manager experience you’re looking for, but there’s one password manager that we think stands out above the rest:
The best password manager for Windows is 1Password, but we’ve also suggested one alternative.
There are plenty of great password managers for Windows, but one of the best is 1Password, which offers a comprehensive range of features, from what you’d expect (like the ability to quickly and efficiently autofill passwords across a range of sites and services) to some of the more surprising features (like Travel Mode, which stores certain credentials in a separate vault for added protection when you’re traveling).
We also really like the password sharing feature, which allows you to easily transfer secure credentials to trusted individuals without affecting the security of your vault. You get 1GB of free secure storage per user, and the Watchtower monitoring tool allows you to keep an eye on any weak passwords you may be using and whether your login details have been compromised.
Unlike some of its competitors, 1Password uses strong encryption, has never suffered a security breach, and is independently audited and SOC 2 certified. Finally, it has official mobile applications for both iOS and Android, and its desktop apps support Windows, macOS, and Linux.
In his review of 1Password, Digital Trends writer Alan Truly said, “If the built-in solutions from Microsoft, Apple, Google, and others don’t meet your needs, you can’t go wrong with 1Password. 1Password works on nearly every device, supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux computers, iOS, iPadOS, and Android devices. The subscription fee is reasonable, and the security is solid. It would be nice if there was a free version, but you only get what you pay for.”
In fact, the only downside to 1Password is that it doesn’t have a free plan. There is a 14-day free trial, which is great for trying out a new password manager and seeing if you like the user experience. But to get more functionality beyond that, you’ll have to pay. But it’s worth it, as it’s the best password manager for Windows.
Personal subscriptions start at $3 per month, while the family version costs $5 per month to protect passwords for up to five people.
Password managers are a matter of personal preference, and while I admit that 1Password is the best password manager for Windows, objectively speaking, my personal favorite is Keepass, a free, offline password manager that’s highly customizable.
But Keepass is not just free – it’s open source, has been thoroughly audited by the entire security community, and employs strong AES-256 encryption on databases and user vaults – the entire contents of your database, including usernames and notes about them, are encrypted, giving you double the protection.
Though the interface is clunky and not the most intuitive, Keepass offers additional peace of mind against potential breaches by password manager developers, since no data is stored in the cloud. Only you can be hacked, which means you are responsible for protecting yourself and your passwords. You need to double-check that your master password is either memorized or safely backed up. You also need to make sure you don’t lose your password database file. If you need passwords when traveling, you need to take the database with you.
While there’s no official mobile app, there are plenty of approved iOS and Android versions of the main app that work just fine, meaning there are fewer guarantees of long-term support, but plenty of options for a highly personal mobile password manager experience.
Even more options
These two aren’t the only good password managers out there. For more recommendations, check out our guide to the best password managers for every OS. Keepass is free, but want a more modern password manager? Here are the best free password managers.
