The best LastPass alternative in 2023

It can be difficult to keep track of all the passwords you use, even on a daily basis. The number of passwords you have can add up quickly between business and personal accounts. Password managers can help you house your passwords in a secure location, making them easy to find when you need them. A password manager that comes up in many recommendations is LastPass, but if for some reason you’re looking for a LastPass alternative, you’ve come to the right place.

Password managers are some of the most useful (and important) tools a person can use, but I know far too many people who keep writing, forgetting, and resetting the same few bits of information. easily hacked credentials. I’ve even seen people with password sticky notes on monitors, which is terrifying. If that’s you, it’s time to get started on the program – or in this case, the app.

Concerned about the cost? Don’t be: Many excellent password managers have very capable free versions. But these versions – including those of our roundup of the best password managers — are limited in one key way: they keep your passwords confined to one device.

My first choice does not have this limitation; it synchronizes your passwords with all your devices. It’s called Bitwarden.

What is a password manager, really?

Simple. It is an encrypted database of all your passwords. Instead of trying to memorize that same handful of (probably not very secure) passwords you use everywhere you go online, all you need to remember is one: the one that unlocks Bitwarden.

Why choose any of them over 1Password, Dashlane, Keeper, Password Vault, Sticky Password and other products which are all perfectly good? As mentioned above, only the free version of Bitwarden supports password synchronization. This means you can access your data on your phone, tablet and PC, an absolutely essential benefit if you use multiple devices.

Beyond that, they offer common aids such as generating strong passwords, auto-filling forms, encrypted credit card storage (to facilitate online shopping), a digital safe, and more. .

Learn more:The best password managers and how to use them

Useful features like these help explain why I prefer a proper password manager over the rudimentary features built into Android, iOS, and your web browser. Indeed, once you get used to having such tools at your disposal, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without them.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a learning curve for Bitwarden – and any password manager, really. It may take you a few weeks to get used to using the app and banishing your old password habits.

But those hassles are largely overshadowed by the overall convenience. Your goal as an Internet citizen should be to use a different, strong password for every app, site, and service, and a password manager is the only practical way to achieve that. You should use one. Bitwarden is, in my opinion, the best free option out there.

Other free password management options

Should we bother with the premium version? Bitwarden only charges $10 per year for this, a price that gets you 1GB of encrypted cloud storage and password health reports. There’s also a family option ($40 per year) that gives you premium features for up to six users and adds unlimited sharing.

I’d say most of these features are superfluous for most people, although obviously that’s up to you.

For memory, LogMeOnce without password is another tool that supports password synchronization in its free version. I don’t really like it, but it’s worth a look.

If you’re wondering, I now use Bitwarden full time. Previously I was a Dashlane user but was frustrated with its volume and high price. Bitwarden turned out to be a solid product, which I have no qualms about recommending.

What’s your favorite password management method these days? And if you refuse to use one of these tools, I would like to know why!

Learn more: Best Android VPNs

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