We can say that password managers are very useful tools today to manage all the passwords we have. If we use strong and secure passwords, it is normal that we do not remember them. And so it should be, since the ideal is that they are random, long and complex. There are many options to be able to store them safely and access them when we need it. In this article we are going to show a list of key managers.
What are key managers for?
The objective of password managers is very clear: to allow us to organize all our passwords and not forget them. Think of all the social networks you have, Internet forums where you are registered, platform to buy and pay online, bank passwords… We can hardly remember all of them if we use strong and complex passwords.
Especially those accounts that we use less frequently we could forget the password. By using a key manager we can store all of them there and access it when we need to. Some will even allow you to log in automatically and you will only have to know the master password of that program where all the others will be.
Some managers also have the possibility of creating passwords following the instructions that we give them. For example, we can generate passwords that have at least a number of characters (for example 10), that have uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special symbols, as well as prevent us from using it elsewhere.
For all these reasons, key managers are very useful today. We will find a wide range of options, both free and paid. We are going to show a list of the most interesting ones and also a compilation of those that are open source, something that will provide greater reliability.
List of good password managers
These password managers will allow you to store your passwords with total security and thus prevent you from forgetting them. We are going to show the main specifications of each of these alternatives and thus choose which one interests you the most to manage your credentials and access online services.
NordPass
The first option we want to show is the NordPass option . It is available for the main platforms, both on desktop and mobile. It allows you to save unlimited passwords , auto-save and auto-complete functions, as well as being able to create your own totally reliable passwords. It has 256-bit AES encryption.
One of the most interesting features is that it allows you to easily import passwords and save them with a single click. You will be able to access the stored keys from anywhere and synchronize them between devices. In addition, all your passwords will be encrypted from the computer itself, so they will be fully protected.
The negative point is that it is a paid application . Although you can use it for free for 30 days, after that you will have to pay a subscription to continue using it. However, it has economic and family plans to make the most of this program.
Main features:
- 256-bit AES encryption
- import passwords
- Unlimited key storage
- auto save
- It is paid
LastPass
Another very popular key manager is LastPass . It allows you to have all your access codes in one place. It is compatible with computer and mobile, in their different operating systems. It has functions such as form autocompletion , a tool to generate both usernames and passwords, as well as the option to share passwords with another person.
Also, you have an option to monitor cyber attack attempts. This will allow you to take action before it is too late and prevent your passwords from being exposed and having intruders in the accounts. It is a very interesting feature in order to improve security, since it has 256-bit AES encryption.
Regarding the plans, you will find options for both personal and business use. The most basic will allow you to use this tool for free, managing unlimited passwords. The paid version also has encrypted and protected storage, so you can save files.
Main features:
- form autocomplete
- Unlimited key storage
- Generate username and password
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Free and paid plans
Dashlane
You can also try Dashlane . It is a key manager that allows you to log in through a single click . You can store passwords, payment data and also personal information. Like the two previous options, it also has 256-bit AES encryption to protect the keys.
It has several plans that you can contract, both for users and for companies. The free one allows you to manage up to 50 passwords, so you may have to opt for one of the paid options in case you need to manage many more keys. All options have password analysis, key generator and security alerts.
As a point to note, if you opt for a paid version you should know that it has an integrated VPN to be able to navigate safely on public Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, if you are also looking for this type of software, you can find it with Dashlane and have both options together.
Main features:
- It has VPN integrated in the paid version
- Free and paid plans
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Store data and personal information
1Password
A very complete password manager is 1Password . It has an application for different operating systems and beyond allowing access codes to be stored, it also has encrypted storage to store files securely. It has 256-bit AES encryption.
Within the features that it has, we can name the vulnerability notifications in case it detects any. In addition, it has protection against Phishing, which is one of the most important problems. The information they manage is fully encrypted and that prevents them from using our data for commercial purposes.
1Password does not have a free version, but you do have very cheap plans. You can choose the one that compensates you the most, both for private use and also more oriented to companies and organizations.
Main features:
- 256-bit AES encryption
- great compatibility
- Vulnerability notifications
- Protection against Phishing
- It is paid
Zoho Vault
Less known than the previous ones, another option with which you can manage your access codes is Zoho Vault . It is available both for home users as well as for businesses and organizations . It allows you to store unlimited passwords, in addition to saving important documents safely.
One of the most interesting functions is that it allows you to synchronize passwords between devices. It works on the most used operating systems on both mobile devices and computers. In addition, it has multi-factor authentication, to achieve greater security.
The version for home and individual users is free and works very well, with everything you need. You can also find other payment plans to take advantage of its functions even more.
Main features:
- Unlimited key storage
- save documents
- Sync passwords between devices
- Free and paid plans
Open source key managers
Now we are going to focus on showing some open source password managers. This allows us to have greater security about the program that we are going to use, since we can analyze the code at all times and see if there is something strange that could compromise our data. It is an alternative that is often very well received by users.
KeepPass
The first option we have for open source password managers is KeePass . We can say that it is widely used and known today. We can find it for multiple OS, such as Windows, Linux, macOS or mobile versions such as iOS or Android. Its use is aimed at allowing the passwords to be managed on all these devices and to be able to access any website, social network, etc. without problems.
You will find different security functions that are integrated and are very interesting. One of the strong points is also that it is not necessary to install it on the system, so we can simply run it from a USB memory or use it on the computer. It uses 256-bit AES encryption with SHA256 HMACOs. You can see the link with all the information about this program.
Beyond passwords, you will also be able to store information and even files. Always safely and without an intruder being able to access it.
Main features:
- Compatible with multiple operating systems
- security features
- 256-bit AES encryption
- no installation needed
- Store information and files
Buttercup
With Buttercup you will find another alternative that is also open source. It is a secure key manager, which also uses 256-bit AES encryption with SHA256 HMAC. One of its main objectives is to be able to offer users full control over where the keys are going to be stored. In this way we can use our own system or allow them to be stored on platforms such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
Therefore Buttercup is an interesting option if we are looking for a password manager that is secure, open source and that also has different features . You will even have the opportunity to generate passwords and thus avoid using keys created by yourself and that do not meet the security requirements, since it is common for us to use words or digits that may be simpler. You can see all the information on their website .
It is compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux, as well as iOS and Android for mobile. It is easy to use and you can store your passwords there to access online platforms safely and quickly.
Main features:
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Full control over where keys are stored
- generate passwords
- great compatibility
Passbolt
You will also be able to find the Passbolt option. It is a key manager that has been specifically designed for computers, since that is where you will store your passwords. You will be able to host the keys on your own servers and have full control. It is very useful to always maintain security.
With this option we are also facing a password manager that is free and open source. You will find all its operation and see more information on its page . It has features like export and import in csv, xls and kdbx format. In addition, it has paid versions, where you will find some more complete options, although for private users its free version is more than enough.
Main features:
- Host keys on servers
- export and import
- Free and paid plans
Bitwarden
It is a very popular password manager and could not be missing from the list. In this case we are talking about Bitwarden . It is available in both a desktop version and an app for iOS and Android. It should be noted that this option is designed for individual use and also for groups. We can therefore share passwords and files with different groups.
The basic account, both for private users and for companies, is free. However, it also has a paid version, so you can get some improvements such as multi-factor authentication, to achieve greater security and prevent cyber attacks. You can see all the information in the link .
Main features:
- Individual and collective use
- great compatibility
- Free and paid plans
- Multi-factor authentication
team pass
Teampass is one more option to be able to use an open source password manager. In this case, it is a key manager that is mainly oriented to work teams. An interesting way to have the keys available to several users, such as in a work environment. So you can access them at any time, along with other members of the organization.
Once again it is a free option and we can easily refer to its code. We leave you the link for more information. It’s easy to use, with two-factor authentication access and 256-bit AES encryption to provide maximum security for everything you store. It is an alternative that you can consider.
Main features:
- Ideal in work environment
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Two Factor Authentication
Conclusions
As you can see, there are many options for saving passwords and having them safely available at any time. Although the features are similar in all the applications we have seen, we can say that our favorite from the first list is LastPass , since it is free and has everything you need to manage passwords securely and has 256-bit AES encryption and it also has the peculiarity of being able to share passwords with another person in a totally secure way.
Regarding open source key managers, KeePass and Bitwarden are the most complete. You can use them on multiple operating systems, they are easy to use and they are also well-known programs, so they are constantly reviewed and that provides a greater guarantee in terms of security.
