In the past, conventional wisdom said never to store your passwords in your browsers. This is no longer true. Modern browsers are much more secure, linked to accounts protected by two-factor authentication. Most principals can now function as a basic password manager, complete with the ability to create strong, random passwords – Microsoft’s Edge browser is the latest to support this feature. Most people are probably even better off using a third-party password manager.
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There is no doubt that using your browser’s password manager can solve some headaches. At a minimum, it makes it easy to use strong, unique passwords for each website and service you use, eliminating the potential risk of password reuse. (If a website is breached, criminals can use your leaked login information to enter other sites if you reuse passwords.) Some will even tell you if your login information was leaked in a security breach and ask you to change your passwords. And hey: browsers are free!
MicrosoftMicrosoft Edge random password creation feature.
But browser-based password managers prevent you from using that browser.
If you use Chrome’s password manager, for example, your login information will be synced to your Google account. When you try to sign in to a website in Firefox or Edge, these passwords are not readily available – they are only in Chrome. And if you’re using the ability to automatically generate long, random passwords (you should!), There’s no way to retrieve the information without signing in to Chrome to find it.
Signing in to websites or mobile apps can also be a big headache, although if you are an Android user who stores passwords in Chrome or an iOS user who stores passwords in Safari, you may be able to sign in to mobile apps that are connect to your Google or Apple Account, respectively.
Why you need a password manager
PCWorldLastPass displays all your login accounts as blocks in your virtual vault.
On the other hand, third-party password managers like LastPass (our favorite) and Dashlane (a close second) were designed from the start to be multiplatform and work with any browser. After installing your tools, you can easily log into any service on any software on any device. Sites? Mobile apps? Desktop software? No problems. That alone makes an independent password manager worthwhile in today’s multi-device world. (They can usually import saved passwords from your browser when you start!)
Password managers also offer other benefits. Browsers only revolve around your account, but password managers include features that help you share passwords easily and securely with others – useful if someone needs to use your Wi-Fi, or a coworker needs access to a joint account, or if you want to share your Netflix password with your parents. Sharing login details is a pain if the information is stored deeply in your browser.
Password managers generally also support more robust autofill options. Yes, your browser probably includes these features as well, but, as with real password management, it is a basic incarnation. Whatever your browser can do, a password manager can usually do better.
Password managers can also offer other useful features. It can issue reminders to change old passwords, provide a secure vault to store sensitive information, share emergency passwords with chosen contacts, or even offer basic VPN features to access open Wi-Fi hotspots safely.
DashlaneDashlane’s password health report identifies weak, compromised and reused passwords so you can easily replace them
Think of it this way: password managers exist to keep your accounts secure. Its developers are totally focused on protecting you. With browsers, password management is just another supported feature.
If you don’t have to worry about sharing passwords with others, or if you only use a single browser on your devices, a browser-based password manager may work just fine for you. Using the random password generation feature in your browser is a big step towards reusing passwords or using simple passwords. Whether you are a Chrome user with an Android phone or a Safari user with an iPhone, these stored passwords can even be transferred to many mobile apps with minimal headaches.
Most people, however, would be better off with a suitable password manager for all the reasons described above. All major options offer free accounts with basic features, while spending a premium account costs just a few dollars a month. It is money well spent. Our guide to the best password managers can indicate the cream of the crop and explains everything you should look for in a decent password management service.