LastPass used to be one of The password managers to recommend thanks to their generous free offer – you can store as many passwords on as many devices as you like. But that is coming to an end, and as of March 16, 2021, a free LastPass account will only allow you to store passwords on one type of device – you can sync between your desktops or mobile devices (phones, tablets, wearables). If you can’t live with this limitation and aren’t ready to pay the mandatory fee to get around it, here are five other great options to choose from.
Bitwarden
Bitwarden is an open source password manager that is gaining more and more popularity due to its incredibly fair basic free account and its mission to make security accessible to everyone. You can store as many passwords as you like and use the manager on as many devices as you have for free. If you are coming from a free LastPass account, it should look very familiar. The application supports biometric unlocking, uses Android autocomplete API and can be protected by 2FA. You can also host the manager on your own server if you prefer, an option that LastPass does not offer. The service was also audited by a third-party security company that was unable to find any exploitable vulnerabilities in 2020.
Bitwarden is currently working to support the new autocomplete method on Android 11 and to automatically change the theme of the application based on system preference, both of which are already available in beta.
Many thanks to the new users who signed up for Bitwarden today! Here is a quick note about our basic free account pic.twitter.com/lu1WIF2Doi
– Bitwarden (@Bitwarden) February 16, 2021
If you are willing to pay $ 10 / year for the premium plan, you will also have access to 1 GB of encrypted file storage, support for OTP code management, emergency access and priority support. There is also a family plan if you share passwords frequently.
Read this help article if you want to migrate from LastPass.
MYKI
MYKI is a little different from the other managers mentioned here. It doesn’t store your credentials in the cloud, so you don’t have to worry about server breaches. Instead, their passwords are only synced between their devices, so an attacker would have to gain access to one of your machines to steal your login data.
Other than that, MYKI behaves a lot like other password managers. It uses Android’s auto-complete service, supports biometric unlocking and can store OTP codes, payment methods and secure notes – all completely free for individuals. You can even share passwords with others. For a deeper dive, check out our extensive review.
Read this help article if you want to know how to change your LastPass passwords.
Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft Authenticator started out as a 2FA app, but the company has turned it into a full-featured password manager that syncs with Microsoft Edge or a Chrome browser extension when you sign in with your Microsoft account. As a company that is extremely concerned with corporate customers, you can be sure that Microsoft is taking all measures to protect the product. Your Android app supports all the usual bells and whistles. It can be protected by biometrics, supports Android auto-complete and stores OTP codes for you. It even allows passwordless logins to your Microsoft account.
This service is free of charge. You can import your LastPass data by following the instructions available here.
Zoho Vault
Zoho is best known as a web-based online office suite in the corporate world, but the company also offers a password manager. It is aimed at companies that want to share and manage passwords among employees, but there is a free tier for individuals with all possible resources. You can store an unlimited amount of passwords and notes, access your vault from multiple devices, save 2FA secrets and attach files and documents. As a company focused on the company, Zoho takes several measures to ensure that its product is safe.
Paid plans are really only needed for businesses and families. You pay $ 1 per month per person for secure password sharing, one-time password sharing with third parties, administrator controls and more.
To find out how to migrate from LastPass, read this help page.
If you don’t want to take the trouble to sign up for another service, strongly consider using the solution that comes pre-installed: Google’s password-filling service. Compared to the other options here, Google’s solution is quite deficient, and managing existing passwords is a nightmare, but it’s already on your phone, natively integrated with Chrome and also available on iOS.
To get started on Android, go to the system settings, search for “autofill service” and select Google. Then, touch the gear icon next to it to see your passwords, addresses and payment methods. You can also manage your credentials saved in passwords.google.com or in your Google account settings. (We are not linking to the address for security reasons – always type addresses involving your Google Account in the URL bar, as a link from a random website can direct you to a phishing website that wants to steal your password.)
Importing passwords into the Google solution is a little tricky, but it can be done. You first need to export your LastPass Vault data as a CSV file. Then, type chrome: // flags / # PasswordImport in the Chrome address bar on your desktop, turn on the flag and restart your browser. Then go to chrome: // settings / passwords, click the three dot menu next to Saved passwords, select Import, and choose your LastPass CSV file. Make sure to delete the file when you’re done.
All five password managers mentioned here provide the same basic service: they generate and store passwords and fill them in on all of your devices. Deciding what’s right for you comes down to details, such as open source aspects, only offline storage or OTP code support. Whatever your choice, you will receive quality service.
Keep in mind that we want to focus on a selection of apps that most closely resemble LastPass Free in this summary. That’s why we decided not to include some other great tools that are by no means a bad choice. There is KeePass, an open source offline-focused manager that is a little more complicated to set up and use than the other solutions listed here. Then there is Enpass, which allows you to store up to 25 passwords on mobile devices before signing up (it’s included in the Play Pass, to be worthwhile). We also analyzed NordPass (only one device active at a time on the free plan) and RoboForm (without free synchronization between devices).
Photograph: Chepe Nicoli at Unsplash