In this all-digital era, surely you often have difficulty remembering passwords for various social media accounts and other online services. So that you don’t have trouble remembering dozens of passwords, it’s a good idea to try using a password manager.
In this article, you will learn about its functions, recommendations, and reasons why you should use a password manager. Here we go!
What is Password Manager?
Password manager is a term for an application that functions to store usernames and passwords for various websites or applications. The main function of the password manager, of course, is to make it easier for you to manage passwords for various accounts, so the login process will be easier and faster.
Because the nature of the information stored is very sensitive and private, it’s a good idea to think carefully before choosing a password manager application to use.
Best Password Manager Application Recommendations
Well, below is our recommendation for a list of the best safe and trustworthy password manager apps to store your password information.
1. Bitwarden
Bitwarden is a free or paid password manager application with high-end security features. The free version of Bitwarden already offers the most complete features that can be compared to the paid service features of other password manager applications.
The following are some of the advantages of Bitwarden:
- There is no limit to the number of passwords stored and connected devices.
- Unlimited password sharing feature with one other user.
- Login using biometric data such as fingerprint on Android or Face ID for iPhone.
- Bitwarden Free is indeed a password manager service with very complete features. But if you want extra security features, we highly recommend upgrading the service to Bitwarden Premium with multiple protections such as vault audit, USB-key 2FA compatibility, and 1GB of encrypted storage.
Apart from using apps for Android and iOS, you can also use Bitwarden on Windows, MacOS, and Linux devices.
2. Dashlane
Dashlane is also one of the most popular password manager applications in 2021 with a total of about 150 thousand reviews on the Google Play Store. You can use Dashlane for free or for a fee, with various additional features available for premium users.
The following are some of the excellent features of Dashlane:
- Using 2FA (two-factor authentication).
- Security level audit and password complexity.
- Password generator to create strong passwords.
- But the free service from Dashlane already has very powerful features for everyday use. Dashlane uses 256-bit AES encryption method to scramble user password data. This encryption method is claimed to have the highest protection and has never been hacked by anyone.
Dashlane also has a zero-knowledge protocol, which means that no other party can access your password storage, including Dashlane. If you enable the biometric authentication feature (fingerprint or face ID), you can change the master password if you forget it at any time.
3. 1Password
1Password is one of the best password manager options for Mac and iOS users, but it’s also available for users of other operating systems including Android, ChromeOS, and Windows.
This password manager offers high protection for your password information with a very easy to navigate UI. According to SafetyDetectives, 1Password is a password manager with the highest focus on data security.
Here are some excellent features of 1Password:
- Support for use in various operating systems.
- 1GB of secure storage space for each user.
- 24/7 customer service via email.
- Easy to use on all devices and operating systems.
- Multiple vaults or password storage space to group data.
Unfortunately, 1Password does not have a free service. But you can try this password manager application in a free and risk-free trial period of 14 days.
1Password has a unique feature called Travel Mode which can be used to hide information from all connected devices with the exception of the storage space marked ‘Safe for Travel’.
This feature allows you to avoid stealing sensitive passwords when you are traveling and connected to hotel Wi-Fi or other open networks.
4. LastPass
LastPass is one of the best password managers that offers multiple layers of security to protect its users’ data. Like other trusted password managers, LastPass uses an unhacked 256-bit AES encryption method.
In addition, LastPass also has a zero-knowledge policy which means that only you can access the password storage space. To add another layer of security, you can also enable the dual authentication feature and biometric login with fingerprint or face ID.
The following are some of the advantages of LastPass password manager:
- Strong encryption method.
- Security audit and password complexity.
- Various options to restore lost account.
- Emergency access for emergencies.
- The different types of apps include Chrome extensions, Windows and Mac apps, Android and iOS apps.
LastPass can also automatically ask for confirmation to save new passwords that were not previously saved. However, you can also add new accounts and passwords manually to the LastPass storage space.
5. RoboForm
RoboForm is another password manager application that can be used for free or for a fee. This app has a reputation as one of the best password managers offering premium features at an affordable price.
You can use this app on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. The application’s design language is also very intuitive and easy to use with standard password management features such as 256-AES encryption, dual authentication, and password auditing.
However, apart from the standard password manager features, RoboForm also has its own selling points. Some of them are:
- Synchronizes with other dual authentication such as Google Authenticator.
- Premium features at a relatively affordable price.
- Password generator to create strong passwords.
- Security Center to evaluate the strength and weakness of stored passwords.
In addition to the four features above, RoboForm also has an Application Passwords feature that can store login information for various applications across your devices.
6. Blur
Blur is a privacy protection service with additional features as a password manager. When compared to other password manager applications, Blur is a little more expensive, so there are less demand for it.
As a browser-based password manager application, Blur already has a pretty good quality. However, applications for Android and iOS devices have the appearance and features that lag behind its competitors.
One of the advantages of Blur is its ability to protect the privacy of its users’ data. Some of the features that can increase the security of your data include:
- One-time-use or use once for a credit card when shopping online.
- Use a different email address for each online service you use.
- Masking the user’s phone number with another number for online services.
If you just want a password manager app, maybe the other options on this list will suit you better. But if your main goal is to secure personal information, Blur can be the right choice.
7. KeePass
KeePass may be the strongest password manager application with a myriad of customization features that can be tailored to your needs. In addition, KeePass can also be used completely free of charge.
One of the reasons why KeePass is freely available and highly customizable is its open-source nature. Therefore, the appearance of this password manager application is not as lively as other options such as LastPass or Bitwarden.
But make no mistake, KeePass has a level of security that cannot be underestimated. This application offers various security features such as
- Support for AES and Twofish encryption to provide a double layer of protection.
- Encryption with SHA-256 with a high level of security.
- Complete encryption of the database, including passwords, usernames, records and other details.
KeepPass is also very easy to configure and use on all devices. However, this password manager application is built specifically to operate on Windows-based devices.
8. Enpass
Enpass is a password manager application that can be used for free or paid for on all major operating systems such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and ChromeOS. The free version of Enpass can only be filled with 25 passwords for iOS and Android devices.
However Enpass does not place any restrictions on stored items for Windows, Mac, and Linux users. This means that Enpass is not suitable if you have multiple accounts on various websites and applications on mobile devices.
Even so, Enpass has security features that are strong enough so that your data will be protected. Unfortunately, Enpass doesn’t offer a sync feature between devices so you’ll need to connect a DropBox, Drive, or OneDrive account to sync data.
The Enpass data storage system is also designed to store information locally, so data security is completely in your control.
Why Need a Password Manager?
In an era that requires us to use various applications, websites, or online services for daily needs, of course we need to register an account and create a password for each account.
Indeed, you can use one password for all the accounts you use. However, using the same password for multiple accounts will increase the risk of personal data theft by hackers and irresponsible parties.
Well, then what else is the reason to use a password manager?
- Make it easier to save passwords
If you have dozens of accounts on various websites and applications with different passwords, you will automatically find it difficult to remember them all. You can use a password manager to store all that information. Instead, you only need to use one master password to access your account and another password. - Prevent information theft
With the password manager saving feature, you no longer need to use the same password for all your accounts. Creating a unique password will reduce the risk of personal data theft. Even if one of your accounts is stolen, the other accounts will not be affected. - Create strong passwords
Most password manager applications have a password generator feature that can create a very strong password, so it is not easily guessed by others. - Have password access on various devices
Using a password manager will make it easier for you to access all login information from various devices. Most password manager applications offer a synchronization feature to multiple devices, so you don’t have to go back and forth to look at your cellphone to log in on a laptop or vice versa.
Which One is Your Choice?
Well, that’s the recommendation for the best password manager application that you can try to improve the security of your data while in the digital world. But keep in mind, using a password manager does not mean you are safe from the risk of data theft.
Therefore, layer data security by using a VPN to disguise your information from third parties. If you store data on a server or have your own website, make sure you use the best cloud hosting and SSL to prevent data leakage. Greetings online success!
