The Best Password Managers for Families in 2024

1. Total Password - Best Cybersecurity Bundle

SecurityScore:

9.7 /10

View Packages Links to Total Password

How We Review

Product Specs

App Store rating	4.1 Stars
Supported platforms	iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Linux
Encryption standard	AES-256
Cross-device login	Yes
Data breach scans	Yes
Passwordless login	Yes
Lifetime free plan	No, only a 30-day free trial
Pricing	Premium plans start at $1.99 per month

View Packages Links to Total Password

Total Password Overview

While a password manager is a good first step to protecting your family from cyber threats, a password manager alone usually isn’t quite enough. That’s why Total Password sits at the top of this list even though the password manager alone doesn’t offer a family plan. When bundled with TotalAV and Total VPN, you get access to all the cybersecurity tools your family needs to stay safe online for up to eight devices. After testing TotalAV, it ended up at the top of our list of the best antivirus software. We like Total Password just as much.

Is Total Password Good for Families?

Total Password makes a great choice for smaller families. It’s a great fit for three- to four-person families with the Total Security plan’s eight-device limit. And if you end up needing more, you can always buy additional licenses after subscribing. We found out the easiest way to buy additional licenses is by clicking on your account name and then you can buy more licenses from that dropdown.

As for the features, we found the remote log-off feature really useful for families. It lets us remotely log our accounts off on any of the devices in our plan. Here’s why that mattered for our family. Our kids tend to leave Hulu running. It keeps playing shows when they stop watching since they forget it’s even on. Since we can only have so many devices streaming Hulu at once, that can get in the way of our streaming habits. We used to have to go over to their device and sign them off. With Total Password, we could log them out with our phone so we could stay in bed and get back to streaming.

Is Total Password Expensive?

At its base price point, Total Password is one of the most affordable password managers available. But, to cover your family, you’ll need more than the basics. For families, we recommend getting the Total Security package through TotalAV. When we tested TotalAV with that package, it supported up to eight devices. This covered three laptops, four smartphones, and one tablet in our home. Like we said, you can buy support for more devices after you subscribe too.

Here is an overview of Total Password’s pricing:

Is Total Password Secure?

Like most password managers on this list, Total Password uses AES-256 encryption to keep your family’s data secure. Most reputable password managers use this encryption protocol since it’s the same one used to safeguard U.S. classified documents.1 NordPass uses XChaCha20 which offers more security, but if AES-256 is good enough for classified documents, it’s good enough for us too.

That’s not the only way Total Password keeps us secure though. It also features a customizable password generator. That way we can adjust each password’s security level based on the account’s risk level. For accounts we needed to keep the most secure, we could generate a password with up to 32 characters. Once we created secure passwords, Total Password gave us regular security reports with the results of data breach scans and an overview of our current password health.

2. Aura - Best Identity Protection Bundle

SecurityScore:

9.3 /10

View Packages Links to Aura

How We Review

Product Specs

App store rating	4.7 stars
Supported platforms	iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Encryption standard	AES-256
Cross-device login	Yes
Data breach scans	Yes
Passwordless login	Yes
Lifetime free plan	No, only a 60-day money-back guarantee
Pricing	Premium plans start at $1.99 per month

View Packages Links to Aura

Aura Overview

In the same vein as Total Password, Aura is a password manager that can offer more than just password security. Aura is actually one of the biggest names in identity protection, with its main offering being the Aura identity theft protection service we tested.

That said, Aura doesn’t have standalone password manager subscriptions for families. That’s one of its biggest downsides. So why is it here? Well, if you’re looking for more than just password management, Aura has a comprehensive identity protection bundle that can cover up to five adults in your family. That bundle includes the password manager, as well as a host of other premium features that can help protect your family from identity theft. We think that’s worth considering, given how affordable it can be. More on that below.

Is Aura Good For Families?

Yes, but we should make it clear that it depends on your goals and budget for buying a password manager subscription. If you want just a password manager, then Aura is expensive. If you thought Total Password’s $149 per year price is too much, Aura’s family plan costs $384 per year ($32 monthly). That’s because it’s not a standalone password manager. It includes identity monitoring, triple-bureau credit monitoring, up to $1 million in insurance coverage against identity theft, parental control features, and so much more.

All those features can help protect you and your family against identity theft, which is really the main reason that Aura offers a password manager. Securing your online accounts is step one in identity theft protection. Additional steps include using a VPN and antivirus, both of which are also included. Plus, you get all the premium features of one of the best identity theft protection services for families at a bargain. Yes, that $32 per month price is a bargain for the type of service Aura offers.

Is Aura Expensive?

Aura’s identity protection bundle is $32 per month if billed annually. That’s good for five adult users and as many kids as in the household. If you can max out that user limit, that’s an average of $6.40 per month for each user, which is just a few bucks more than the top-tier standalone Aura password manager subscription. Here’s a quick comparison:

Is Aura Secure?

Aura offers both of the two standard security features of password managers. First is encryption. Our password manager vault was locked and encrypted by our master password. The encryption was 256-bit AES, which is impenetrable by brute-force attacks. This encryption protects your passwords from outsiders who might try to gain access to your vault.

The second feature is a zero-knowledge architecture. If you sign up for a family plan, Aura will ask you to fill up a lot of forms, most of which require personal information. But the one thing Aura doesn’t know is your master password. It’s the only thing that can unlock your password vault, and without knowing it, Aura is keeping your passwords safe from potential company misuse.

3. Dashlane - Best for Big Families

SecurityScore:

8.9 /10

View Packages Links to Dashlane

How We Review

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

View Packages Links to Dashlane

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 not as costly as Total Password and Aura’s family plans either. Plus, it offers unique features that justify the price for those needing extra digital protection and convenience.

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.

Is Dashlane Expensive?

The Friends & Family plan costs $7.49 per month. That’s a little higher than NordPass and 1Password below. 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:

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?

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.

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.

4. NordPass - Best Security

SecurityScore:

9.5 /10

View Packages Links to NordPass

How We Review

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

View Packages Links to NordPass

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

5. 1Password - Best Analytical Tools

SecurityScore:

9.2 /10

View Packages Links to 1Password

How We Review

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

View Packages Links to 1Password

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.

Is 1Password Good for Families?

While it’s not a massive number of seats, 1Password’s Family plan will cover up to five users just like Aura. 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:

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.

Is 1Password Secure?

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.