Five Password Managers to Help You Get Organized

Remembering your login credentials for websites is hard and coming up with safe, secure passwords can be even harder. Fortunately, there are several different password managers available to assist. What’s a password manager, you ask? A password manager is a computer program that helps users store and retrieve their login credentials for websites and applications. They can also generate strong passwords for you and securely store other information, like your addresses and credit cards.

In this post, I will outline five different password managers so you can have a better idea of what’s out there and what may work best for you and your needs.

Microsoft Autofill

In early 2021, Microsoft launched Autofill as a component of the Microsoft Authenticator app. Autofill is completely free and available to anyone with a Microsoft account, and the app can be used on iOS, Android, and Google Chrome as an extension. Autofill allows you to store passwords under your Microsoft account and it conveniently syncs any login credentials you’ve saved on Microsoft Edge.

When you use the extension on Chrome, Autofill will generate your username and password for websites, and it will save your passwords to your Microsoft account. This ensures all your logins are synced and accurate regardless of what platform you’re using them on – whether it’s your mobile devices, Microsoft Edge, or Google Chrome.

Microsoft Autofill is a great password manager for an individual who is a Microsoft user.

Google Password Manager

Google Password Manager is a free feature built into the Google Chrome web browser. It’s available to anyone with a Google account and is compatible with any device or operating system that supports Chrome. The password manager saves and automatically fills in your passwords, credit card information, and addresses. It also generates passwords for you. Upon every new login, you can choose to save your details, decline to save, or block saving for good.

Not only is the feature easy to set up, but the interface itself is plain and easy to navigate. When you’re on the passwords page, you can view all your saved passwords, edit details, and delete any stored information. There’s also a Password Checkup feature which helps you make sure passwords are strong and identifies potential security issues from passwords that were leaked in data breaches.

In the event you aren’t able to use Chrome and need access to your passwords, you can get them by logging into passwords.google.com from another web browser.

Google Password Manager is perfect for those who are avid Gmail users and are looking for something simple but effective.

iCloud Keychain

Apple’s password manager, iCloud Keychain, is a free component a part of every Apple device. It autofills your information – like usernames and passwords, credit cards, and WI-FI passwords – on any Mac that you approve. When enabled, Keychain keeps your passwords and other secure information updated across all of your iOS devices.

Of course, you have the option to turn off Keychain, too. When you turn the feature off, you have the option to keep or delete all your information. If you decide to keep the information, it will be stored but won’t be updated when you make any changes on another iOS device. If you choose against keeping your information, your Keychain data will be deleted both on your device and the iCloud servers.

If you are an Apple user looking for a basic and cost-effective password manager, iCloud Keychain is for you.

LastPass

LastPass is a web-based password manager that operates via a browser extension on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Internet Explorer. Although LastPass offers a free plan, its use is limited to only one of your devices. However, the individual, family, and business plans available for purchase can be used on unlimited devices and come with many more features – like 1 GB of file storage, advanced multi-factor authentication options, and personal support.

Not only can you store passwords with LastPass, but you can also keep notes, addresses, credit cards, bank account information, driver’s licenses, passports, and Wi-Fi passwords. It also features a Security Challenge function that finds weak, duplicate, or vulnerable passwords and gives you the option to update them in order to keep your account secure.

LastPass is a solid choice for those with a small password manager budget and is looking for more advanced features.

Passportal

We use Passportal here at Evident IT. It’s a paid password manager specifically created for managed services providers. Passportal allows you to see who has accessed which passwords, track password history, encrypt and secure data, automate credential changes, and provide role-based access control. It can be used company-wide, and every staff member gets their own personal vault. The mobile application works with both iOS and Android.

Passportal is a fantastic password manager for any MSP with a budget.  

Bottom line

There are a handful of different password managers available – some free, and some paid. Which one you decide to use is dependent on what kind of features you’re looking for and whether or not you have a budget. In any case, password managers are worth using because they help you manage your personal, sensitive information while keeping it secure.