The Best Password Managers for 2019

Everyone Needs a Password Manager

Nearly every page you visit insists you create a user account and think up a password, from dating apps to hyper-secure banking sites. The human memory can’t keep up with dozens and dozens of these. Some folks get the bright idea to use the simplest possible passwords, things that are easy to remember, like “12345678” or “password.” Others memorize one superbly random password and use it for everything. Either path is likely to make you the latest victim of identity theft.

Don’t be like them—user a password manager. With a password manager you don’t have to remember that strong, unique password for every website. The password manager takes care of that, and even helps you come up with random passwords. We’ve tested and analyzed dozens, so you can pick the password manager that suits your needs best.

All of the products in the chart above earned at least 3.5 stars, and all of them cost money (though you can use some of them for free if you accept certain limitations). If you don’t want to spend money and don’t want limitations, don’t worry. We’ve rounded up free password managers in a separate article. Most of the free tools lack the most advanced features, but they get the job done. Whether free or paid, a password manager is something everybody needs.

The Password Basics

The typical password manager installs as a browser plug-in to handle password capture and replay. When you log in to a secure site, it offers to save your credentials. When you return to that site, it offers to automatically fill in those credentials. If you’ve saved multiple logins for the same site, the password manager offers you multiple account login options. Most also offer a browser toolbar menu of saved logins, so you can go straight to a saved site and log in automatically.

Some products detect password-change events and offer to update the existing record. Some even record your credentials during the process of signing up for a new secure website. On the flip side, a password manager that doesn’t include password capture and replay automation needs to offset that lack with significant other assets.

Those who are already using a password manager may find that the grass looks greener in the other app. Most password managers include the ability to export your saved data, or import from other products, easing the process of switching to a new password manager.

Getting all of your existing passwords into the password manager is a good first step. Next, you need to identify the weak and duplicate passwords and replace them with tough ones. Many password managers flag weak and duplicate passwords, and some offer help with the update process. The most advanced ones can automate the password-change process for you.

When you create a new secure account or update a weak password, you don’t want to strain your brain trying to come up with something strong and unique. Why bother? You don’t have to remember it. All but one of our top-rated products include a built-in random password generator. Make sure your generated passwords are at least 16 characters long; all too many products default to a shorter length.

Entering a password like @2a&AY8mePu8HU@H on your smartphone’s tiny keyboard can be tough. Fortunately, almost all of our top password managers can sync across all your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. A few even let you authenticate on iOS or Android with your fingerprint or face rather than typing the master password. Most include some form of two-factor authentication, be it biometric, SMS-based, Google Authenticator, or something else entirely.

Fill Forms Automatically

Since most password managers can auto-fill stored credentials, it’s just a small step for them to…