A password manager is an essential tool for generating, securely storing, and accessing credentials and other sensitive personal data across your devices, whether you need to log into your bank or fill out your information during online checkout. The best password management tools on the market do this seamlessly, but they have a range of features to meet varying user needs at different price points.
In our head-to-head comparison of two of our favorite password managers, 1Password and NordPass, the former has the best user experience for both individuals and families, while the latter is a solid choice for privacy- and security-minded users (as well as those who want password management at no cost). Here’s a breakdown of two of the top password managers to help you decide which one is best for you.
Also: The best free password managers: Expert tested
Specifications
|
1Password |
NordPass |
|
|
Key features |
Vault health reports, Travel Mode, external credential sharing |
Emergency access, email masking, data breach scans |
|
Free version |
14-day trial |
Yes |
|
Compatibility |
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave |
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave, Opera |
|
Security features |
AES-256 encryption, Secret Key, 2FA |
xChaCha20 encryption, MFA, multi-layer login |
|
Biometric unlock |
Face ID and Touch ID (iOS, macOS); fingerprint, face, and iris unlock (Android); Windows Hello; Linux system authentication |
Face ID and Touch ID (iOS, macOS); fingerprint, face, and iris unlock (Android); Windows Hello |
|
Unlimited syncing |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Passkey support |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Multi-factor authentication |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Price |
$35.88 per year for a single user; $59.88 per year for a family of up to five |
$23.88 per year for a single user, $44.28 per year for a family of up to six (prices may increase after first year) |
You should choose 1Password if…
The 1Password Watchtower feature
Screenshot by Emily Long/ZDNET
1. You want a top-notch user experience
1Password consistently ranks among our favorite password managers thanks to its excellent user experience across platforms. The vault is intuitive and easy to navigate, and 1Password has onboarding tutorials and comprehensive support pages to help you through the setup process. (NordPass is also a good pick for those learning a password manager for the first time.) I especially like 1Password for user-friendly features, such as an extensive template library for items like medical records and rewards programs, 1GB of secure storage, and integrated links to update weak and reused passwords.
Review: 1Password: A premium password manager well worth the money
2. You want premium features at a predictable cost
1Password is competitively priced at a rate that has remained consistent for several years, which means you get an excellent, fully-featured password manager with no surprise charges. 1Password costs around $36 annually for a single user and $60 annually for a family plan with five seats. On the surface, that’s more than NordPass, which runs frequent deals and at the time of writing charges $24 per year for an individual and $44 per year for a family of up to six. But your plan with NordPass could increase significantly after the promotional period, while 1Password’s pricing is as listed.
3. You need a family account
1Password is my top recommendation for families and households looking to share a password management subscription. It’s a bit pricier per user than some competitors, but it offers some unique features, including shared vaults, secure item sharing with anyone outside of 1Password, and the ability to grant temporary vault access to guests needing credentials like Wi-Fi and streaming service logins or smart lock codes. Each user on the plan receives their own premium account. NordPass is also a solid pick for families, but there are some limitations on data sharing.
You should choose NordPass if…
NordPass offers a free password management tier
Screenshot by Emily Long/ZDNET
1. You want a free password manager
NordPass is among the best free password managers with unlimited password storage across platforms and devices. Users on the free tier get all the password management essentials, including autosave, autofill, password generation, and passkey support. The main limitation is that you can be logged in on only one device at a time, which can be inconvenient if you frequently use your phone and computer together. 1Password doesn’t have a fully free plan, though you can try it out for 14 days before committing to a paid subscription.
Review: NordPass: One of the best password managers for beginners with a free tier
2. You want extra privacy and security features
While all of the password managers I recommend — including 1Password — have strong encryption and basic features like vault health reports, NordPass has extra tools for protecting your privacy and vault security. Paid users get real-time data breach alerts for email addresses and credit cards, as well as unlimited email masking built in. (1Password integrates with Fastmail for an additional fee.) Plus, NordPass is just one service under the Nord Security umbrella: you can also subscribe to NordVPN — which we highly recommend — and/or NordLocker (encrypted cloud storage) under your global Nord account.
The final verdict
Both 1Password and NordPass consistently rank among our favorite password managers across categories, operating systems, and devices, so you can’t go wrong with either. 1Password has a slight edge on user experience, while NordPass has built-in and add-on privacy and security tools and a fully free plan (the only limitation is how many devices can be logged into your vault at once). We’d pick 1Password over NordPass for the flexibility of its family plan and consistent year-over-year pricing, but NordPass is a worthy competitor for anyone who is new to password management or who wants a no-cost option.
Alternatives to consider
If neither 1Password nor NordPass fits your needs, I also recommend the following password managers:
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