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It’s unwise to use the same password for all of your digital accounts and services, but it’s also a huge pain to try and keep track of dozens of different unique keys. Fortunately, a password manager can make this process easy. These services help you store all of your passwords and let you log in to whatever account you need with just a few clicks. The more powerful tools can even tell you if your info has been compromised on the dark web. We researched the best Windows password manager options available today and compared them to help you choose the right option for your needs.
| Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Free plan | Price range | Unique feature | LEARN MORE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
4.8 |  |
Yes | None | One-click password change | View More | |||
| NordPass |  |
4.4 | |
Yes | Free to $1.49 per month | Dark web monitor | Learn More | On NordPass' Website | |
| Dashlane |  |
4.2 |  |
Yes | Free to $8 per month | VPN on two paid plans | Learn More | On Dashlane's Website | |
 |
4.2 | |
Yes | Free to $6 per month, per user | Unlimited passwords and devices on free plan | View More | |||
| 1Password |  |
4.2 | |
No | $2.99 to $19.95 per month | 1Password mini app | Learn More | On 1Password's Website |
A password manager securely stores all your passwords for various accounts, so you don’t have to remember dozens of complex, unique passwords. Industry-standard practices include using AES-256 encryption and zero-knowledge policies. This sort of end-to-end encryption means not even the developers of the password manager have access to your information.
Most password managers let you use a browser extension, so any website you visit that requires a password will trigger your password manager to fill in information. So, you’ll sign up for an account, create your master password and install the extension or app. Some password managers require you to manually add passwords but others offer a bulk password add for all your accounts, saving you time.
Forbes Advisor looked at five primary factors and 14 secondary factors to create this list of the best password managers for Windows. We compared five of the most popular Windows password managers and ranked them according to security features, cost or value and unique features.
In regard to security features, we considered industry-standard AES-256 encryption, multifactor authentication and zero-knowledge policies. Although pricing is important, we looked at the overall value of a password manager because paying for an account may be worth the cost. Unique features are few among Windows password managers but only because most password managers have cross-platform functionality.
You’ll find that most password managers are easy to use but we still considered whether they’re intuitive. Free versions of password managers got more consideration, especially those that are fully featured. In order of importance, these are the factors we weighed when ranking the top Windows password managers:
There is a built-in password manager in Windows 10, but it’s named “Credential Manager.” You can view your saved passwords any time by searching in settings for the credential manager. To view a password, you need to enter your PC’s PIN. It’s easy to use, but it might not be the most secure option. A third-party password manager offers more layers of security, including end-to-end encryption, which you may want to keep sensitive info secure, like your online banking info.
There are plenty of free password managers for Windows that are worth using and paid options are affordable. When you pay for a password manager, you get useful features not typically included in free plans, such as encrypted file storage, sharing options, password generation and you can even get a VPN from some of the top password managers to keep your online activity private.
Password managers can be hacked and, if they don’t use end-to-end encryption, you may put all your personal info at risk of exposure. You might forget your master password, and if a password manager uses a zero-knowledge policy (the best ones do), you may not be able to access your account without emergency access. With that said, a password manager is one step to preventing common cyberthreats for individuals and small businesses.
The free password managers that offer the most security are Norton Password Manager, Dashlane and Bitwarden. Even though they offer free plans, each provider boasts stellar password vault security in those plans. Read about the best free password managers to learn more.
Free password managers offer basic features but may not offer all of the features you are seeking. If so, you should upgrade to a paid version. Most of the password managers on our list offer free trials, so you can try out the one that has the features you want or need before committing to a subscription plan.
It is extremely rare for a password manager to get hacked as information is carefully stored and encrypted. The best way to avoid a hack is to not share your account information and periodically update your master password.
