Password manager apps free and paid

Almost every week you hear of passwords stolen from some website.   Often people will use the same password for every site they use.   Once the password is stolen from one site, hackers will try to use the password on a different site potentially leading to financial loss and identity theft for people who use the same password everywhere.    Having a different and complex (not easily guessable by a computer password) is very difficult to do without some aid.

Best Option – Use LastPass

LastPass is a website and set of apps and browser plugins that allow you to store passwords (and other text data) and be unlocked by a single password.   It can automatically fill-in the password when you go to a site where you have a password.   It can even generate complex passwords unique to each website.    What if LastPass is hacked?   It is really not an issue as your data is encrypted and LastPass doesn’t have the key.

Downsides – Lose your master password, you lose it all!    Use on mobile cost $1 per month but is worth it.

Free Option – for Mac/iPhone/iPad users – Apple Keychain

Apple products have a feature built is similar to LastPass called Keychain.   It doesn’t have all of the features but if all of your devices are all from Apple, you can get this almost automatically.

Downsides – Stuck on Apple, difficult to see all of your passwords.   Takes a techie to store other kinds of information.

Free Option – Chrome browser – for all devices

If you can use Google’s Chrome browser across all devices, it has a built-in password storage feature.    If you fully trust Google’s security, it is very convenient.

Downsides – tied to Chrome.   Not easy to browse passwords.

Other options

ClipperZ – Web-based solution that is my favorite.   However, requires BitCoin purchase for a license.

Apps – A variety of apps that do this and even allow your fingerprint to unlock your data (LastPass also has this feature).   One caution is they are often free but charge you a few dollars if you have more than 5 passwords.    Stick to reputable developers as there is nothing from stopping a developer from sending password data to themselves.   Norton Identity Safe is the only thing that seems to be free and from a trusted source.