Our Top 3 Picks for Password Managers

Our Top 3 Picks for Password Managers

The topic of 2 factor authentication (2FA) comes up A LOT. You’re probably already aware a password manager is the easiest place to start and will even make using your devices more convenient. However, this space is so loaded with choices now you may not know where to start.

We’ve written a lot about what makes for a good password but what should you look for in a password manager?

It depends on what your goal is. All password managers will help you with password safety, things like not re-using passwords and having stronger passwords because you won’t have dozens to remember.

Some password managers only store your database locally, meaning it’s only on your own machine. The benefit of this is you’re in charge of your own security. The downside is if the device is lost or compromised, your database may be lost as well.

There are also cloud storage password managers, meaning the password manager company will store your password database for you. We think for most users this is the better choice, however you are trusting your data to that company.

So, what are our picks for password managers that are convenient to use but also have a good track record?

  1. LastPass – This is no brainer; we use this one! It’s free, straightforward, and compatible with many different browsers – even across Mac, Windows and Linux. They also offer 1 GB of secure document storage, meaning everything you need securely store will also be conveniently at your fingertips.
  2. 1Password – 1Password is a great mobile option. It began as an Apple centric product but has since branched out to include iOS, Android, Windows and ChromeOS. An extra bonus feature is it can act as an authentication app for programs like Google Authenticator. We also like its travel mode option, which allows you to delete sensitive data with one click while you travel and then restore it when you’re back home.
  3. Dashlane – Our final pick is Dashlane. Dashlane is the newest of this bunch but they have a lot of slick features, including Dark Web reporting. The free version is somewhat limited but if you pay a low cost of $4.99 a month you unlock a host of features, including a free VPN and the ability to sync between devices. They also let you choose whether you want to store your database on your device or locally.

One more thing, while your browser can somewhat perform as a password manager, that’s really not what it’s meant for. Browsers focus most of their development on being a better browser, not being a better password manager. Also the passwords they generate are not much better than “password” or “123456” (the most popular passwords 7 years running).

Storing your passwords in a secure password manager is one of the best and easiest ways to improve your security online, so no matter which password manager you go with you’re making the smart choice.

Looking for more to read? We suggest these tech articles from the last week.

This article was powered by Valley TechLogic, an IT provider in Atwater, CA. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/valleytechlogic.

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