Get a Password Manager

I resisted getting a password manager for years. My passwords were written down in a notebook, alphabetized and paired up with the matching usernames. But it just wasn’t practical to carry that notebook around all the time. There were many times when I would be out somewhere, feeling frustrated because I couldn’t remember some important password.

This year I finally got a password manager. I didn’t know what I was missing: instead of carrying a clunky notebook around, I could store all my passwords in an app on my phone. Unlike my notebook, the app was encrypted and wouldn’t run out of space to write new entries. All I had to do was remember one master password to unlock the others.

You can have this, too. In this post, I’m profiling four popular password managers. They all have these things in common:

• By default, you can’t take screenshots inside them, although this feature can be turned off.
• Passwords are stored on your device, not in the cloud.
• They all use AES 256-bit encryption.
• Digital wallets to store your credit cards and ID.
• The ability to lock the app with a fingerprint.
• Password generators – instead of thinking up new passwords, these apps can create strong passwords for you.

Dashlane

The free version of Dashlane can store up to 50 passwords on one device. But if you have more than 50 (like me), you should get the paid version. For $60 per year, you’ll also get secure file storage, the opportunity to add a Yubikey with your account, and a VPN. Both versions of Dashlane have a great feature for website passwords. When you create an entry, a list of the most popular websites appears to make the process faster.

LastPass

LastPass is available in two forms: a mobile app and a free browser extension. If you get the LastPass app, you can sync any passwords you’ve stored in the Chrome browser. A premium account ($36 per year) will give you 1 GB of encrypted storage space and priority tech support. You can also designate someone as your emergency contact in case you can’t get to your account.

If you have an iOS device, you can lock your app with FaceID or TouchID. You can further secure LastPass with a Yubikey.

1Password

1Password

1Password, like the previous two services, also works with a Yubikey. If you have an iOS device, you can also use Touch ID and Face ID. 1Password gives you a choice on the method used to sync your info between devices: through Dropbox, iCloud, or their own service. Their most interesting feature is Travel Mode, which will hide any file you want to in case you’re facing the prospect of having your device searched at an international border. 1Password is $3.99 per month (if you open an account through the app) or $35.99 per month (if you open an account through their website).

KeePass

KeePass is open-source, which means that it’s free. While the desktop version is called KeePass, there are several different versions of the app, each with a slightly different name. The version you see here is Keepass2Android. A list of all the official versions is on the KeePass website.

Just like the other password managers, KeePass can store passwords, credit cards, and other types of information that you need to keep safe. But unlike the others, there isn’t a way to automatically sync new entries from one device to another.

I didn’t realize how much easier life could be with a password manager. Now I don’t have to memorize every password, I don’t have to think up new passwords, and I don’t have to carry a book with dozens and dozens of them either. Try one of these password managers and get that same peace of mind.