The Best Windows Password Managers of 2024
It costs $1.29, has a lifetime free version, and uses the most advanced encryption – there’s no question that NordPass is the best Windows password manager.
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Last Updated on Nov 08, 2024
- Offers a usable, lifetime free version
- Premium subscriptions with premium features start at only $1.29
- Advanced encryption using XChaCha20 coupled with a zero-knowledge architecture
- Watchtower feature monitors overall password security
- Two-step login requires both account password and a 30+ character secret key
- Keyboard shortcuts on Windows for easy access to features
- Supports and advocates for more secure passwordless login
- Free version that can store up to 25 passwords and credentials
- Includes a VPN and dark web monitoring
Android has Google Password Manager; iOS has the Passwords app; and macOS has Keychain Access. What does Windows have? This.
That’s the Credential Manager application found in the Control Panel. It was introduced to Windows 7 in 2008 and has existed in every Windows version since. But to this day, we haven’t met anyone who uses it. It’s old, it’s clunky, and we’re not even sure it works. So even though Windows is the most used operating system, Windows users need a third-party password manager – one that’s far more user-friendly than Credential Manager.
We did the research and testing, and we landed on three great options. Our top pick is NordPass because it has a lifetime free password manager, but we think it’s worth paying for the premium version because of its advanced encryption and bonus security features. We also liked what 1Password and Dashlane had to offer – both premium password managers that provide a great user experience with unique features such as 1Password’s Watchtower and Dashlane’s dark web monitoring. Keep reading to learn why we recommend those three password managers to Windows users.
>> Up Next: The Best Password Managers for macOS
Our Methodology
Before we take you through our experience with NordPass, 1Password, and Dashlane, we want to give you a glimpse of our process. First, we did hours and hours of research. We wanted to learn as much as we could about Windows password managers, so we read up on their claims and customer reviews. We focused particularly on things we won’t be able to learn through testing, such as the encryption standard each password manager uses.
Next, we did hands-on tests. To do that, we bought a subscription to each password manager that met our standards. We then used those password managers on our personal and work devices for at least two weeks each. We paid close attention to the user experience, how the promised features worked, and any friction points we encountered.
Lastly, we rated and ranked them. And that’s how we came up with our top three recommendations for Windows users.
Comparison of the Best Password Managers for Windows
| System |
NordPass
|
1Password
|
Dashlane
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Ratings | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Downloadable Windows app | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-platform compatibility | Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, browsers | Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, browsers | Android, iOS, macOS, browsers |
| Passkeys | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Passwordless login to password manager app | Yes | Coming soon | Yes |
| Free trial/version | Lifetime free version, 30-day free premium trial | 14-day free premium trial | Lifetime free version, 30-day free premium trial |
| Monthly price | Starts at $1.29 | Starts at $2.99 | Starts at $4.99 |
| Read Review | NordPass Review | 1Password Review | Dashlane Review |
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1. NordPass - Best Value for Money
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
Why Choose NordPass
We recommend NordPass because it has a lifetime free version with auto-save and auto-fill for unlimited passwords, unlike Dashlane, which limits free users to storing only 25 passwords. It’s the best free password manager. But if you’re willing to pay for a password manager, NordPass is also recommended. It’s super affordable and comes with the best security features. It’s worth every penny, if you ask us.
Adding work-related secure notes to our NordPass vault We like that it can store not just passwords but also credit card information, personal information, and notes. And yes, everything you store is encrypted using NordPass’ XChaCha20 standard and protected by the company’s zero-knowledge architecture. You know how there are “no-logs” VPNs that don’t see what you do online? It’s kind of like that, except with NordPass, it’s not just that they don’t see your data; they can’t, even if they wanted to. It’s all built around privacy and security with this password manager.
FYI: We didn’t expect otherwise from NordPass, because it’s a product of Nord Security. We trust the company, especially since they made what is, in our opinion, the best VPN right now – NordVPN. Read our NordVPN review to find out what security and privacy measures the VPN takes to keep its users anonymous online.
What We Like
- Lifetime free version stores and auto-fills unlimited passwords
- XChaCha20 encryption is faster and lighter than typical password manager encryption
- User-friendly app with customizable settings
- Affordable plans starting at $1.29 per month
What We Don’t Like
- App doesn’t auto-fill locally installed apps when signing in
- Website isn’t clear on what the app can and can’t do
- Prices increase on the first renewal date
- Still needed to install the browser extensions
NordPass Windows Experience
Our NordPass Windows experience actually started off on the wrong foot. We expected that after installing the desktop app, we’d be able to auto-fill our saved passwords everywhere on the device. Turns out, that’s not how most password managers work. We still had to install the Chrome extension to use it on our default browser. Fortunately, NordPass is also one of our favorite Chrome password managers.
A look at the NordPass Chrome extension There was a second problem—we couldn’t auto-fill passwords into locally-installed apps, such as the Netflix and Facebook apps we got from the Microsoft Store. We found the solution, though, which is to install the NordPass Edge extension. Most of these apps use browser login, and if you got the app from the Microsoft Store, they use Edge.
We wouldn’t say it was a bad experience, though. In fact, we didn’t notice any other friction points after that. Our first hour with NordPass was rough, but the rest of the two weeks we used it went smoothly. Mathematically, we were satisfied more than 99 percent of the time we had NordPass installed on our Windows desktop.
Pro Tip: On Androids and iPhones, the NordPass app can auto-fill passwords, personal information, and credit card information into locally installed apps. Simply set NordPass as your default auto-fill provider on the device. That’s why it made both our lists of the best Android password managers and iPhone password managers.
NordPass Pricing
Advanced encryption, a zero-knowledge architecture, easy-to-use apps and extensions, data breach monitoring, password health scanner, a password generator, and email masking—NordPass offer all those features. You’d think it’s expensive, but it’s the opposite. It’s actually the cheapest of the three Windows password managers we recommend.
NordPass Pricing Personal Family Users 1 6 1-year price $25.35 ($1.69 avg. monthly rate w/ 3 extra months) $44.28 ($3.69 avg. monthly rate) 2-year price $34.83 ($1.29 avg. monthly rate w/ 3 extra months) $66.96 ($2.79 avg. monthly rate) NordPass’ pricing is slightly cheaper than 1Password ($2.99 best monthly rate). It’s far less expensive than Dashlane ($4.99 best monthly rate), but only because Dashlane includes a VPN in all its subscriptions. If you level the field and include NordVPN in your NordPass subscription, the average monthly rate will be $5.49. However, we think it’s worth paying NordPass the extra 50 cents. NordVPN is better than Hotspot Shield, which is the VPN Dashlane offers.
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2. 1Password - Best Security Features
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
Why Choose 1Password
1Password goes to great lengths to make sure your password vault is safe. Even though we were already logged into the 1Password Chrome extension on the same device, it still asked us to enter our master password and 34-digit secret key to sign into the app. With NordPass, all we needed were our Nord account password and master password—which for all the app knows, could have been the same. Don’t do that, though. Never reuse your passwords.
1Password required our master password and 32-character secret key just to log in It also had other security features. For example, the Watchtower feature kept tabs on our passwords and alerted us when it saw them in recent data breaches. It also flagged weak passwords. But our favorite has to be that it scans the websites where we use our saved passwords, and then lets us know if the site supports two-factor authentication that we’re not using. It’s clear that it’s not just for password storage. It wants to make sure your online accounts are as secure as they can be.
What We Like
- Strong vault security that relies on more than just the master password
- Monthly and yearly billing options
- Watchtower feature is great for overall password and account security
- Keyboard shortcuts to quickly access 1Password
What We Don’t Like
- The user experience when importing passwords should be optimized
- No free version and the free premium trial lasts for 14 days only
- No money-back guarantee even for annual plans
- Still need to download the browser extension to auto-fill passwords
1Password Windows Experience
We found the 1Password app a little harder to navigate than NordPass, especially when we compared 1Password and NordPass side-by-side. For example, to upload our saved passwords to 1Password, we had to open the web app and import the .csv file we downloaded from our Google Password Manager. After that, 1Password opened the file in a table format, and then we still had to designate which columns contained the usernames, passwords, and websites. With NordPass, we simply uploaded the .csv file and that was it.
We used 1Password’s keyboard shortcuts to optimize our workflow After we figured it all out, though, the web app and the Windows app synced, and we were able to see all our login credentials. We liked that there were customizable keyboard shortcuts, too. Just like with NordPass, we couldn’t auto-fill passwords into locally installed apps, but it was easier to find, copy, and paste the credentials from 1Password. Whenever we needed to sign into an app without auto-fill, we simply pressed Ctrl+Shift+Space to open the Quick Access search bar. It wasn’t a perfect experience, but 1Password still managed to make our lives easier.
Pro Tip: Once you find the account credentials you’re looking for in the Quick Access search bar, press Ctrl+Shift+C to copy the username and Ctrl+C to copy the password.
1Password Pricing
Unlike Dashlane and NordPass, 1Password doesn’t offer any free password manager at all. You’d need to buy a 1Password subscription to use it, although you can get a 14-day free trial if you want to test it out first.
On the bright side, 1Password offers the most flexible subscriptions. You don’t need to buy a one-year subscription right away. You can pay for your account one month at a time at a slightly higher monthly rate.
1Password subscriptions Personal Family Users 1 5 Monthly billing $3.99 $6.95 Yearly billing $35.88 $59.88 Average monthly cost of yearly plans $2.99 $4.99 Another good news is that when your subscription expires, 1Password will charge you the same amount as your initial subscription (or whatever 1Password’s prevailing rate at the time). Some password managers such as NordPass offer low introductory prices for new users, and then increase the renewal price significantly. You won’t deal with increased renewal prices with 1Password.
FYI: The downside is that 1Password doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee. So if you commit to the one-year plan, you have to use it. There are no refunds. That’s why we suggest testing the water first with a monthly subscription.
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3. Dashlane - Best Passwordless Login
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
Why Choose Dashlane
Password managers store passwords, but the idea of passwords is inherently flawed. Think about it: If your password is easy to guess or stored somewhere unsafe, anyone who discovers it can easily get into your accounts. The master password you use to get into your password manager vault is no more secure. If someone can guess it, then they can get to all your saved credentials.
Dashlane’s passwordless login requiring PIN to unlock vault We like Dashlane because it supports passwordless login, or in other words, biometrics authentication. A lot of newer Windows laptops now have a fingerprint or face scanner, which the Dashlane app can use to authenticate your identity in place of a master password. We recommend using passwordless login if your device supports biometrics authentication, though, because without it, you will only need a six-digit PIN to access your vault. A six-digit PIN is easier to guess than an alphanumeric password.
Pro Tip: You get three attempts to unlock your vault with Dashlane’s passwordless login. After a third failed attempt, you will need to login by doing a Security Challenge, for which you will need to complete a test using another device where Dashlane is already logged in.
What We Like
- Comprehensive dark web monitoring
- Offers passwordless login and passkey management
- Includes a VPN powered by Hotspot Shield
- Family plans cover 10 users
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive because the VPN and dark web monitoring is non-optional
- No native Windows app
- Passwordless login not as effective for devices without biometric scanning (fingerprint or face)
- Need to access the web app to use all features; incomplete browser extension
Dashlane Windows Experience
Now this may seem weird because we’re talking about Windows password managers, but Dashlane doesn’t have a Windows app. It used to, but the app reached its end-of-life in 2022. And the reason is actually for security.
Since many people share their Windows devices with others (e.g. family members, roommates, officemates), Dashlane believes it’s less secure to give users the option to log in to an app that can stay open for as long as the device is on. So to use Dashlane on Windows, you’d need to download its browser extension in the browser/s you most usually use. We use Chrome, but if you use Firefox, Dashlane also made our list of the best Firefox password managers.
A look at the Dashlane web browser’s password generator That didn’t really affect our overall user experience though. As we said above, we still had to download the NordPass browser extension to use auto-fill. The same was true for 1Password. With Dashlane, we just had to install one less app – the Windows app.
Dashlane Pricing
We have to admit that in some instances, Dashlane was better than 1Password feature-wise. For example, Dashlane monitored the dark web not just for compromised passwords like 1Password did, but also credit card details and email addresses. Dashlane also includes a VPN powered by Hotspot Shield.
However, those premium extras come at a premium cost, which is why we rank Dashlane slightly lower than 1Password. We think it isn’t right that Dashlane requires everyone to get its VPN and dark web monitoring, when some users really only need a password manager – especially because of how much more expensive Dashlane is.
Dashlane pricing Personal Friends & Family Users 1 10 Total price (1-year subscription) $59.88 $89.88 Average monthly cost $4.99 $7.49 Dashlane’s pricing is almost double that of 1Password. We think it’s a good buy if you also need a VPN. Hotspot Shield – which is the VPN Dashlane offers – already costs $80 per year. You’re actually saving money by bundling it with Dashlane. But if you don’t need a VPN, it’s more practical to go with either NordPass or 1Password.
Honorable Mention – LastPass
In addition to NordPass, 1Password, and Dashlane, we also tested a few password managers that gave us a good Windows user experience. We particularly liked LastPass because, unlike our top picks, it can auto-fill passwords into locally-installed Windows apps. If you remember, that was one of the problem areas we experienced with NordPass, 1Password, and Dashlane, which doesn’t have a Windows application.
So why isn’t it one of our top recommendations? Well, it’s simple really – LastPass first needs to prove that it’s trustworthy. We value a good user experience, but we still prioritize password security above everything else. And LastPass doesn’t have a squeaky clean past.
Between 2011 and 2022, LastPass experienced significant data breaches. The most recent one, announced in December 2022, included password vaults both in encrypted and unencrypted formats. That’s a pretty big red flag that LastPass can’t simply erase from its records, so we’re still cautious about recommending it.
>> Related: NordPass vs. LastPass
Why You Need A Windows Password Manager
In case you’re not fully convinced that you need a password manager for your Windows devices – or rather, all your devices – allow us to give you a couple of scenarios that show the importance of using one.
Scenario 1: Reused Passwords
This is the most common case for people we’ve interviewed that don’t have a password manager. You can find the full survey results in our Password Manager Industry Report, but there we found that:
- 66 percent of the population doesn’t use password managers. Instead, they rely on methods such as writing down their passwords, saving them in a digital note, and memorizing passwords.
- Concerningly, 21 percent say that they reused the same few passwords across all their accounts, which is an unsafe habit.
The reason that reusing passwords is unsafe is that once those passwords you reuse are compromised, all the other accounts you use them for can be hacked. That’s why we strongly recommend creating a unique password for each account. And to remember all those unique passwords, the safest and most convenient place to put them in is a password manager vault.
Scenario 2: Unsecure Password Storage
Let’s say you’re using a unique password for every account. An independent study found that each person has an average of about 170 online accounts.1 So unless you have eidetic memory, you need a place to store your passwords.
As mentioned above, writing them down (30%) and saving them in a digital note (25%) are the most common alternatives folks use. Neither of those are secure. For instance, if your phone where your passwords are kept is stolen, the thief can access your passwords. Even if you password-protect your note, note apps don’t take the same security precautions such as encryption that password managers use.
And then there’s the convenience factor. If you save your passwords in a password manager vault, you’d be able to retrieve them quickly or even auto-fill them. Last we checked, no note app can do that. And you certainly can’t do that either if your passwords are written on a piece of paper.
>> Related Topic: How to Securely Store Confidential Information Online and Offline
How To Use A Password Manager on Windows
Next, let’s talk about how to use a password manager on Windows. There is no one-size-fits-all process, so it really depends on which password manager you’ve decided to use. Generally though, you would only need to:
- Create a password manager account.
- Set your master password and login.
- Download the Windows app.
- Open your vault using your master password (or biometrics, if you have passwordless login).
- Import your passwords.
- Download the browser extension and sign in.
How to Import Passwords on Windows
Usually, the most complex part of setting up a password manager on any device is importing your passwords. Now, you only need to do this once, and we recommend using the password manager’s Windows app or web app (accessed through your browser).
- Export your passwords. That should be easy if you’re using Google Password Manager, like most people do. Just launch Chrome, access the menu in the top right corner, and select ‘Passwords and Autofill’, then choose ‘Google Password Manager.’ After that, go to ‘Settings’ and click ‘Download File’ next to ‘Export Passwords.’
- Save the .csv file. Your former password storage service will compress all your account credentials into a .csv. Download that file and save it on your computer.
- Import your passwords. Open your new password manager and look for the option to import data. Then simply select the .csv file you downloaded. It should be able to read that file and auto-save your passwords.
FYI: If you’re currently using Credential Manager, there is no option to export your passwords to a third-party password manager.
Recap
Passwords are a part of our lives now. There are some companies and websites advocating for a more secure and seamless way to log in – such as passwordless login and passkeys – but until those become more mainstream, we need password managers to safely and conveniently store our passwords.
If you’re primarily a Windows user, we recommend NordPass. It’s the best password manager of 2024 because it has a free version that can do the core functions of a password manager (auto-save, store, auto-fill passwords), or you can pay for a premium version starting at $1.29 per month to enjoy more features. Email masking, password health, and dark breach scanner are our favorites.
1Password and Dashlane are great for Windows too. 1Password offers industry-best security features such as Watchtower that looks out for your password security, while Dashlane is currently the leading option for using passwordless login and passkeys.
FAQs
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Are password managers safe for Windows?
Yes, password managers are safe for Windows as long as you choose a reputable service. The best password managers use encryption and a zero-knowledge architecture to protect saved passwords from external threats, such as hacking and company misuse.
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Are my passwords stored locally in my computer?
If you use a password manager, your passwords are stored in the company’s servers. However, they are encrypted and only your master password can decrypt them. If the company has a zero-knowledge architecture, they won’t know what your master password is, which means they can’t access the data in your vault, even if they wanted to.
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How can I know if a password manager can be trusted?
First of all, you should look into what encryption method they use. 256-bit AES and XChaCha20 are the gold standards. You should also check that the company has a zero-knowledge architecture. Lastly, see if the company has any history of a data breach, and if it does, how the company handled it.
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Can I use the same password manager on my smartphone?
Yes, most password managers offer cross-platform integration. That means you can use the same password manager for your other devices, and that the passwords you save on one device will auto-sync with other devices you use.
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Are free password managers safe?
Not all free password managers are safe, but NordPass and Dashlane are two that we’ve tested and deemed safe to use.
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