The Best Password Managers for Chrome in 2024
Of the eight Chrome password managers we tested, NordPass had an easy-to-use interface, the best pricing, and the most impressive security features.
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Last Updated on Nov 08, 2024
- Email masking lets you sign up to services and websites without using your real email address
- Third-party audited apps and security architecture
- Future-proof XChaCha20 with zero-knowledge architecture
- Step-by-step tutorial of most features during initial setup
- Monthly and yearly billing options
- Two-factor authentication when accessing the vault from another device
- VPN and dark web monitoring included in all subscriptions
- Password generator is easy to access in Chrome
- Smooth credential capturing when signing up for new accounts
At least half the world’s internet users use Chrome1 to browse, search, and log in to various online accounts. That means about just as many people use the Google Password Manager. It’s easy to use, convenient, and free. So why not use it?
We’ll tell you why not — while it does the core functions of a password manager, it’s missing many of the premium features that will help with your password security. It’s also not that good for cross-platform use. If you use multiple devices and browsers (and who doesn’t?), you’ll have some trouble syncing your passwords across all of them.
We’ll get into more details as to why the Google Password Manager isn’t the best password manager for Chrome. For now, let us tell you that we recently tested eight premium password managers on our Chrome browser. Among them, NordPass stood out for its seamless Chrome interface and password security features. It also costs next to nothing — just $1.29 per month. So if you’re ready to up your password game, read on to find out why we prefer NordPass and two other password managers (1Password and Dashlane) over Google’s Password Manager.
>> Learn More: The Best Password Managers of 2024
Methodology
Methodology
Before we dive in, let us give you a quick glimpse of our selection process. It all started with extensive research. We read up on the most popular password managers, noting those that claim to offer the features we wanted to see. We also looked at customer reviews to see their potential friction points and anything we should look out for when we start testing them.
After that, we tested them. We bought subscriptions with our own money and integrated the password managers into our daily personal and work lives. We use the internet at least eight hours a day, so we were able to fully test out their features, how easy (or difficult) they were to use, and their overall performance. Our experts have been testing digital safety products for nearly a decade, so we leaned on our experience and expertise to carefully assess and rank the password managers we tested.
And that’s how we came to the conclusion that NordPass, 1Password, and Dashlane are the best premium Chrome password managers.
The Best Chrome Password Managers Side-by-Side
| System |
NordPass
|
1Password
|
Dashlane
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Ratings | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Chrome extension rating | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| Best monthly price – Personal | $1.29 | $2.99 | $4.99 |
| Monthly price – Business | $1.79 (per user) | $19.95 (10 users) | $20 (10 users) |
| Free trial | Lifetime free version | 14-day premium trial | Lifetime free version |
| Read Review | NordPass Review | 1Password Review | Dashlane Review |
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1. NordPass - Best Encryption and Password Security Features
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
What We Like
- Plenty of bonus features such as email masking and password health
- Affordable entry cost starting at $1.29 per month for individuals
- XChaCha20 encryption and zero-knowledge architecture
- NordVPN offered as an optional add-on
What We Don’t Like
- Higher renewal rates
- Premium Family plan covers six users only
- Logs out every time Chrome is closed
- Most premium features require the web app to open in a tab
Benefits of NordPass
NordPass is a product of Nord Security — the same company that makes our top-ranked VPN of 2024. That’s why we expected nothing less than a secure experience from NordPass. We weren’t disappointed.
Starting with encryption, NordPass made sure our stored passwords, credentials, and even credit card information and notes were unreadable outside our vault using XChaCha20. It’s a more secure variant of the same encryption method (ChaCha20) NordLynx used when we tested NordVPN. Additionally, NordPass has a zero-knowledge architecture. So, although passwords are stored in its servers for cross-platform syncing, not even the company can view them even if it wanted to. In plain words, we trust NordPass’ security just as much as we trust NordVPN’s privacy.
NordPass’ email masking feature in action. There were also a bunch of bonus features added to help with password security and online security. Email masking was a unique one. On top of generating strong passwords, NordPass was able to generate random email addresses for signing up for online accounts. That meant the websites we signed up for didn’t have a record of our real email addresses, which would protect our email addresses if any website we used experienced a breach.
FYI: All the other password managers we tested, including 1Password and Dashlane, used 256-bit AES encryption. It’s the gold standard, also used by most VPNs to encrypt traffic. NordPass’ XChaCha20 is just as secure, but has additional performance benefits.
NordPass Chrome User Experience
Since we used Chrome when we signed up for a NordPass premium account, we were immediately redirected to the Chrome password extension. After a quick sign-in using our master password, we gained access to our vault. We didn’t have to sign in again for the rest of that session or when we opened a new Chrome window. As long as you keep the window you used to sign-in open, you can access your encrypted vault.
That said, the moment you close all your Chrome windows, you have to sign in again to use NordPass. We suppose that’s a security feature — if someone gains access to your laptop, they won’t be able to steal your passwords. We found it a little inconvenient though, especially since we tested it on a desktop PC that pretty much no one else uses but us. An option to turn off that feature would be nice — or at least a time-based auto-lock like 1Password has.
FYI: While you can see and click all premium features from the Chrome extension window, we found that selecting some of them, such as email masking and password health, actually opens the full web app.
We had to enter our master password every time we started a new Chrome session. NordPass Pricing
We were impressed by all the features we got after signing up for NordPass, but even more impressive was how much it cost us. NordPass’ pricing for individuals starts at $1.29 per month. That is if you pay for two years. If you pay yearly, it’s $1.69 per month. But how long would you need a password manager? Well, just like VPNs, we recommend continuously using a password manager. So, you’ll get the best rates if you just spring for the two-year option. NordPass even has a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you end up not liking it, cancel within 30 days to get a refund.
Another reason we recommend buying a two-year subscription is that after your first one expires, the renewal rate will be slightly higher. If you go for one year, you’ll enjoy the discounted entry cost for just one year; if you go for two years, you’ll enjoy it for two years. Here’s what we mean:
NordVPN pricing Initial subscription rate Renewal rate Individual (1 year) $1.69 $3.73 Individual (2 years) $1.29 $3.36 Family (1 year) $3.69 $5.99 Family (2 years) $2.79 $5.99 Even with those increased renewal prices, NordPass is still one of the most affordable password managers. The renewal rates for individual plans cost just a tad more than 1Password’s subscriptions.
Pro Tip: If you want to try out NordPass, it has a functional, lifetime free version. It can store and autofill unlimited passwords and generate strong passwords. It starts off with a premium 30-day trial, so you’ll also get to experience premium features such as email masking and password health.
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2. 1Password - Most User-Friendly
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
What We Like
- Step-by-step tutorial after set up
- Customizable vault auto-lock
- Two-factor authentication when accessing the vault from another device
- Monthly and yearly billing options
What We Don’t Like
- Clunky desktop apps
- Short 14-day premium trial and no lifetime free version
- Risk of losing all your passwords if you lose your Security Code
- Family plan for five users only
Benefits of 1Password
A look at 1Password’s full-window Chrome app. 1Password is one of the oldest password managers in existence and, quite frankly, we didn’t enjoy its design and user experience when we tested its Mac and iPhone apps. They looked more dated than those of NordPass, and they were clunky. However, 1Password’s browser game was the complete opposite. That shouldn’t have been surprising; even its website says it’s best used in the browser.
It wasn’t just the Chrome extension’s user-experience we enjoyed, but the overall quality and security of 1Password. For example, you can’t simply sign in on another device using your account password. You’d need access to a device already logged in to 1Password. In comparison, anyone can access your NordPass vault if they can guess your account and master passwords — even if they don’t have physical access to any of your devices.
Pro Tip: To easily log in on a mobile device, go to your 1Password dashboard, access your profile, and scan the QR setup code. You’ll still need to provide your master password, but we like the setup. It’s both convenient and secure, as you’ll still need physical access to a device logged in to 1Password. That’s why 1Password is one of the best Android password managers.
>> Compare: NordPass vs. 1Password
1Password Chrome User Experience
We liked a number of things about 1Password’s user experience. For starters, it had a step-by-step tutorial the first time we fired it up. If you’re currently storing passwords in Chrome, you’re probably used to everything being done automatically, but that’s rarely how it works with premium password managers. There’s a learning curve and the tutorial helps a lot.
1Password’s tutorial screen from the tiny Chrome extension window. As we also mentioned earlier, you can customize 1Password’s vault auto-lock feature. You’ll have to do it in the full-window web app, but you can choose how long your vault stays open — between one minute and two weeks. We have web developer friends who really appreciate this feature.
FYI: Credential capturing was also smooth. Whenever we created new accounts or signed in using unsaved logins, 1Password asked us whether we wanted to save them and to which vault. Many password managers, such as Bitwarden, occasionally fail to recognize what new login credentials to save.
>> Compare: Bitwarden vs. 1Password
1Password Pricing
Our first 14 days with 1Password were free. Unlike NordPass and Dashlane, which have lifetime free versions, the two-week trial is all you get from 1Password. It’s not that it’s not worth paying for a subscription — it is! — but there are plenty of good but free password managers out there.
On the bright side, 1Password subscriptions are affordable. Plus, you have the option to pay monthly in case you don’t have the budget to pay for one or two years in advance. We appreciate the flexibility. Also, unlike NordPass, there are no such things as renewal prices. Unless 1Password raises its prices — which it hasn’t done since 2016 — the entry and renewal costs will be the same. Here are the options:
1Password subscription Individual Families Monthly price $3.99 $6.95 Annual price $35.88 ($2.99 monthly avg.) $59.88 ($4.99 monthly avg.) Number of users 1 5 Watchtower Yes Yes Travel mode Yes Yes Shared vaults No Yes FYI: The Watchtower feature monitors for compromised passwords, while travel mode removes items of your choosing from your vault to protect them in case you lose your device while traveling or when going through the immigration of restrictive countries. 1Password doesn’t offer as many bonus features as NordPass, but we find those two very useful for digital security and privacy.
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3. Dashlane - Best Overall Privacy Features
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
What We Like
- Bonus privacy and security features such as VPN and dark web monitoring
- Simple and functional Chrome extension
- Family plans cover up to 10 people
- Easy-access password generator
What We Don’t Like
- Free version stores and autofills up to 25 passwords only
- Expensive, and no option to remove the VPN and dark web monitoring from plans
- Some premium features, such as the password generator, are missing from the web app
- Dark web monitoring doesn’t monitor credit card details
Benefits of Dashlane
Dashlane is more than just a password manager, and we mean that literally. When we signed up for a Dashlane premium account, we gained access to a VPN powered by Hotspot Shield. It also monitored the dark web — not just for our passwords, like 1Passwords Watchtower feature did, but also for our personal and credit card information. That’s a feature we typically only see from identity theft protection services.
A look at Dashlane’s dark web monitoring feature. Those extra privacy features serve as a double-edged sword for Dashlane, though. They’re great if you want to elevate your overall online privacy and security, but redundant if you already have a VPN or an identity protection service in your toolbelt. What’s more, Dashlane is expensive precisely because of those premium add-on features. You also can’t remove them; we tried. They come with all subscriptions.
Note: Weirdly, the VPN was not even available through Dashlane Chrome extension. After activating it, we still had to download the Hotspot Shield extension. Read our Hotspot Shield review to see what we thought about this VPN.
Dashlane Chrome User Experience
The Dashlane Chrome app is as simple as it gets. It doesn’t have a lot of features. It gave us access to our vault, allowed us to adjust our autofill preferences, and the password generator was there.
Interestingly, we could only see the password generator through the extension. It was nowhere to be found in the full-window web app, which reminded us of one of our observations when we reviewed Dashlane — while it’s feature-rich, not all features are available across all apps. Turns out, that’s true for the Chrome web app and extensions as well.
The password generator is one of the few features accessible from the extension window. Nonetheless, it was a smooth experience. It autofilled our passwords without a hitch and automatically captured new credentials and stored them in our vault. Would we say that it’s better than 1Password? You’d have to read our Dashlane vs. 1Password comparison for the full details, but our expert opinion is that 1Password is slightly better.
Dashlane Pricing
We mentioned earlier that Dashlane is expensive, but only if you don’t need the VPN and dark web monitoring features. If you do, the higher price tag is worth it. Here’s Dashlane’s pricing:
Dashlane subscriptions Individual Friends & Family No. of users 1 10 1-year plan $59.99 $89.99 Average monthly rate $4.99 $7.49 VPN Yes 1 user only Dark web monitoring Yes Yes Note that unlike 1Password, Dashlane doesn’t offer monthly plans. You’ll need to shell out $59.99 to get started, but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. There’s also a lifetime free version, although we’re not quite fond of it. Unlike NordPass’ free version that can at least store and autofill unlimited passwords, Dashlane only stores 25 credentials. A study found that an average person has 170 passwords.2
FYI: If you sign up for the free version, you’ll get a 30-day trial to all premium features besides the VPN. Watch out, because if you import more than 25 passwords, you won’t be able to use the autofill feature once the premium trial expires.
Google Password Manager vs. Premium Password Managers
NordPass, 1Password, and Dashlane were the best Chrome password managers we tested, but in the spirit of fairness, we thought the Google Password Manager was also good. It’s just that those three premium password managers were better.
Let’s look at a few comparison areas, starting with the price:
Pricing
As you know, Google Password Manager is free. That’s why it’s the top choice of most Chrome users. And we think that’s great. It’s better to use Google Password Manager than not use a password manager at all — especially if it means you’re reusing passwords or writing them down in a notebook. Neither of those are safe password habits.
As we pointed out earlier, NordPass does have a functional free version that doesn’t expire. The only advantage of Google is you can share passwords with your family members; you can’t do that with NordPass’ free account.
Security
Google also takes enough security measures to secure passwords. How it encrypts passwords is a little vague and confusing, especially since you used to be able to save passwords in Chrome outside the Google Password Manager Vault. That method was a lot less secure, but the current Google Password Manager uses 256-bit AES encryption. That’s the same as what most premium options use today.
That said, we noticed that Google Password Manager doesn’t actually use on-device encryption by default. You’ll need to set up that feature manually. The significance of that is that without it, anyone who can access your Chrome account can see your passwords willy-nilly. If Chrome is linked to your Google account — like it is for most people — your credentials could be compromised if someone else gets access to any of your devices.
>> Learn More: How to Protect Your Data After Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen
All our recommended premium password managers have on-device encryption. That’s why you have to enter your master password every time your vault is locked — something you (or others trying to access your passwords) won’t have to do with Google’s default settings. That shows that Google Password Manager’s priority is convenience, not security.
Convenience and Ease-of-Use
Lastly, Google Password Manager isn’t the best option if you’re using multiple devices, especially if you’re not using Chrome on those devices. Most of us use Safari exclusively on our iPhones, for example. While you could configure an iPhone to use Google Password Manager, it would require you to use the Chrome iOS app to change settings, access your vault, and use other features. That’s not very efficient.
>> Related: The Best Password Managers for Safari
In contrast, premium password managers such as NordPass, 1Password, and Dashlane can work on a number of platforms. At the very least, they all have Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android apps. Some have Linux apps as well. And they can work on a variety of browsers, including Opera, Brave, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox. In fact, those are the same three best password managers we’ve tested on Firefox.
Chrome Extension vs. Device Application
We want to make clear that we recommend NordPass, 1Password, and Dashlane specifically if you’re looking for a password manager you can use on your browser. But there’s another way to access your vault, and that is through the password manager’s application.
The main difference is that the browser extension will let you autofill your passwords more seamlessly on websites while browsing. But if you need to sign in to an app installed on your device — for example, Skype or Outlook — the browser extension won’t autofill your passwords. You’ll need the password manager’s app installed on your device for that and, sometimes, the user experience in the extension isn’t the same as that of the device app.
That’s why we also recommend reading our list of the best Windows password managers and best Mac password managers, depending on which devices you own and use.
We also noticed that browser extensions often don’t have access to all features. So in our opinion, you get the best experience if you also download the password manager’s application to your devices. That doesn’t mean you can’t use the extension though; feel free to use both.
Tips to Maximize Your Chrome Password Manager
Speaking of enjoying the full experience, here are some tips to maximize your use of your Chrome password manager.
- Change your weak and compromised passwords: Start with this. Most password managers can detect weak, compromised, and reused passwords, so check which passwords of yours need changing and do change them. Password managers are of no use if your passwords have already been exposed in data breaches.
- Use the password generator feature: Beyond storing passwords, password managers can suggest strong passwords when you’re creating an account. Use that feature and don’t worry if the suggested passwords are too complex for you to memorize. That’s what your password vault is for.
- Delete your Chrome-saved passwords: If you’re switching over from Google Password Manager to a premium password manager, delete the passwords stored in your Google account once you’re done exporting them. The goal is to minimize the attack surface for cybercriminals. It doesn’t matter that your premium password manager is secure if you’re still keeping your passwords in the less secure Google Password Manager.
Do those things and you’ll get your money’s worth from your premium password manager.
Recap
To summarize, we found in our tests that NordPass, 1Password, and Dashlane are the best Chrome password managers. But they each have strengths and weaknesses.
NordPass is the best overall because it’s secure with its XChaCha20 encryption and zero-knowledge architecture. It also has the best bonus security features, such as email masking. We’re not fans of the higher renewal prices, but you don’t have to cross that bridge right now. Initial subscriptions last for one or two years.
1Password is the most user-friendly on Chrome, but its other apps? Not so much. It’s affordable though, even if it doesn’t have a lifetime free version and only offers a 14-day trial.
Lastly, Dashlane is expensive, but it’s more than just a password manager. We like the inclusion of a VPN and data breach monitoring — that is, if you don’t already have those in your digital security toolbelt.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I export my Chrome passwords to another password manager?
Open Chrome and go to Passwords & Autofill in the settings, and then select Google Password Manager. Select Settings in the left pane and click Download File next to export passwords. Chrome will download your passwords in a .csv file, which you can then upload to your password manager.
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Will my Chrome passwords be deleted if I export them to a password manager?
No, exporting passwords only downloads a copy of your Chrome passwords. You need to delete them manually to remove the passwords saved in Chrome, which you should do once your premium password manager is set up.
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How do I delete my passwords saved in Chrome?
You can delete your passwords in Chrome either all at once or individually. To do it individually, go to your Google Password Manager vault and click the password you want to delete. On the next page, just hit the delete button. To do it all at once, go to the Google Password Manager settings and look for the Delete Data button.
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Can I use a premium password manager alongside Google Password Manager?
Yes, you can use multiple password managers, but the experience won’t be smooth. Both password managers will pop up when you try to auto-fill and capture new login credentials.
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Does Google Password Manager have a premium version?
No, Google Password Manager is a free tool provided to everyone with a Google account. It doesn’t have a premium version.
Statista. (2023). Google's Chrome Has Taken Over the World.
statista.com/chart/30734/browser-market-share-by-region/NordPass. (2024). People have around 170 passwords on average, study shows.
globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/05/21/2885556/0/en/People-have-around-170-passwords-on-average-study-shows.html