The Best Password Managers for Families in 2024
Have a family to digitally protect? Don’t worry, our experts have done the legwork to find the best password managers for people just like you.
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Last Updated on Nov 08, 2024
- Family plan supports up to 10 user accounts
- Importing passwords is hassle-free
- Designed with user experience in mind
- Third-party audited security processes
- Premium plans starting at $1.39 per month
- Most advanced encryption protocol on the market
- Watchtower password audit functionality
- Regularly updated and audited
- Available month-to-month plans starting at $3.99
If you’re a parent, you’re well aware of just how digitally connected family life has become. Your kids all likely have multiple devices with multiple accounts and passwords. But just how secure are your accounts, really? Are your kids practicing good digital hygiene? Are you confident that your family could handle the consequences of a major digital breach?
Do the questions above worry you? Good. You’re in the right place. Our experts have spent weeks testing the best password managers on the market today to determine which ones are best for increasingly interconnected families. Dashlane, NordPass, and 1Password ended up in the top three. Ready to take the next step in increasing your family’s digital security? Let’s get into it.
| System |
Dashlane
|
NordPass
|
1Password
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Ratings | 8.9/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| Cross-platform compatibility | iOS, macOS, Windows, Android | iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Linux | iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Linux |
| Free version | Lifetime | Lifetime | 14-day free trial |
| Pricing | Premium plans start at $4.99 per month | Premium plans start at $1.29 per month | Premium plans start at $2.99 per month |
| Read Review | Dashlane Review | NordPass Review | 1Password Review |
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1. Dashlane - Best for Big Families
Product Specs
App Store rating 4.6 stars Supported platforms iOS, macOS, Windows, Android Encryption standard AES-256 Cross-device login No Data breach scans Yes Passwordless login Yes Lifetime free plan Yes Pricing Premium plans start at $4.99 per month
Dashlane Overview
If you’re looking for comprehensive family protection, Dashlane is tough to beat. It comes with a huge range of security features, including secure password storage, dark web monitoring, and a built-in VPN. And almost everyone you know is going to be able to take advantage of these perks; its Friends & Family plan supports a ton of users — more on that in just a bit. Dashlane’s Premium plan is more costly than some competitors. However, it offers unique features that justify the price for those needing extra digital protection and convenience.
Dark web monitoring was one of the unique bonus features we tested with our Dashlane family account. Is Dashlane Good for Families?
In a word, yes. Dashlane offers a plan that really stands out — primarily for its ability to support up to 10 people; that’s double the capacity of similar plans by competitors like 1Password and LastPass.
The Friends & Family plan includes access to all of Dashlane’s premium features, e.g., unlimited password storage, dark web monitoring, and real-time phishing alerts. This is great news if you’re trying to take a comprehensive approach to your family’s digital security. That said, only the primary account holder has access to the VPN feature, which may be limiting for families wanting network-wide privacy.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for VPN recommendations for your family, Surfshark supports unlimited simultaneous connections. That means everyone in the family can connect as many devices as they want. It’s also an affordable VPN, so check out our Surfshark review to learn more.
Is Dashlane Expensive?
The Friends & Family plan costs $7.49 per month. That’s a little higher than the others on this list. But, keep in mind that NordPass caps users at six and 1Password at five, so the cost is more than justified. The plan provides each family member with a personal vault; this makes it easy for everyone to manage their passwords independently from each other. This is good news if your teen doesn’t really want to share. We go into more detail in our guide to Dashlane’s prices, but here’s a quick breakdown of their costs:
Plan Free Premium Friends & Family Cost per month Free $4.99 $7.49 Two things to point out, though: Dashlane’s lack of a monthly payment option and VPN bundling may not appeal to everyone — particularly folks who are already using a solid VPN. Other than that, though, Dashlane’s Friends & Family plan offers great value and provides more coverage than most of its competitors.
Is Dashlane Secure?
Here’s one of our experts checking out and testing Dashlane’s security and privacy features. Dashlane uses 256-bit AES encryption, which is pretty much the industry standard for securing sensitive data. They also operate under a zero-knowledge policy; this means that the company has no way of accessing passwords stored in their servers. These two factors combined means that, even if Dashlane were to be hacked, encrypted user data would remain secure and inaccessible. This is the exact situation our experts look for in their tests, so good on Dashlane there.
FYI: When we tested out Dashlane, it marked our credentials as compromised on the Password Health page. This flagging meant we could prioritize fixing them before hackers could take advantage.
But where they really stand out, particularly from a cybersecurity standpoint, are the additional security features; such features include password health assessments, dark web monitoring, and breach alerts to keep users informed of potential threats. These proactive elements provide an extra layer of security; they also make Dashlane a really good all-around option for families looking to stay safe online.
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2. NordPass - Best Security
Product Specs
App Store rating 4.7 Stars Supported platforms iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Linux Encryption standard XChaCha20 Cross-device login Yes Data breach scans Yes Passwordless login Yes Lifetime free plan Yes, for one user Pricing Premium plans start at $1.29 per month
NordPass Overview
If Dashlane isn’t doing it for you, NordPass is another great option. They’re a super-affordable, user-friendly password manager that uses the advanced XChaCha20 encryption. Such encryption is highly secure and what some experts call “future-proof.”
Like Dashlane, NordPass subscriptions also include some useful security features, e.g., a password strength checker, an email masker, and a data breach scanner. These are powerful tools for families that need digital protections.
Our Mac testing setup running NordPass’s email masking feature. Is NordPass Good for Families?
NordPass offers a Family plan that’s essentially six linked premium accounts. Not as many as Dashlane but still respectable. That plan includes the security features mentioned above: data breach scanning, password health assessment, and email masking. All great tools in the fight against hackers, scammers, and identity thieves.
Keep in mind, though, that some features like the emergency contacts tool are only available on mobile. This may be limiting for families who are trying to keep kids off their phones. Although, hey, we know how impossible that is.
That said, like Dashlane, each family member can manage their own vault. The vaults, in our family-wide tests, created a nearly seamless experience with individualized security. The setup process requires each user to create a master password and navigate occasional device-specific limitations. But, NordPass’s family features make it a practical, affordable choice for families looking to improve their online safety. And speaking of affordability…
Is NordPass Expensive?
NordPass offers a really affordable Family plan: It’s just $3.69 per month when you sign up for a year; if you sign up for two years, it’s only $2.79 per month. Although we’d still consider Dashlane “affordable,” NordPass is downright cheap for families. We have more detail in our guide to NordPass’s prices, but here’s the quick rundown.
Plan Free Premium Family 1-year plan cost per month Free $1.89 $3.69 2-year plan cost per month Free $1.59 $2.79 And if you’re one of those “work family” types, it’s worth pointing out that NordPass offers scalable plans for professional teams. These start at $1.99 per user per month for a team of 10 or more.
Lastly, NordPass has a lifetime free password manager each family member can use to store, auto-save, and auto-fill passwords. It lacks the more advanced features such as password health and email masking, and each family member will have to create their own personal account. But, as far as free password managers go, NordPass is our top pick.
FYI: NordPass’s prices will go up when it’s time to renew your subscription. For the Family plan, it bumps to $5.99 per month regardless of whether you renew for one or two years.
Is NordPass Secure?
Like Dashlane, NordPass also uses zero-knowledge architecture; this ensures that all information is encrypted at the device level before reaching NordPass’s servers. The layman’s terms version is NordPass can’t access your data, even if they wanted to.
One interesting thing to point out about NordPass’s security, though, is the use of XChaCha20 encryption; this is an advanced alternative to the widely used AES-256. It’s every bit as secure, but it allows for faster processing on different devices — improving security without compromising speed.
NordPass’s XChaCha20 allows for a smooth experience, even on mobile devices. It’s worth noting that NordPass includes a password health assessor, which alerts users to weak or reused passwords. Also included is a data breach scanner to detect compromised information. They’ve also undergone extensive independent security audits, verifying their claims that they hold themselves to high security standards. Our experts always like to see that type of verification.
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3. 1Password - Best Analytical Tools
Product Specs
App store rating 3.5 stars Supported platforms iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Linux Encryption standard AES-256 Cross-device login No Data breach scans Yes Passwordless login Yes Lifetime free plan No, only a 14-day free trial Pricing Premium plans start at $2.99 per month
1Password Overview
If neither of the first two sound right for your family, 1Password is a great tool; it combines affordability with robust security. Starting at $4.99 per month, its Family plans offer essential features like a secure vault, a password generator, and analytical tools. The latter monitors for weak or compromised passwords while adding the extra protection of dual-layer security via master password and a unique Secret Key.
1Password’s Secret Key acted as a second security lock for our vault, in addition to the master password. Is 1Password Good for Families?
While it’s not a massive number of seats, 1Password’s Family plan will cover up to five users. Plus, each family member will have access to their own secure vault and you can share credentials when necessary. The Family plan includes critical security features like end-to-end encryption, dual-layer security, and a really unique Travel Mode. The latter temporarily removes sensitive data from devices for safer travel — great for families on the go, especially if you “go” internationally.
1Password’s Watchtower feature is also worth pointing out. In our tests, it was able to identify weak or compromised passwords across all accounts. One thing to point out, though: Sharing credentials and managing vaults across family members can be streamlined. But, new users might find the interface slightly challenging due to the app-extension crossover. It was a little clunky in our opinion, but definitely wasn’t enough of a flaw to keep them off this list.
Is 1Password Expensive?
So, it’s not the cheapest on the list, nor is it the most expensive. At $4.99 per month, 1Password’s Family plan is right in that sweet spot — providing excellent value and powerful features. More information on that in our guide to 1Password’s pricing, but here’s the breakdown:
Plan Individual Family Free trial 14 days 14 days Monthly price $3.99 per month $6.95 per month Annual price $2.99 per month ($35.88 total) $4.99 per month ($59.88 total) You’ll pay a bit more than you would for a really basic password manager. But, 1Password’s dual-layer security, end-to-end encryption, and additional features more than justify the cost for us. Plus, there are no higher renewal rates like we saw from NordPass, and there is a monthly option — unlike Dashlane.
FYI: You don’t need to pay to use the full version of 1Password, and you can take advantage of the 14-day free trial on the Family plan. Dashlane and NordPass don’t offer this, but be careful — once that two weeks is up, your card will be charged.
Is 1Password Secure?
For families that travel frequently, we think the Travel Mode feature will be a good addition to secure sensitive files and data. We wouldn’t include 1Password on this list if it wasn’t! They go with industry-standard AES-GCM-256 encryption, which ensures that stored data remains secure and inaccessible to unauthorized users. They also built the system with zero-knowledge architecture like the other two contenders — you don’t have to worry about the service getting hacked.
One unique aspect about their safety, though, is the dual-layer security. It requires a master password to unlock your vault and a Secret Key to decrypt it — enhancing your safety without compromising any convenience. And, finally, Travel Mode allows users to temporarily remove sensitive information when traveling — adding another layer of protection in potentially risky situations.
What Is a Password Manager and How Do They Work?
A password manager is a digital tool designed to store and manage your passwords securely. At its core, it creates an encrypted “vault” where all your login credentials are saved. Instead of needing to remember multiple passwords, you create one strong “master password” to access this vault. Once inside, the password manager can automatically fill in your login details whenever you visit a saved site. This practice makes it easy to use complex, unique passwords for each account.
Here’s how a typical password manager works:
- Password storage and encryption: Your passwords are stored in a secure vault that only you can access. Each password is encrypted using high-grade encryption standards, such as AES-256. This means that even if someone gains access to your device, they won’t be able to read your passwords without the master password.
- Auto-fill capabilities: Once you log into your vault, the password manager can automatically fill in login details. This auto-fill feature saves time and also reduces the risk of entering incorrect credentials.
- Password generation: Many password managers come with a built-in password generator; they can create strong, random passwords for each new account you make. This eliminates the need to come up with your own unique passwords — helping prevent the use of weak or repeated passwords across sites.
- Security tools: Some advanced password managers offer extra features, e.g., password health checks, data breach monitoring, and alerts for weak or reused passwords. These tools help you improve the overall security of your accounts by keeping you informed of potential vulnerabilities.
By centralizing and securing your login information, password managers make it easy to maintain strong, unique passwords across all your accounts. This practice simplifies your digital life and significantly boosts your online security.
Understanding Password Managers for Families
The easiest way to put it is that password managers are designed to securely store and manage login credentials across multiple users within one account. This setup is great for households that want to keep their online information safe while allowing each member to access and organize their own credentials.
Here’s how they work:
Individual and Shared Vaults
Family plans typically include a private vault for each member and a shared vault for common logins, such as streaming services or household accounts. This keeps everyone’s credentials secure while allowing access to shared resources — reducing the need to remember or share passwords manually.
Enhanced Security Features
Family password managers offer high-grade encryption — ensuring all vaults are secure and only accessible by the account holder. A lot of them — the good ones, anyway — also include two-factor authentication and require a master password; this practice adds extra layers of protection. Members of your family can set strong, unique passwords across all their accounts. This way, your family can reduce the risk of data breaches from using weak passwords.
User Management and Access Control
Family password managers typically allow the main account holder to manage user permissions and access settings. Parents can control what information is shared with each family member; this feature can be particularly useful for younger children who may need limited access to certain accounts. Your 16-year-old probably doesn’t need access to your Bank of America account, after all.
Streamlined Access for Everyone
Most family password managers offer easy-to-use apps and extensions across devices. Now, family members can access their vaults on the go — whether on desktops, smartphones, or tablets. This makes logging into accounts a cinch. With auto-fill capabilities, it’s easy for family members who may not be all that tech-savvy to log in securely.
How Do I Set Up a Password Manager With Multiple Accounts?
Whether you’re managing multiple family members or separating work and personal accounts, password managers should make the process straightforward.
Here’s how to do it:
Choose a Plan that Supports Multiple Users
First, you’re going to want to select a plan that offers support for multiple users or accounts. Most of the time these are called “Family” or “Team” plans, but make sure you’re not purchasing a business plan; those are usually priced to scale up to dozens, if not hundreds or even thousands, of users. A simple family plan will allow you to create separate vaults for each user, with options for shared vaults as well. All of the password managers on the list above have this functionality.
Create the Primary Account
Next, you’ll set up the main account — typically the “admin” or “owner” account. This account will have full access to settings, billing, and user management tools. You’ll also create a strong master password and, in some cases, like with 1Password, a unique Secret Key to access the account securely.
Add Users and Assign Permissions
Then, in the password manager itself, you’ll navigate to the user management section to add additional accounts. This is where you’ll invite your family members or your friends if they’re your chosen family. Once they accept, you can assign individual permissions, like read-only access for sensitive information or full access to shared vaults.
Set Up Personal and Shared Vaults
After the users have been added to your account, you’ll create separate vaults for personal and shared use. Each user will have a private vault for their own accounts, and you can set up shared vaults for commonly accessed logins, e.g., family streaming services or team accounts. This organization keeps personal credentials private while allowing easy access to shared resources.
Enable Security Settings and Add Two-Factor Authentication
If your password manager allows for it, enable two-factor authentication on all your accounts — but especially on the admin account. This adds a layer of security by requiring a second authentication step. Tell each of your family members to create strong master passwords and, where available, set up biometric logins on mobile devices, too.
Add and Import Passwords
Once it’s all set up, each user on your plan can import their existing passwords or manually add them to their vault. A lot of password managers offer browser extensions and mobile apps, too; this makes it easy to sync credentials across devices. And, FYI, we have a list of the best password managers for Chrome, as well as the best password managers for Safari.
Recap
As you can see, setting up a password manager for the whole family is really straightforward. But, it’s a crucial step to take in protecting your household from digital threats such as hacking. Dashlane, NordPass, and 1Password are our top recommendations.
Dashlane provides the most number of seats with 10 per family account; it also offers strong digital protections that go beyond just password storage. NordPass is very affordable, and it offers tremendous value feature-wise. We especially like its advanced encryption and practical extra features, such as email masking. And lastly, 1Password offers the best analytical tools, e.g., Watchtower; it can detect and warn you about weak, reused, and compromised passwords of family members.
You’d be hard-pressed to find better family password managers than those three. So, go have that family meeting and pick the best option for your household.
FAQs About Family Password Managers
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How many family members can use a family password manager account?
Most family password manager plans support five to six users; it can vary, though. Some services offer customizable plans to add more members if necessary.
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Can family members keep their passwords private within a shared plan?
Yup! With the password managers listed above, each family member has their own private vault for personal passwords. Shared vaults are also available for family accounts that everyone in the plan can use, such as streaming services or utility accounts.
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Is it safe for kids to use a family password manager?
Yes, family password managers are designed with security in mind; they often allow parents to control access levels. Parents can restrict certain information or provide read-only access for younger family members to ensure safe usage.
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How does a family password manager help with online security?
Family password managers encourage strong, unique passwords for each account — reducing the risk of data breaches. They also might include security features like two-factor authentication and alerts for weak or reused passwords — helping the whole family stay protected online.
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What happens if someone forgets their master password?
Many password managers provide account recovery options, like emergency contacts or recovery kits. The main account holder, usually the family organizer, can often help reset or recover access in case they forget their master password.